If you are looking for a dessert that amazes with its beauty and wins hearts with its softness, the quilted Nutella sponge cake is the ideal choice. This dessert is characterized by a light base that, during baking, rises around a lattice of spreadable cream, creating little puffy cushions that truly resemble a soft quilt. Making this Nutella cake is a simple and fragrant ritual, perfect to indulge at breakfast or snack time, perhaps while your cat looks at you slyly hoping a bit of powdered sugar will magically fall to the floor. Follow my steps to achieve a silky texture and impeccable decoration!
If you like sponge cakes try the quilted cocoa cake, the cake with pastry cream, jam and almonds, the 5-minute apple, jam and almond cake or even the cocoa cake without butter, milk or eggs.
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OTHER DESSERTS WITH NUTELLA
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Low cost
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cooking time: 40 Minutes
- Portions: 8 People
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients for preparing the quilted Nutella cake
- 2 eggs
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 3/4 tbsp cornstarch
- 3.4 fl oz milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- Half packet baking powder
- 7 oz Nutella
- 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Steps to prepare the quilted Nutella sponge cake
Start by breaking the 2 eggs into a large bowl. Add the sugar and beat the two ingredients with electric beaters until you obtain a light and frothy mixture. This step is essential to incorporate the air needed to make your cake soft, tall and light. Next, pour the vegetable oil and the milk in a thin stream, continuing to mix at low speed to combine the liquids without deflating the batter, thus creating a fluid base that will perfectly welcome the dry ingredients.
Sift carefully the all-purpose flour together with the cornstarch and the half packet of baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, mixing well with a whisk to avoid lumps. Flavor the batter with vanilla extract and add a pinch of salt, which helps balance the sweetness and enhance the aroma of the ingredients. The presence of the cornstarch is the little secret to obtain a velvety crumb, turning a simple loaf cake into a real cloud of pleasure.
Take a baking pan (whichever you prefer, as long as it is not too large for these quantities) and line it with baking paper that you have wet and wrung out. Pour the batter inside and level it carefully with the back of a spoon. It is important that the surface is very even before moving on to the creative phase, so that the quilted cake effect is regular and harmonious across the whole surface. This will ensure that each slice has the same amount of spreadable cream and the same softness.
Take the Nutella (warm it slightly if it is too hard) and put it into a piping bag. Draw a lattice of diagonal intersecting lines on the cake surface, forming neat diamonds. Bake in a conventional oven at 356°F for about 40 minutes. During baking you will see the batter rise and “embrace” the cream. Always perform the toothpick test before removing from the oven. Once cool, unmold your Nutella cake and finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar before serving.
Tips for a perfect result
Nutella consistency: To obtain a design that remains defined without sinking too much, the Nutella must be creamy but not liquid. If you heat it too much, let it rest for a minute before decorating your sponge cake.
Room temperature eggs: Using eggs that are not cold from the fridge helps the sugar dissolve better and allows the mixture to whip more easily, ensuring even rising and a taller cake.
Do not open the oven: Resist the temptation to open the oven before at least 30 minutes have passed. The thermal shock could deflate the “cushions” of your quilted cake, compromising the final aesthetic effect.
Delicious variations you can try
Jam center: If you are looking for a fresher taste, try replacing the hazelnut cream with a thick raspberry or apricot jam. You will have a quilted sponge cake with a fruity and slightly tart flavor.
Add toasted nuts: Inside the diamonds drawn with the Nutella, you can place half a toasted hazelnut or some pine nuts before baking. This will give a delightful crunchy note to your homemade dessert.
Black and white quilt: You can prepare the batter by adding 20 g (about 2 2/3 tbsp) of unsweetened cocoa (removing 20 g of flour) and decorate with a white chocolate spread. The color effect will be reversed and very elegant.
Storage and suggestions
Perfect for snack time: Cut the cake following the quilt lines to obtain portions that are already decorated. It’s the perfect dessert to serve during tea with friends or as a wholesome snack for children.
Warm treats: If you want to enhance the creaminess, warm your slice for a few seconds in the microwave before eating. The Nutella will become fluid again and the scent of vanilla will envelop your senses.
Under a glass dome: The cake stays perfectly moist for 3-4 days. Thanks to the vegetable oil, the texture does not harden and remains pleasant even a few days after preparation.
Now it’s your turn!
The quilted Nutella sponge cake is proof that with few ingredients and a pinch of imagination you can create a small masterpiece. It is a dessert that conveys warmth and joy just by looking at it, and its simplicity makes it suitable even for those who are new to cooking.
And you, how do you prefer to enjoy it? Are you a fan of classic Nutella or do you like to experiment with different artisanal creams? Have you ever tried making this pattern on other types of desserts? Tell me in the comments, I’m very curious to know your experiences and tricks to make every recipe special!
FAQ (Questions & Answers)
Can I use rice flour?
Yes, for a gluten-free version you can replace the all-purpose flour with rice flour, keeping the cornstarch. The texture will be a bit crumblier but still very good.
Why did the quilt pattern disappear during baking?
If the batter rises too quickly or is too soft, it may cover the Nutella. Make sure to use only a half packet of baking powder and not to overbeat the final mixture.
What if I don’t have a piping bag?
You can use a freezer bag and cut off a corner, or let the Nutella fall from the tip of a knife trying to follow a straight line to create the design.
