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Grace under fire…

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This Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake has a hazelnut cookie crust, vanilla and chocolate hazelnut layers, and is covered in a chocolate glaze.

As we all know, I am not a graceful person.

And yet I still for some reason think I am.

I watch shows like Dancing with the Stars and think, I want to do that.

Assuming somehow I will magically obtain grace and rhythm.

Right before my ankle injury two years ago I was all set to take Latin dance classes at a dance studio. Bad ankle and dancing did not mix and so that never happened.

A while back my gym started offering Zumba class.

It’s a Latin dance based cardio class.

I thought, what the heck.

If ever there was a weekly reminder that I am a white chic with absolutely no rhythm, this is my class.

But I love it so.

I’m too busy being lost to realize that an hour has gone by and I have burned 700 plus calories to boot.

The class has a range of people in it, all shapes and sizes.

It is fairly low impact so us fatties and the elderly can do it to…just go at your own pace.

Most of us don’t really look like we know what we are doing.

I mean, sure, you learn the routine and you can do the routine, but we don’t really look like dancers.

And then there is her.

I stand there in my oversized t-shirt, baggy pants, ankle brace, sweaty hair matted to the side of my beet red face clumsily waving my arms usually in the opposite direction that the rest of the class is going.

She is in some matching outfit.

No hair is out of place.

I’m not sure she is sweating.

And she glides.

Glides with such grace.

When I look back at her she always gives me that half smirk, half smile and I give her a thumbs up.

Usually…though really, I have a different finger in mind for her.

She is just lucky I am too busy keeping up with the class to plot any sort of accident to happen to her. 😉

I have learned the key to looking decent in the class though. I stand next to the 60 plus year old man.

My hip shaking isn’t that bad next to him.

Though what is hard is to hold in my laughter when Beyonce’s Single Girls song comes on.

Watching him actually put his hands up to “all the single ladies put your hands up” or attempting to swirl his hips to “if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.”

But you know what, good for him. I hope when I am his age I can still look just as un-graceful as I do now in cardio dance class.

The good news is that since it burns so many calories that I can come home and eat a HUGE piece of this Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake.

It’s a great day to buy my cookbook Holy Sweet!

Want more Cheesecake Recipes?

Brown Sugar Apple Cheesecake

Vanilla Chai Latte Cheesecake

Fireball Sour Cream Topped Brown Sugar Cheesecake

Samoas Cheesecake Coffee Cake

Savory Everything Bagel Cheesecake

Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake

Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake

Ingredients

  • For the Hazelnut Cookie Crust:
  • 12 oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 2 cups hazelnut flour
  • For the Cheesecake Filling:
  • 2 ½ pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 TBSP all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup hazelnut flour
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp Frangelico
  • ¼ cup Nutella
  • 2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
  • For the Chocolate Glaze:
  • 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. For the Hazelnut Cookie Crust:
  2. Cream the butter with the sugar until light.
  3. Add in the egg and mix well.
  4. Mix together the flour and cornstarch.
  5. Add this to the creamed mixture and blend.
  6. Mix in the nuts thoroughly.Form the dough into a bowl and wrap in plastic.
  7. Chill for about 4 hours.
  8. Preheat oven to 350F.
  9. Using a 10-inch springform pan or four 4-inch diameter mini springform pans, press the dough down, looking for about 1/4-inch thickness.
  10. You will have leftover dough! Much. Make linzer cookies with it.
  11. Poke holes using a fork to prevent the dough from forming bubbles.
  12. Bake for 15 minutes.
  13. Set aside and let cool. It will not be baked all the way through.
  14. For the Cheesecake Filling:
  15. Cream the cheese and sugar until soft, about 3 minutes.
  16. Add in eggs one at a time, scraping down after each addition.
  17. Add all-purpose flour and hazelnut flour and mix well.
  18. Stir in the vanilla and Frangelico.
  19. Take out 1/3 of the batter.
  20. Add the Nutella and unsweetened cocoa powder.
  21. Mix until fully incorporated.
  22. Pour 1/3 of the original batter into the prepared pan with crust.
  23. Then pour the Nutella batter on top of that.
  24. Followed by the remaining 1/3 of the original batter.
  25. Bake at 325F in a water bath for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
  26. Remove from oven.
  27. Remove from water bath.
  28. Let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
  29. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours or even better, overnight.
  30. Glaze cheesecake if desired (if not, can be served then). 
  31. Place back in refrigerator for another hour, then serve.
  32. For the Chocolate Glaze:
  33. Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl.In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil.
  34. Remove pan from heat and add the chopped chocolate.
  35. Let stand for 1 minute then gently stir until chocolate is melted and the glaze is smooth.
  36. Gently stir in the vanilla.
  37. Transfer glaze to a small bowl and cover the surface of the glaze with plastic wrap and let cool for 5 minutes at room temperature before using.
  38. To glaze the cake:
  39. Place the chilled cake, still on the cake round, on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
  40. Slowly pour the hot glaze onto the center of the cake.
  41. Smooth the glaze over the top and sides, letting the excess drip onto the baking sheet.
© Peabody

