No-Bake Vegan Hazelnut Cake
This no-bake vegan hazelnut cake has a deep flavor thanks to the rich flavor of hazelnuts, hint of espresso, and the delicious chocolate "brownie" crust. It's gf and oil-free too.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 5" cake
- Category: cake
- Method: no-bake
- Cuisine: dessert
Ingredients
Crust:
- ½ cup almond flour*
- 2 soft medjool dates, pitted
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp hazelnut butter
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
Filling:
- ¾ cup creamy hazelnut butter**
- ¼ cup water
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp espresso powder (or more, to taste)
- ⅛ tsp salt
Toppings:
- cacao nibs, coated amaranth balls, whole espresso beans, mini chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Process all crust ingredients in a food processor until the mixture is combined and starts to form into a ball. Transfer into a 5" springform pan and press down into a flat crust along the base. Freeze while working on the next step.
2. Clean out the food processor. Then place all filling ingredients in it and process into a smooth and uniform mixture. Transfer the filling into the pan over the prepared crust. Tap the pan down on the counter a few times, and then smooth out the top with the back of a spoon.
3. Decorate with desired toppings. Then freeze to set overnight (or for at least 6-7 hours). Thaw out very lightly, remove from pan, then thaw out a further 10 mins for it to soften a little. Slice and enjoy! (see storage notes***)
Notes
*Can use another type of nut flour if you prefer.
**The runnier the butter, the better. If you get a new jar, I recommend stirring it really well to ensure it's smooth and runny and all the separated oil is absorbed back into the butter. The cake should still work with a thicker butter, but it'll change the texture and flavor some.
***Treat this cake like you would ice cream -- it needs to be kept frozen until serving time. Lightly thaw it out for about 10 mins, then enjoy. Store leftovers in the freezer. Note: unlike many of my raw cakes, because this cake doesn't contain any added oils (like coconut) it'll likely thaw out faster than other cakes. You'll notice that in the photo above the recipe where the slice is missing out of the cake the edges are beginning to get a little melty (turn darker) -- this is after taking photos of it for about 35 mins at room temp. If you want it to keep frozen in a more uniform way, add 1-2 tbsp neutral-tasting coconut oil to the filling mixture.
Find it online: https://www.unconventionalbaker.com/no-bake-vegan-hazelnut-cake/