Hazelnut Holiday Trifle

This recipe came about as a result of an 'oops' in my kitchen.  The plan was to make the hazelnut roll (also found on page 154 of the MGCC cookbook) for a holiday gathering.  After removing the cake from the pan, I rolled it up to cool.  I realized too late that it should have been rolled starting at the short end...and I rolled it the long way.  I un-rolled...and re-rolled...and cracked the cake in the process.  At that point I decided it would become a hazelnut trifle...and so the hazelnut holiday trifle was born!  Like the log roll...it is gluten free for those who are on a GF diet. Equally good, is a trifle made up the same way but using banana cake instead of the hazelnut cake. 

Ingredients:

• 1 hazelnut sheet cake, cubed (recipe below)...or your favorite banana cake
• 1 package vanilla instant pudding, 6 serving size
• 3 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups Nutella hazelnut spread (soften slightly in microwave oven)
• 2 cups whipping cream, whipped and sweetened

Method:

1. Place 1/3 of cake cubes in the bottom of clear glass trifle bowl.
2. Spread with a layer of Nutella, 1/3 of the pudding and 1/3 of the whipped cream.
3. Repeat layers, spreading whipped cream over the entire top of bowl.
4. Garnish with coarsely chopped hazelnuts and raspberries, if desired.

Hazelnut Sheet Cake:

• 6 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 1/4 cups finely ground hazelnuts
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teasoon salt

1. Line 10 x 15 inch bar pan with parchment paper and spray with Pam.
2. In mixer, combine sugar and egg yolks; beat on high speed for 5 minutes.
3. Add extracts and beat well.
4. Combine ground hazelnuts, baking powder and salt. 
5. Add to sugar mixture and beat 2 minutes longer.
6. Beat egg whites until stiff.
7. Fold into cake batter by hand.
8. Spread batter in prepared pan.
9. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. 
10. Run knife around outer edge once slightly cooled; flip from pan to cool completely.
11. Cut into cubes when ready to assemble trifle.