Best Cinnamon Chocolate Cake Recipes

CINNAMON CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the butter, oil and chocolate. Cook and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat. Add the water; pour into a mixing bowl. Cool to room temperature. Beat in the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; add to the chocolate mixture alternately with buttermilk. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Remove to a wire rack. , In a small saucepan, combine the butter, milk and chocolate. Cook and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth; fold in pecans. Spread over warm cake. If desired, sprinkle with additional chopped pecans.

CINNAMON CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Sift sugar and flour into a large bowl.
• In a saucepan, mix 1/2 cup margarine, shortening, 4 tablespoons cocoa, and water. Bring to a rapid boil.
• Pour over flour/sugar mixture and mix well.
• Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla and blend well.
• Pour batter into a greased 15x11 inch pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
• To make topping, mix powdered sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 cup butter, milk and blend well. Stir in pecans.
• Pour over warm cake and use a warm knife to spread.

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON HAZELNUT MERINGUE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (125 degrees C). Line three baking sheets with parchment paper. With a pencil, draw 5 circles 9 inches in diameter on the parchment paper. It is best to trace around a cake pan or large saucepan.
• In a large clean bowl, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of white sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Sift together the 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, cinnamon and corn starch, toss them together with the ground hazelnuts, then carefully fold them into the egg white mixture. Divide the mixture evenly between the 5 circles, and spread the meringue out to the edge of the drawn circle.
• Bake for 3 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until the meringue is completely dried out. Cool on wire racks.
• Melt the semi-sweet chocolate over a double boiler until smooth. Spread over parchment paper or waxed paper into a 12x10 inch rectangle. When chocolate is set, cut the rectangle crosswise into 10-1 inch strips. Cut 8 of the strips into thirds. Cut the remaining strips into fourths. Set aside.
• To make the filling, whip the heavy whipping cream with the 1 tablespoon of confectioners' sugar until stiff. Spread whipped cream over all of the meringue layers. Using one of your prettiest plates, stack the layers on top of one another. Use 2/3 of the remaining whipped cream to spread around the outside edge of the cake. Put the rest of the whipped cream into a pastry bag and pipe rosettes around the edge. Place the 24 long chocolate strips vertically around the sides of the cake. Arrange the remaining pieces of chocolate on the top in the design of your choice. Dust the cake with cocoa powder for a dramatic finish, and serve as soon as possible, as the meringue will soak up moisture from the whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON SWIRL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x12-inch glass baking dish.
• Mix together sugar, cocoa powder, and cinnamon in a small bowl; set topping aside.
• Combine butter and cream cheese in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and mix until well blended. Mix in vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift in flour and baking powder and blend until thoroughly combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
• Pour 1/2 of the batter into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon topping. Spread remaining batter on top and sprinkle with remaining topping.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 60 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

CINNAMON SPICE CAKE WITH FIG BUTTERCREAM, WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND BUTTERMILK CARAMEL

Steps:

• For the cinnamon spice cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper and lightly butter.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, shortening, brown sugar and granulated sugar together until smooth. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time until smooth and light. Stir together the buttermilk and vanilla in a separate small bowl. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and allspice in a large bowl. Alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture in thirds to the mixer bowl, blending well after each addition.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool about 5 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely, about 10 minutes.
• For the fig buttercream: In a clean bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until incorporated. Mix in the fig butter. Add the buttermilk if needed to thin to a spreading consistency.
• For the buttermilk caramel: Combine the granulated sugar, buttermilk, butter, corn syrup and baking soda in a LARGE pot. Do not use a saucepan; it may boil over. Bring the ingredients to a boil and reduce the heat to low but still bubbling. Cook, stirring very frequently, until golden brown, 8 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla. Let cool.
• For the white chocolate ganache: Put the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream in a saucepan until just simmering. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth and melted. Refrigerate until cooled completely, about 20 minutes. Transfer the ganache to a clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip until smooth.
• To assemble the cake: Slice each cake layer in half horizontally. Place a layer on a plate or cake stand and cover with fig buttercream. Repeat with 2 more layers and the buttercream. Put the final cake layer on top, then frost the top and sides with the white chocolate ganache. Pour the buttermilk caramel over the top of the cake to drizzle down. Serve with more caramel sauce if desired.

