Dark Chocolate Tea Bread
Rich, chocolatey, and nutty, this decadent Hazelnut Cocoa Pound Cake is a delightful treat perfect for indulging in some sweet moments. The velvety texture paired with the crunch of toasted hazelnuts creates a harmonious balance of flavors in each bite. Enjoy a slice of this moist pound cake with a warm cup of tea or coffee for a truly comforting experience.
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cake flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
- powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 5 Tbs. unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
- 1 Tbs. raw or coarse sugar
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.
- In a bowl, stir together the all-purpose and cake flours, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, combine the butter and cream cheese and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in the granulated sugar until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. The mixture should be fluffy.
- Add the flour mixture in two additions, alternating with the buttermilk and vanilla and beginning with the flour; beat until smooth after each addition. Fold in the hazelnuts just until evenly distributed. The batter should be very thick.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. It should be no more than two-thirds full. Smooth the surface and sprinkle with the raw sugar. Bake until the loaf is firm to the touch and pulls away from the pan sides, about 1 1/4 hours. A cake tester inserted into the center of the loaf should come out clean. If necessary, cover loosely with aluminum foil during the last 10 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning.
- Immediately turn the loaf out of the pan onto a wire rack with a gentle motion and let cool completely. Cut into thick slices to serve. Makes one 9-by-5-inch loaf.
- <b>Note:</b> To toast hazelnuts, preheat an oven to 325&#176;F. Spread the nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven and toast lightly, stirring occasionally, 6 to 7 minutes. Set aside and let cool. Rub the nuts together in a clean kitchen towel to remove most of their loose papery skins.
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