TLC’s Cake Boss Shares a Valentine’s Day Treat

Whether you sugarcoat it or not, Valentine’s Day just might be the sweetest holiday. So I was thrilled when Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s Cake Boss, owner of Carlo’s Bakery and the Venetian Las Vegas restaurant Buddy V’s, agreed to share a spectacular recipe with Parade.com for Valentine’s Day. Having enjoyed this treat more times than my waistline would like to admit, I can assure you it won’t disappoint. AND, how cool is it, that this spectacular dessert recipe is from the woman who captured Buddy Valastro’s heart?

Wife Lisa Valastro’s Nutella cake is notorious on the Vegas Strip. Says The Cake Boss, “Everyone knows me as the baker in the family, but Lisa really shows me up with her Nutella cake. It’s one of those perfect Valentine’s Day desserts, chocolate with a hint of hazelnut– even better with a scoop of ice cream!” Buddy V’s serves the cake with salted caramel ice cream. Bake this up at home, and you’ll earn more than Brownie points with your Valentine.

Lisa’s Warm Nutella Cake

(Serves 12)

4 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
3½ cups flour
1½ cups cocoa powder
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups black coffee
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1  8oz Jar of Nutella

1.   Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In an electric mixer with paddle attachment, mix sugar, eggs and oil until doubled in volume.

2.   Sift dry ingredients together and alternate adding dry ingredients into egg mixture with the liquids (buttermilk, coffee and vanilla extract)

3.   Scoop batter into ring molds sprayed with nonstick cooking spray or individual ramekins and bake until cake springs back

4.   Once cooled, remove from ring molds if using or serve directly in ramekins and scoop about a tablespoon of cake from each center

5.   Pipe Nutella into center of cake  and top with your favorite chocolate caramel sauce. Serve with ice cream.

Nancy Berk, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, author, comic and entertainment analyst. The host of the showbiz podcast Whine At 9, Nancy digs a little deeper as she chats with fascinating celebrities and industry insiders. Her book College Bound and Gagged: How to Help Your Kid Get into a Great College Without Losing Your Savings, Your Relationship, or Your Mind can be seen in the feature film Admission starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd.