Ingredients

  • 6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) soft unsalted butter
  • 1 cup superfine sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups ground, (or finely chopped) toasted hazelnuts
  • 1/2 cup hazelnut liqueur
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 3 (7-inch) rounds sponge cake, each 1/2-inch thick, recipe follows
  • 1/4 cup orange liqueur mixed with 1/4 cup water
  • 1 quart strawberries
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped, toasted hazelnuts
  • Flavored cream garnish, optional
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange liqueur
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar

Method

  • Cream together the butter and sugar.
  • Beat in the hazelnuts and then half of the hazelnut liqueur.
  • Whip the cream.
  • Add the remaining half of the hazelnut liqueur to the cream and whip to shaving cream consistency.
  • Fold into the butter/nut mixture.
  • Line the bottom and sides of a 2-quart, cylindrical mold (like a souffle dish) with parchment.
  • Paint (imbibe) the sponge cake layers with the orange liqueur and water.
  • Place a layer of sponge cake on the bottom.
  • Top the sponge layer with a layer of 1/2 of the cream.
  • Plant a ring of strawberries, point down, around the outer edge.
  • Top with another sponge cake layer and repeat with cream and berries.
  • Top with a final layer of sponge cake.
  • Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  • Remove from mold and dust sides with coarse hazelnuts.
  • For the optional flavored whipped cream garnish, whisk heavy cream in a bowl until it begins to thicken.
  • Add the confectioners' sugar, orange liqueur, and vanilla and whisk to soft peaks.
  • Place the cream in a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
  • Pipe rosettes on top of the cake and top each rosette with a small strawberry.
  • Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat 3 (7-inch) cake pans with non-stick vegetable spray.
  • Line the bottoms with a circle of baking parchment.
  • In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
  • Repeat 3 times.
  • In a small saucepan, bring the milk and butter to a boil.
  • Remove from the heat and add the vanilla and lemon extracts.
  • In a mixing bowl beat the eggs and sugar until pale yellow, fluffy and doubled in volume.
  • While still beating, drizzle in the hot milk mixture.
  • Fold in the flour mixture.
  • Spread the batter in the prepared pans and bake for 15 minutes, or until golden, the center springs back when lightly pressed and a cake tester comes out clean.
  • Set the pans on a rack to cool.
  • Run the tip of a knife around the edges of the cakes to loosen them, and turn them out of the pans.
  • Yield: 12 servings