Certosino - Traditional Bolognese Christmas Cake

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Certosino - Traditional Bolognese Christmas Cake

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Behold the Certosino, a time-honored Italian Christmas cake hailing from the beautiful city of Bologna. This festive delight is an orchestra of flavors, featuring a medley of nuts, dried fruit, and aromatic spices. Each bite reveals the richness of dark chocolate and the sweetness of candied orange peel. The cake is baked to perfection and then draped in a glossy, silky chocolate glaze, creating a show-stopping dessert that's as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate. This recipe carries with it centuries of Italian tradition, bringing a slice of Bologna's Christmas spirit into your home.

Servings: 12

Ingredients

All-purpose flour
2 cups
Granulated sugar
1 cup
Honey
1/2 cup
Cocoa powder
1/2 cup
Baking soda
1 teaspoon
Ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon
Ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon
Ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon
Whole almonds
1/2 cup
Pine nuts
1/2 cup
Raisins
1/2 cup
Candied orange peel
1/2 cup
Dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup
Butter, melted
1/2 cup
Eggs
2
Dark rum
1/4 cup
Chocolate glaze
1 cup

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease a round cake pan.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
  3. Stir in the almonds, pine nuts, raisins, candied orange peel, and chopped dark chocolate.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, eggs, and rum until well combined.
  5. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Ensure not to over-mix to maintain a tender crumb in the cake.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
  7. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Once completely cooled, pour the chocolate glaze over the cake, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Allow the glaze to set before serving.

Dietary Information

Servings: 12 • Dish Type: Dessert • Prep Time: 30 minutes • Cook Time: 1 hour • Calories: 400 • Fat: 20g • Carbs: 55g • Protein: 6g • Sodium: 150mg • Sugar: 35g

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