CINNAMON CHOCOLATE APRICOT COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Place a rack in the center of oven and preheat to 350 degreesF. Lightly mist a 12 cup Bundt pan with vegetable oil spray, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pan inside.
• 2. For the streusel filling, place 2 tablespoons cake mix, the apricots, chocolate chips, and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Set the bowl aside.
• 3. Place the remaining cake mix, the pudding mix, sour cream, oil, sugar, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scrapping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and smooth. Pour two-thirds of the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with the rubber spatula. Spoon the filling over the third of the batter over the filling and smooth it out with the rubber spatula. Place the pan in the oven.
• 4. Bake the cake until it is light brown and springs back when lightly pressed with your finger. 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto a rack to complete cooling. Or transfer the cake to a serving platter to slice and eat while still warm. Sift the confectioners sugar over the top for garnish.
• 5. Store this cake, covered in aluminum foil or under a glass cake dome, at room temperature for up to 1 week. Or freeze it, wrapped in foil for up to 6 months. Thaw the cake overnight on the counter before serving.

CINNAMON-CHOCOLATE RIBBON CAKE

Steps:

• For cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325°F. Butter 9 1/2- to 10-inch-diameter angel food cake pan. Line pan bottom with waxed paper; butter paper. Stir chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted. Remove from over water.
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat eggs in large bowl until foamy. Add sugar and beat until thick and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in oil. Beat in milk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended.
• Transfer 1 1/2 cups batter to small bowl; mix in melted chocolate. Mix cinnamon into remaining batter. Spread half of cinnamon batter in prepared pan. Spoon chocolate batter over. Top with remaining cinnamon batter. Using small knife, swirl batters to marbleize slightly.
• Bake cake until test inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 10 minutes. Cut around pan sides and center tube. Turn cake out onto rack; peel off paper. Turn right side up; cool.
• Glaze:
• Combine cream, butter and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until mixture simmers. Remove from heat; add chocolate. Whisk until chocolate melts and glaze is smooth. Let cool until glaze thickens slightly but is still spreadable, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Place cake on platter. Slide waxed paper strips under edge of cake. Spread glaze over cake. Remove paper. Chill until glaze sets. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)

THE BEST EVER CHOCOLATE/CINNAMON SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Bring to a boil the water with the butter and 4 T. cocoa in a small pan, then set aside to cool to just warm.
• 2. In a large bowl, mix sugar,flour,cinnamon,salt, eggs, baking soda and buttermilk. Then stir in the boiled mixture above. Pour into a 9x13 greased and floured pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Durinig the baking time mix up the frosting which is 1 cup of margarine, 4 T. of cocoa powder, 1 box of powdered sugar and 1 T vanilla. 1 cup of chopped nuts is optional.
• 3. While the baked cake is still very warm take a toothpick and poke holes all over the cake. Then pour over the frosting and smooth out. It will slighty melt into the cake but it adds to the moistness. Let cool, cut and serve.

CHOCOLATE BEET CAKE WITH CINNAMON-CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set each beet on a square of foil and drizzle lightly with vegetable oil. Seal the edges to wrap each beet and roast until tender when pierced with a knife, 40 to 45 minutes. Carefully unwrap and let rest until cool enough to handle.
• Peel the beets while they are still warm and cut into chunks. Add to a food processor and puree until smooth. Let cool completely. You should have 1 cup beet puree. (Save any extra puree for another use.)
• Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 8-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Whisk together the beet puree, 3/4 cup vegetable oil, sour cream, water and eggs in a large bowl until combined. Whisk in the granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold to combine. Do not overmix.
• Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake until the cake tops spring back when pressed gently and a tester inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, 28 to 30 minutes. Transfer the pans to a rack to cool for 15 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto the racks and let cool completely. Remove the parchment.
• For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and salt and and beat on low until combined. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until very smooth and light, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer one cake layer to a serving plate. Spread about 1 1/2 cups of the frosting over the top of the cake. Top with the remaining cake layer. Spread a thin layer of frosting (about 1 1/2 cups) over the entire cake to create a crumb coat. Refrigerate until the frosting is cold and firm, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer about 1 cup frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting in the bowl. Pipe rosettes on the top of the cake and garnish with baked beet chips. Chill 30 minutes to set the frosting before serving. Transfer the cake to a serving platter and pipe smaller rosettes of the remaining frosting around the base.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. Trim one end of the beet so it can sit flat on your mandoline (it is not necessary to peel it). Thinly slice the beet about 1/16 inch thick.
• Separate the slices and put in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the oil and toss well to lightly coat each slice. Sprinkle with the sugar and toss to distribute.
• Arrange the slices in a single layer without touching on the prepared baking sheet. Bake, rotating the tray halfway through, until the chips are browned on the edges and crisp almost to the center, 25 to 30 minutes. (It's ok if the very center is still a bit pliable, they will continue to crisp as they cool.)
• Let the beet chips cool slightly on the baking sheet, then remove to a cooling rack to completely crisp up.