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Comments

  2. Sigh. There’s always a Her… (you forgot to mention she usually is in full battle make up as well, probably tattooed on because She never smears it).
    Let’s eat cake!!

    Reply

  4. Zumba is like “paying it forward” you get to burn the calories and then make them back with delicious treats! This cheesecake is heaven. Iadore hazelnuts!
    Thanks Peabody!
    M

    Reply

  5. I took that class once and was stuck next to someone just like your “friend.” She even stayed for the step class afterwards where as I had to go home and pass out on the floor. I bet she can’t bake a cheesecake to save her life though.

    Reply

  6. What is most important is that you are having fun and losing calories…

    A gorgeous cheesecake! What a temptation!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

  7. This cake is exactly the right reason to exercise! Gorgeous! And “her” is exactly the reason that I only exercise at home.

    Reply

  8. My best friend is totally that girl. I’m glad we’re not in PE together anymore! As for that cheesecake… wow. All of that hazelnut flavor looks amazing!

    Reply

  9. Hahahahah hilarious post!

    But… Chocolate? Hazelnut? and Cheesecake? My three favorite words and all together? Yikes. Looks like I need to sign up for Zumba and make this immediately.

    Reply

  10. The only reason to exercise is so I can eat desserts like this. And I could never do anything but exercise machines with other people present – I prefer my Wii Fit. 😛

    Reply

  11. This cheesecake looks amazing! I want to make it but I don’t think they sell hazelnut flour in my town, any suggestions for a substitution?

    Reply

  12. Peabody –

    Good morning. I love you. When I read your posts I always laugh out loud. You have encouraged me to start the Zumba class that I have been putting off for six months, then I will not feel guilty when I go home and eat cake. 🙂

    Reply

  14. Peabody, it is great that you are back and refreshed after your little break. I missed your posts. Your blog is one of my very favorites. I always laugh out loud at your stories, and the recipes are to die for. Thanks!!

    Reply

  16. I 100% agree with everything you say about Zumba. The best thing is I am concentrating so hard that though I know I look like a fool I don’t have time to contemplate it. I keep telling my instructor if they would just pass out shots of Tequila before class I could do SO much better! Need a little lubrication for my hips …lol

    Reply

  17. I am laughing to myself picturing my dad at a Zumba class. OH MAN.

    (and I wont lie, I just put the beyonce song and may be jammin in my seat a little bit)

    Reply

  18. Oh, I am glad you are back. My bum was missing the food.
    That looks absolutely lovely. Throw a raspberry on it and call it a healthy snack.

    Reply

  19. I am tempted by Zumba.
    But not as tempted as I am by that magically delicious-looking cheesecake! GodDAMN. Dare I add a little coffee into the mix? DARE I??

    Reply

  21. I have yet to take a Zumba class that’s offered at my gym… but if I lived closer and you bribed me to go with a slice of that cheesecake, I’d be all over that class! Looks amazing!

    Reply

  23. I am very sporty but dancing – forget about it. It is just me and my two left feet. I wish my gym offered more exciting classes though, instead of just two speeds. The cheesecake does look more my speed. Mmmmmmm.

    Reply

  24. Your posts are always so funny…and strike a chord with me too! I’ve always wanted to dance and I enjoy doing it…even if I look a bit bonkers at it 🙂 That older guy sounds too cute…good for him really!

    Reply

  25. I haven’t tried zumba yet, but it sounds fun! This cheesecake looks AWESOME! I was trying to figure out what that wonderful looking dessert was with all the layers and had to skip down to the recipe before I even read your post. 🙂 Mmmmm.

