Experience a burst of festive flavors with our Spiced Cherry-Nut Cake, a delightful treat that perfectly captures the essence of the holiday season. This cake brings together the aromatic warmth of speculoos spices, the rich nuttiness of ground hazelnuts, and the sweet tang of cherries. Its moist, tender crumb, interspersed with creamy pockets of spiced cream cheese and juicy cherries, makes each bite a delightful surprise.
Why You'll Love This: This cake is a celebration of traditional holiday flavors with a twist. The speculoos spice blend adds a unique depth, perfectly complemented by the texture and taste of hazelnuts. The cherry and cream cheese filling adds a layer of richness and moisture, making the cake both indulgent and comforting. It's a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and fruity flavors that will delight any palate.
Perfect Occasion: The Spiced Cherry-Nut Cake is ideal for holiday celebrations, winter gatherings, or as a special treat to enjoy with family and friends. Its festive flavors and elegant appearance make it a great centerpiece for a Christmas dinner or a cozy afternoon tea during the colder months.
Decoration Tips: Dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar for a snowy, winter-like effect. For an extra festive touch, garnish with whole or halved cherries and a sprinkle of chopped hazelnuts. Serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream or a side of vanilla ice cream for an added indulgence.
Ingredients:
Cake:
- 3 eggs
- 200 ml lukewarm milk
- 200 ml oil
- 230 g sugar
- 1 packet vanilla sugar
- 3 tsp speculoos spice
- 360 g flour
- 100 g ground hazelnuts
- 1 packet vanilla pudding powder
- 1 packet baking powder
Filling:
- 300 g cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 60 g sugar
- 1 packet vanilla sugar
- Zest of a lemon
Additionally:
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- 1 jar of cherries
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F).
- Whisk eggs, vanilla sugar, and sugar until fluffy. Mix in milk and oil.
- Gradually add flour, baking powder, speculoos spice, vanilla pudding powder, and ground hazelnuts.
- Pour the batter into a baking form lined with parchment paper.
- Mix cream cheese, sugar, vanilla sugar, lemon zest, and an egg. Drop small mounds of this mixture onto the batter.
- Top the cake with cherries.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, performing a toothpick test for doneness.
- Let the cake cool and dust with powdered sugar.
Enjoy the rich and comforting flavors of this Spiced Cherry-Nut Cake, a delightful treat that's sure to bring warmth and joy to your festive celebrations!