APPLE, CINNAMON, CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE

Steps:

• Peel, core and slice apples to desired size (I prefer a little thinner than apple pie slices).
• Grease well a 9x13 cake pan or an angel food cake pan.
• Stir flour, sugar, oil, eggs, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and vanilla in a large bowl.
• Stir in apples and chocolate chips.
• Pour batter, which will be very thick and lumpy, into pan.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour.
• Let cool.
• Store in an air-tight container or cover with saran wrap.
• ***Tips*** if using an angel food cake pan, be very careful when removing it from the pan, it sometimes falls apart. if using a regular cake pan, serve right from the pan. ***If cake seems to be a little dry, place slices of apples on the top of the cake until you are ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE WITH CINNAMON CREAM

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter an 8-inch round cake pan (about 2 inches deep) and line bottom with a round of parchment paper or foil.
• In medium saucepan bring water and sugar to a simmer over moderate heat, stirring occasionally. Add butter and simmer, stirring occasionally, until melted. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, swirling pan to submerge chocolate in hot syrup. Let chocolate stand in syrup 3 minutes and whisk until smooth.
• In a large bowl whisk together eggs, coffee, rum, and cinnamon. Add chocolate mixture, whisking until well combined, and pour into cake pan.
• Put cake in pan in larger pan and add enough water to reach halfway up side of cake pan. Bake cake in middle of oven 45 minutes, or until slightly firm to the touch. Cool cake completely in pan on rack.
• Cake may be kept in pan, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled 1 week or frozen 1 month. Thaw cake completely before proceeding.
• Run a thin knife around pan to loosen cake and put pan on hot stove burner for 3 to 4 seconds. Invert cake onto a plate and remove parchment or foil. Bring cake to room temperature.
• Make cream:
• In a bowl with an electric mixer or whisk beat cream with sugar and cinnamon until it just holds stiff peaks.
• Just before serving, spread cream over top of cake or spoon onto plates alongside individual pieces.

CHOCOLATE HEART LAYER CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON MOUSSE

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 8x8x2-inch heart-shaped cake ring on sheet of foil. Wrap foil up sides of ring. Brush foil and inside of ring with 1 tablespoon butter; dust with flour. Place on baking sheet.
• Sift flour, cocoa, and salt into medium bowl. Combine eggs and sugar in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from over water. Using electric mixer, beat mixture until thick and billowy and heavy ribbon falls when beaters are lifted, about 5 minutes. Sift half of dry ingredients over; fold in gently. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients. Transfer 1/4 cup batter to small bowl; fold in 3 tablespoons butter. Gently fold butter mixture into batter; do not overmix or batter will deflate. Transfer batter to ring.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cake with foil to rack; cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)
• For Mousse Base:
• Bring whipping cream and cinnamon sticks just to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat; let steep 1 hour at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate cinnamon cream overnight.
• For Mousse, Cake Assembly, and Glaze:
• Blend jam and kirsch in small bowl. Cut around sides of cake; lift off ring. Using metal spatula, loosen cake from foil and transfer to rack. Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally in half. Using tart pan bottom, transfer top cake layer to work surface; turn cut side up. Spread half of jam on cut side of both cake layers.
• Strain cinnamon cream into large bowl; beat until soft peaks form. Stir finely chopped chocolate in heavy small saucepan over low heat until smooth. Quickly fold warm chocolate into whipped cream (chocolate must be warm to blend smoothly). Immediately drop mousse by dollops over bottom cake layer; spread to within 3/4 inch of edge. Gently press second layer, jam side down, atop mousse. Smooth sides of cake with offset spatula. Chill assembled cake on rack while preparing glaze.
• Bring cream, 1/4 cup water, corn syrup, and tea to boil in small saucepan, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; steep 5 minutes. Strain into another small saucepan; return to boil.
• Remove from heat. Add coarsely chopped chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool glaze until thickened, but still pourable, about 30 minutes. Place rack with cake over baking sheet. Slowly pour glaze over cake to cover, using spatula if necessary to spread evenly. Chill until glaze is firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Place cake on platter and serve.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON BUNDT CAKE WITH MOCHA ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously brush 12-to 15-cup nonstick Bundt pan with oil. Whisk 1 cup boiling water, cocoa powder, and 2 teaspoons espresso powder in 2-cup glass measure. Whisk 2 cups flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla in large bowl to blend. Add eggs; beat to blend. Beat mixture until smooth, about 30 seconds longer. Beat in half of flour mixture, then cocoa mixture. Add remaining flour mixture; beat to blend. Fold in 1 cup chocolate chips. Transfer batter to prepared Bundt pan.
• Bake cake until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool the cake 10 minutes. Invert cake onto rack; cool 15 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, stir remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons espresso powder, and 2 tablespoons water in small saucepan over medium heat until sugar melts. Remove from heat. Add butter and remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips; stir until butter and chocolate melt. Cool slightly. Using spoon, drizzle icing over cake. Cool cake completely, slice, and serve.

