Childhood Chocolate with Peanuts

To prepare this delicious cocoa and hazelnut cake recipe, we start by making the syrup. In a medium-sized pot, combine water, sugar, vanilla sugar, and rum essence. This mixture is brought to a low heat, being careful to stir constantly to prevent sticking. Once the syrup starts to boil, we let it boil for about 5 minutes, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the syrup becomes slightly viscous. It's important not to leave it on the heat too long, as we want a syrup that remains liquid.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, we put the powdered milk and mix it with cocoa. This step is essential to achieve a homogeneous texture and an intense cocoa flavor. After the syrup has been removed from the heat, we add the butter cut into cubes, at room temperature, and mix vigorously until fully incorporated. Finally, we let the syrup cool to room temperature.

Once the syrup has cooled, we begin to gradually incorporate it into the powdered milk and cocoa mixture, using a whisk to homogenize the composition. It is important to add the syrup little by little to obtain a thick and smooth paste without lumps. This base will be the foundation of our cake.

Now we prepare the baking tray. We place a sheet of baking paper or aluminum foil at the bottom of the tray to facilitate the later removal of the cake. We pour a thin layer of the obtained mixture into the tray, ensuring that we evenly cover the entire surface. On top, we sprinkle the roasted hazelnuts, which will add a delicious crunch. Then, we cover the hazelnuts with another layer of mixture, making sure they are well incorporated.

To add a personal touch, everyone can choose to divide the tray in two, putting hazelnuts on one half and plain chocolate on the other. After completing the layers, we place the tray in the refrigerator, where we let the cake cool for 2 hours. This cooling period will allow the cake to set and achieve a perfect texture for cutting.

After two hours, the cake is ready to be taken out of the refrigerator. We cut it into serving shapes, according to everyone’s preferences. It is a simple cake, but with a sophisticated appearance that will surely impress guests. Enjoy! It is an easy-to-make and extremely delicious recipe, perfect for moments of culinary indulgence.