This Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Cake is so traditional in Latvia. We call it Cielavina. It really is a show stopped at any dinner table or party. I cannot think of any occasions, where you wouldn’t serve this lavish cake with delicate hazelnut meringue and rich chocolate cream. Called “Cielaviņa” (“Wagtail”) in Latvia, it has been one of the most popular cakes on offer since 1970-ies. It has layers of hazelnut meringue with chocolate cream in between. This cake is one of the best ones, and I remember having it for birthdays and other celebrations. It is quite easy to make and all the flavours go so well together. If you like meringue then this cake is for you, it is very different to the standard meringue cakes you have tried, so give it a go!
Ingredients
For the meringues
400 gr sugar
6 egg whites
2 tbsp cornstarch or potato starch
200 gr hazelnuts
pinch of salt
For the Chocolate Cream
6 egg yolks
4tbsp of sugar
40 g water
300 g softened butter
4 tbsp of cocoa
150 g condensed milk
50 ml rum/ cognac or brandy ( optional)
Decoration
100 g dark chocolate
50 ml double cream
50–100 g hazelnuts
▶️ DTube
▶️ IPFS