Candied Hazelnuts For Darkest Chocolate Crepe Cake Recipes

CANDIED HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Thread each hazelnut onto the tip of a long wooden skewer or toothpick, and set aside.
• Place a cutting board or marble board along the edge of a countertop, and set a baking sheet covered with waxed paper on floor next to edge of that countertop to catch the drips of candy from the hazelnuts.
• Cook the sugar and water in a heavy bottomed medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves.
• Continue to cook the sugar, without stirring, until the syrup comes to a boil. Wash the sides of the pan down with a wet brush to prevent crystals from forming. Let the syrup boil until it turns light brown in color, about 5 minutes; remove from heat. Let the syrup sit until slightly cooled, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Dip one of the skewered hazelnuts into the cooled syrup, coating the hazelnut completely, and letting the excess syrup drip back into the pan. When the dripping syrup becomes a thin string, secure end of the skewer under the cutting board, let the caramelized sugar string drip over edge and onto the baking sheet that's on the floor.
• Repeat with remaining hazelnuts. Let the candied hazelnuts stand until the syrup has hardened, at least 5 minutes. Carefully remove skewers from under the cutting board, and garnish your dessert with the skewered candied hazelnuts.

CANDIED HAZELNUTS FOR DARKEST CHOCOLATE CREPE CAKE

Steps:

• Thread each hazelnut onto tip of a long wooden skewer; set aside. Place a cutting board along the edge of a countertop; set a baking sheet on floor next to edge.
• Cook sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. Continue to cook, without stirring, until syrup comes to a boil, washing down sides with a wet brush to prevent crystals from forming. Let boil until syrup turns light amber, about 5 minutes; remove from heat. Let stand until slightly cooled, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Dip 1 skewered hazelnut into syrup, coating completely and letting excess syrup drip back into pan. When dripping syrup becomes a thin string, secure end of skewer under cutting board, letting caramel string drip over edge onto sheet. Repeat with remaining hazelnuts. Let stand until caramel has hardened, about 5 minutes. Break strings to about 4 inches. Carefully remove skewers.

DARKEST CHOCOLATE CREPE CAKE

Steps:

• Bring 1/4 cup water to a rolling boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking to combine after each addition. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate until completely melted. Set aside.
• Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together milk, eggs, and vanilla in another medium bowl. Gradually add milk mixture to flour mixture, whisking until smooth. Add chocolate-butter mixture, whisking until smooth. Pour through a fine sieve into an airtight container; discard lumps. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
• Lightly coat an 8-inch crepe pan or nonstick skillet with melted butter. Heat over medium heat until just starting to smoke. Remove pan from heat; pour about 2 tablespoons batter into pan, swirling to cover bottom. Reduce heat to medium-low; return pan to heat. Cook, flipping once, until edges are golden and center is dry, about 30 seconds per side.
• Slide crepe onto a plate. Repeat process with remaining batter, coating pan with butter as needed. Crepes can be refrigerated, covered, up to 1 day.
• Place a crepe on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Spread with about 3 tablespoons hazelnut filling. Top with another crepe. Continue layering with hazelnut filling and crepes, using about 32 crepes and ending with a crepe on top. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Spoon 1/2 cup glaze on top of the cake, spreading to edges. Spread remaining glaze around sides of cake, coating completely. Refrigerate until glaze is firm and set, about 20 minutes. Cake can be refrigerated up to 3 days. Garnish with toasted and candied hazelnuts.