With layers of chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, dulce de leche soaked ladyfingers, and a hazelnut and chocolate topping, this dairy-free Chocolate Dulce de Leche Cake with Hazelnuts is a decadent treat. This layered cake is inspired by The Milly Cake by Melenzane.
Line a 9 inch round baking pan with parchment paper
Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar
Add the eggs – one at a time, mixing after each one
Fold in the cocoa powder and melted chocolate and vanilla and salt
Bake for 35 minutes
And let cool
For the chocolate mousse
Soak the cashews in a container filled with water overnight, or soak them for 30 minutes using the quick soak* (see notes) method.
Add the soaked cashews and almond milk to a blender or food processor and blend till smooth and creamy
Add the cocoa/chocolate, honey, cinnamon, salt and vanilla and blend till well incorporated
Using a spatula, spread half of the chocolate mousse in a thin layer over the cooled chocolate cake.
Set the rest aside to add on top of the dulce de leche soaked ladyfingers.
For the dulce de leche ladyfingers layer
(This can be prepared the night before)
Fill a medium to small pan with water and immerse a can of coconut condensed milk in it.
Let it simmer over a low flame for 5 hours.
Make sure to check the pan every 45 minutes to an hour and add more hot water to the pan as the water level lowers.
Let the can cool after 5 hours and open when cooled.
Add 3 tablespoons of this coconut dulce de leche to a bowl along with the almond milk and vanilla extract and mix well.
Soak the ladyfingers in this mixture and add on top of the chocolate mousse layer.
Then, add the remaining chocolate mousse on top of the dulce de lech soaked ladyfingers.
For the topping
Chop the hazelnuts and the chocolate bar and scatter it on top of the chocolate mousse layer.
Then wrap the entire cake in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour or more.
For the Chocolate sauce
When ready to serve, make the chocolate sauce by melting the chocolate in the microwave. Then, add a little bit of the almond milk at a time to the melted and warm chocolate and mix until smooth and well incorporated.
Pour the chocolate sauce over a slice of the cake.
Drizzle on a little bit of the dulce de leche as well and enjoy!
Notes
The quick soak method involves soaking cashews for 30 minutes in boiling water and lemon. The cashews are drained and can be used in the recipe.The chocolate cake layer is from my go-to chocolate cake recipe.The chocolate mousse layer is from my dairy-free chocolate pudding recipe.The dulce de leche recipe here is from Walking Through Lavender fields.