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A slice of hazelnut orange torte on a plate topped with glossy chocolate ganache and caramelised hazelnuts, showing a moist flourless crumb

Hazelnut orange Torte

This Hazelnut Orange Torte is a rich, naturally flourless cake that combines roasted hazelnuts, bright orange zest, and deep cocoa for a perfectly balanced flavour. Lightened with whipped egg whites and enriched with yolks, it delivers a soft, slightly fudgy crumb without the need for flour. Finished with a silky chocolate ganache and crisp caramelised hazelnuts, this elegant dessert is both indulgent and refined.
Built on simple ingredients and solid baking science, it’s a reliable, make-ahead cake that holds its structure beautifully while delivering bold flavour in every slice — perfect for entertaining or special occasions.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Baking

Ingredients
  

Torte
  • 150 g Hazelnut meal
  • 40 g Whole hazelnuts
  • 27 g Cocoa
  • 83 g Castor Sugar
  • 4 Egg whites 70g eggs
  • 4 Egg yolks 70g eggs
  • 95 g Orange juice Freshly squeezed
  • 1 Orange rind
  • 48 g Castor Sugar
Ganache
  • 300 g Dark Couverture Chocolate (Note 1)
  • 80 g Thickened Cream
  • 80 g Milk Full cream
  • 18 g Unsalted Butter
Caramelised hazelnuts
  • 50 g Castor Sugar
  • 5 g Water
  • 8 g Glucose
  • 50 g Hazelnuts lightly roasted
White chocolate circles
  • 50 g White Couverture chocolate (Note 2)
  • 30 g Cocoa

Equipment

  • 1 Oven
  • 1 22cm Deep Fluted tart tin with a removable base
  • 1 pastry brush for oiling the tin
  • 1 Stand Mixer
  • 1 Stand Mixer Whisk
  • 1 Stand Mixer flat paddle
  • 1 Tea towel for taking the skin off the hazelnuts
  • 1 Medium Bowl
  • 1 large spoon
  • 1 Bowl scraper
  • 2 Medium Bowl
  • 1 stove
  • 2 Sauce pans 1 for Ganache 1 for Caramel
  • 1 Stirrer
  • 1 hand whisk
  • 2 Oven trays
  • 1 Silpat mat
  • 1 Digital thermometer Caramel
  • 2 forks Caramel
  • 2 Acetate sheets
  • 1 refrigerator
  • 1 Sieve Cocoa
  • 1 Paper Piping bag
  • 1 knife
  • 1 chopping board
  • 1 Scissors

Method
 

Torte
  1. Set the oven 180C
  2. Oil a deep 22 cm fluted tart tin
  3. Line the tart tin base with baking paper
  4. Roast hazelnut meal and whole hazel nuts separately until a light golden colour
  5. Rub off the skin in a clean tea towel. Chop the whole hazelnuts roughly
  6. Separate the eggs yolks and whites
  7. Sieve the cocoa, add in the sugar, orange rind and orange juice.
  8. Whip the egg yolks lightly and add to the hazelnut mix and mix through
  9. In a clean bowl whip the egg white and add sugar in three stages and hip unitl medium peaks
  10. Whip until medium peaks
  11. Fold the egg whites through the hazelnut meal mix trying to ensure not to loose aeration
  12. Pour in to the tin.Bake 20 -25 mins.
  13. Set aside to cool completely before removing from tin
Ganache
  1. Boil the cream, milk and butter
  2. Pour into the chocolate. Let it sit for 30 seconds and mix until smooth and combined
  3. Set aside to cool
Caramelised Nuts
  1. Combine the sugar, water, glucose over the stove.
  2. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved and starts to simmer
  3. Simmer 2-3 mins brushing down the sides to stop the crystals forming with a pastry brush dipped in water
  4. Once the sugar starts to boil stop stirring
  5. Allow the caramel to become a light amber.
  6. It will turn dark very Quickly so keep a close eye
  7. Remove from the heat
  8. Ensure the nuts are kept warm in the oven
  9. Pour the caramel over the nuts and coat
  10. Take two forks and pop the covered hazelnuts onto a silpat mat
  11. Separate and let cool
White Chocolate Circles
  1. Melt the chocolate either in a microwave or over a double boiler
  2. Make a paper piping bag
  3. Pipe 12 circles 2cm onto an acetate sheet
  4. Dust with cocoa
  5. Pop another acetate sheet over the top
  6. Pop in the fridge to set
Decoration
  1. Once the cake is cool take out of the tin
  2. Turn upside down. The base is the top
  3. Spread an even layer of ganache over the top
  4. Decorate with the caramelised hazelnuts and white chocolate circles

Notes

Note 1 - Couverture chocolate 40-55% is ideal but you will still get good results using Dark baking chocolate 
Note 2- White Couverture chocolate is ideal but you will still get good results using White baking chocolate- look for cocoa butter in the ingredients on pack