Ferrero Rocher Cake

Ferrero Rocher cake is made with a fluffy moist chocolate cake filled with a hazelnut praline chocolate ganache, frosted with Nutella buttercream and of course, topped with Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

Ferrero Rocher chocolates have to be one of the most beloved chocolates out there. Soooo the question is, why not make a Ferrero Rocher Cake?! 

How to make Ferrero Rocher Cake

This cake has three(ish) parts to it. First, there are chocolate cake layers, obviously. I kept them simple chocolate because I feel like we have so many flavors and textures going on with the rest of the cake.

The second part is hazelnut praline ganache. I basically caramelized some hazelnuts, ground them up and tossed them in a chocolate ganache. In other words, heaven.

And the last part is the buttercream. I decided to go with a Nutella buttercream because when I tested it with just chocolate, it seemed a little too plain and I think the Nutella complements the cake really well.

How to make chocolate cake

As I mentioned before, this is just a simple chocolate cake. I actually just scaled up my 6 inch chocolate cake recipe to make three 8 inch layers. You can make a 6 inch Ferrero Rocher cake using that recipe as well but you’ll have some leftover filling. 

Ingredients:

• Flour: I develop most of my recipes with all-purpose flour because that’s what most people have on hand and is easily accessible. 
• Cocoa Powder: I love using dutch process cocoa powder in basically all of my recipes. I like the flavor and the color better. 
  • If you don’t have dutch process, you can use regular unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe too but I suggest removing 1 tsp of baking powder and replacing it with ¼ tsp of baking soda. 
• Fat: I use butter and oil in almost all my cake recipes because I like the texture produced by the combination of both fats. 
  • Butter usually provides a tighter crumb whereas oil results in a spongier texture so I love creaming the butter with the sugar for some volume and air and then adding the oil. 
• Eggs: I’ve made some incredible chocolate cakes without eggs but unfortunately this is not one of them. If you’re looking for that, try this Dark Chocolate Blood Orange Cake (you can make it with coffee instead of orange juice too). 
• Sugar: Sugar provides flavor and moisture in cakes. It also helps with leavening since it gets creamed with the butter. It’s especially important when you’re adding cocoa powder because cocoa is very bitter.
• Liquid: I used to be a firm believer in buttermilk and/or coffee for chocolate cake. After experimenting with sour cream I definitely think it provides a better flavor and texture. Coffee did intensify the flavor and provided a beautiful dark color for the cake but I didn’t prefer the intense flavor. 

How to make hazelnut praline chocolate ganache

This is simpler than you may think. I like to grind the hazelnuts first so it’s easier on the food processor later. Then place some sugar and water over medium heat and let it caramelize.

When you pour that caramel over the nuts, it hardens as it cools so make sure to stir the nuts quickly as you’re pouring. Let it cool completely and then grind it again until you have small chunks.

Then you’re going to make a chocolate ganache by pouring some simmering heavy cream over dark chocolate. Stir gently until it’s smooth and then toss in some of the praline!

How to make the Nutella buttercream

I got some hate on tiktok for this being “nutella butter” instead of buttercream lol. If you’ve purchased my cookbook, Frosted, you can read about Russian buttercream. Russian buttercream is just whipped butter combined with sweetened condensed milk.

For this nutella buttercream, I basically just swapped out the sweetened condensed milk for nutella and then added some cocoa powder and vanilla extract. It creates a less sweet buttercream that’s INCREDIBLY silky.

You really don’t need a pound of powdered sugar unless you prefer it that sweet or you don’t like the silky texture of this one. I also use the same buttercream in my Nutella Swirl Cake and I personally love it so I hope you do too. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my ingredients need to be at room temperature?

The temperature of the ingredients  ensures that the right amount of air is incorporated into your cake and that the batter emulsifies properly. If your batter ever looks split/curdled when you add the eggs, it’s most likely either the temperature of your ingredients or the fat to liquid ratio is off. 

I usually pull the butter and eggs out first. Put the eggs in some hot water and slice the butter so it warms up quicker. Get the rest of my ingredients together and measure. Microwave the milk for 10-20 seconds so it’s not cold and use cold sour cream because warm sour cream sounds gross, lol. 

How to prevent the cakes from sticking to the pan?