    Reply

  27. Yay for earned calories! The cake is BEAUTiful.
    Obviously I don’t have a license to dance Single Ladies not because of my age but because of my Y chromosome 🙂

    Reply

  28. at least you’re having fun with it. I hate exercising, walking in general, so I do weights which I like because I can sit down and do them. Bad huh? But at least lifting weights burns a ton of calories.
    I don’t even want to comment on the cheesecake because it’s looks too good and I’m starving right now. lol

    Reply

  32. A friend took me to a step class once, it was horrible, I was so uncoordinated and kept falling off my stepper. I’d rather just have the cheesecake…

    Reply

  33. Oh god, this looks SO good. I love hazelnut anything. As for classes…I am terrible and classes. I have NO coordination. I pretty much just jump around, practically fall, risk injury. I stick to the machines I know how to use. 🙂

    Reply

  35. The old guy’s smart. Where else can you watch a large group of women gettin’ hot & sweaty dancing? it’s good for his heart too! You know, I run so I can eat cake. It’s a necessary evil. Good for you for dancing for your cake!

    Reply

  36. Yeah, yeah–I know working out is good for your health. But I pretty much only work out so I can have more room for things like this! Being able to eat more is my #1 motivator 🙂

    Reply

  37. Now I’m picturing my DAD dance to Beyonce. And it’s awesome. I needed a giggle. Thanks!

    And it goes without saying that your cake looks glorious.

    Reply

  38. I’m the beet red faced older person with a bad foot next to you waving my arms, by mistake, in your face, completely out of sync with the class, music, etc., but with a big smile on my face. I’ll have a piece of that cheesecake. YUM!

    Reply

  42. I have to say, size and grace don’t necessarily always go together. I am the clumsiest person I know. Seriously. I mean, I even slipped and broke my own nose in high school – with a door for hell’s sakes! Anyway, I think the fact that you are brave enough to go in that class in the first place (plus you play hockey!!!!) are just freakin’ awesome and impressive to begin with! I don’t even have the grace and coordination for that.

    Now, please pass the cheesecake!

    Reply

  44. Whenever anyone asks me to dance I give them the look that says “I can clear a room trying to sing, can you imagine what I can do with dancing?”. Seriously. No rhythm. I can move pretty good sitting down but once I stand up? Hilarity ensues and medics are called.

    But I’d risk it for a piece of this cake….

    Reply

  46. Hey, maybe you don’t look like “her” in the class, but at least you aren’t like me – I fell off the step in a step class once. Right on my butt. So embarrassing. cheesecake looks amazing!

    Reply

  50. Her twin sister is in my Thursday evening Body Sculpting class. One of these nights I’m going to punt my step into her flat, tight backside with my big flabby right leg.

    And then go sit down in the locker room and eat a slice of this!

    Reply

  51. This looks SO amazing. It’s been ages since I had a good cheesecake, thanks for reminding me to put this on my list of things to eat!

    Reply

  53. As I was reading this post, I was honestly thinking to myself, “Well, if there’s any dance class for me, that one’s it. I wonder if they offer it in Paris?”

    Then I got to the cheesecake and remembered that I am probably even less graceful than you say you are, and I might as well just stick with what I know I can do and make cheesecake.

    Thanks for helping me get my priorities in order!

    Reply

  54. Oh Peabody, you teased me, with your quick posting one week later. You really are taking a break. I will try to hold myself together, by baking my way through your archives. I wish you well, and hope for your speedy return. You know one way for you to get your inspiration back, is to buy a lot of box cake mixes and prepared icing. That will snap you right out of it in no time.

    Reply

  56. Mmm, this cheesecake is totally indulgence-worthy 🙂 It looks fabulous, Peabody. I love those types of classes at the gym. I’m always off a beat, but I have so much fun doing it!! Screw that girl who smirks. One day she’ll trip over her own feet and who will be laughing then? (You and me 🙂 ) Sorry I’ve been away from blogging/commenting for so long. I just finished up with my exams and am finally getting around to my google reader 🙂 Everything looks delicious!

    Reply

  58. Of course that cheesecake looks gorgeous and delicious, but I really loved your gym story. I’ve been wanting to take a zumba class for years. All the classes at my gym are at crummy times, so I never get to go.

    Reply

  60. This post is awesome! I am actually a Zumba instructor, and fellow baker. I actually also use Byonce’s “Single Ladies” in my class! I’m so glad you found Zumba and love it! I love it too, although I assure you that I am not a “her.” I’m sweating right a long with my class! Thank you so much for sharing your love of Zumba… and this delicious cheesecake recipe!

    Reply

  61. I’ve made two Nutella cakes recently. One cheesecake two days ago. And cheesecake brownies last weekend. All this somehow tells me that Nutella cheesecake would be next on the list 😛

    Reply

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