Honestly I rarely encounter this problem. I typically just use a baking spray made with flour to grease my cake pans. I feel like that’s not as common as greasing with plain butter or flour but it works for me and it’s so much easier. If you’re really nervous you can use parchment paper to line the bottom of the pans as well. 

When are my cakes done baking?

This is important because a good cake can become a dry cake in a matter of minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center that comes out clean is also a common test to check for doneness but this can also easily lead to an overbaked cake. .

If your cake pans are greased properly, the cake should release itself from the edge of the pan once it’s fully baked. Another way to know is that as soon as the top of the cake no longer looks wet, gently press on the center of it and if it springs back, it’s done. If your fingerprint stays pressed down then bake it for another 1-2 minutes and try again. 

Can I make this 8-inch cake in a different size pan?

Yes. You can also bake this cake in

• Four 6 inch pans for about 25-30 minutes
• Two 9 inch pans for about 30-35 minutes

If you want a three layer  6-inch cake, then make that version but if you want a 9-inch cake, you can make this one but I’d prefer to just double the recipe for the 6-inch one to make three 9-inch layers. If you want a quarter sheet cake (9×13), I recommend the original 6-inch version for that as well. 

I would just make this same filling but you may have a little leftover. 

Can I turn Ferrero Rocher Cake into cupcakes?

I haven’t tested on this specific ferrero rocher cake but the 6 inch chocolate cake version makes 23 BEAUTIFUL cupcakes. It’s a sad number, I know lol. So I’m assuming this size would make just a few more, maybe up to 32. 

You can remove part of the center of the cupcake and fill it with the hazelnut praline ganache. Then top with the nutella buttercream.

I actually already have a similar cupcake recipe to this, check out my Brownie Bottom Hazelnut Praline Cupcakes.

How to make cake ahead of time

How to store unfrosted cake layers 

You can make the cake layers ahead of time. For best results, allow the cake layers to cool almost to room temperature. When they’re still just slightly warm, wrap them in plastic wrap and leave them on the counter overnight. 

If you’re making them more than one day in advance, you’ll want to freeze them. Place the plastic wrapped layers in a freezer bag, removing the excess air, and freeze on a flat surface. 

You can remove the cakes from the freezer and frost right away or you can remove them a few hours earlier and bring them back to room temperature. If you’re frosting them frozen, make sure to let the cake rest so it thaws before serving. 

How to store hazelnut praline ganache and nutella buttercream 

You can make the hazelnut praline ganache and the nutella buttercream ahead of time. 

• If it’s just overnight, you can cover them and leave them at room temperature. 
• If it’s a couple of days, you can cover them and refrigerate them, then let them come to room temperature before using.
• If it’s up to a week or more in advance: 
  • Place the ganache into an airtight container and then into a freezer bag, squeezing out all the excess air. Defrost in the fridge overnight and then bring it back to room temperature before using
  • Place the buttercream straight into a piping bag (or an airtight container) and then place it into a freezer bag, squeezing out all the excess air. Defrost in the fridge overnight and then bring it back to room temperature before using.

How to store cake

How to store the finished cake

If the cake is fully frosted and unsliced, you can leave it on the counter overnight (unless it feels soft and unstable, then refrigerate it). 

If the cake is partially sliced, cover any cut sections with plastic wrap or a cake dome. Place all the cut slices in an airtight container. It can stay at room temperature for a day or refrigerated for up to a week. 

How to freeze the cake

If the cake is sliced, place the slices in an airtight container. You can also individually wrap each slice in plastic wrap if you want to remove one at a time. Place the container in a freezer bag and squeeze out all the excess air. You can store them in the freezer for up to 2 months.

You can also freeze the cake whole. To do this, refrigerate the cake until the frosting is firm, a couple of hours. Then wrap the whole cake in plastic wrap, twice and freeze for up to two months. 

Let the cake thaw in the fridge overnight. Then remove the plastic wrap and let it thaw on the counter until serving. Keep in mind, the cake is never as good as fresh. 

Thanks so much for reading today’s post , if you have any questions just comment down below, i’m happy to answer! If you make this Ferrero Rocher Cake I would love to see it, so make sure to tag me @baranbakery on instagram!

As always, have a blessed day and happy baking!

Love, B