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON WALNUT COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Mix together walnuts, cocoa, cinnamon, 1/3 c sugar and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a 10" bundt pan.
• In large bowl of electric mixer, cream butter with 1 1/2 c sugar until blended.
• Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, sour cream, orange rind, vanilla and mix.
• Add dry ingredients and beat at low speed until mixed.
• At medium speed, beat for 3 minutes.
• Spread half of batter in prepared pan, sprinkle with nut mixture, top with remaining batter.
• Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool coffeecake in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan and cool completely.
• Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar to serve.

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CAKE WITH CINNAMON CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease and flour a 12-cup bundt pan.
• In an electric mixer, combine cake mix, spices, baking soda, pumpkin, water and eggs.
• Mix on low for 1 minute.
• Scrape down sides of bowl.
• Increase speed to medium and mix for 2 more minutes or until thoroughly combined and batter is smooth.
• Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.
• Spoon batter into prepared bundt pan and smooth out top with a spatula.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until top springs back when lightly pressed.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes then turn out onto rack to cool for 20 minutes more.
• To prepare glaze: combine sugar, butter and milk in a medium saucepan and stir until butter melts and mixture comes to a boil.
• Boil for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat.
• Mix in cinnamon chips, cocoa powder and vanilla and stir until smooth.
• Let sit a few minutes to thicken.
• Pour over cooled cake.
• Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

CINNAMON VANILLA WEDDING CAKE WITH MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Combine the egg whites and sugar in a stand mixer bowl and whisk to combine. Place bowl over simmering water while whisking regularly until the mixture reaches 140 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer and the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove bowl from heat and whip the mixture at medium to high speed until the meringue has cooled almost completely.
• Slowly add the room temperature butter piece by piece until the buttercream takes on a cottage cheese consistency. Add the melted cooled chocolates, spices, and vanilla until incorporated and smooth.
• Cream the butter in a stand mixer until smooth and light. Add sugar and continue to mix until fully incorporated and fluffy.
• Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. In a medium bowl sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine milk and vanilla. Add portions of the flour mixture and milk mixture to the electric mixer, alternating, starting and ending with flour. Pour evenly into 2 buttered and floured 9-inch cake pans.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until golden - cake should pull away from the side and spring back to the touch.
• Frost cake and decorate as desired.

CINNAMON CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
• Stir in marshmallows.
• Set aside.
• In a small saucepan, bring the cocoa, cola, oil and butter to a boil.
• Pour over flour mixture.
• Mix well.
• Stir in eggs, buttermilk and vanilla.
• Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
• Do not overbake.
• Cool.
• Frosting:.
• In a large saucepan, bring the cocoa, cola and butter to a boil.
• Remove from the heat.
• Stir in powdered sugar and 3/4 cup pecans until blended.
• Spread over cake.
• sprinkle with remaining pecans.
• Cool until frosting is set before cutting.

CHILI CHOCOLATE CINNAMON CAKE

Steps:

• ---ForThe Cake---.
• Preheat oven to 350°F, grease, flour and line, with parchment paper, the bottom of 2 nine inch round cake pans.
• In a heavy saucepan, whisk buttermilk, butter, cocoa and chili powder over medium heat until all the butter has melted.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
• In a small bowl, whisk eggs and vanilla.
• Pour chocolate mixture over flour mixture and whisk until blended, add egg mixture and whisk again, then stir in hazelnuts.
• Pour batter into prepared pans and bake 30- 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Transfer to to baking racks, cool 10 minutes, remove from pans, return to racks and cool completely.
• ---ForThe Whipped Cream---.
• Chill bowl and beaters in the refrigerator until cold.
• Beat cream until it starts to thicken, add sugar and cream of tartar, continue beating until soft peaks form, add vanilla and beat until stiff peaks form.
• ---ForThe Raspberry Squeeze Sauce---.
• Puree raspberries and liquid in a blender or processor, strain in a sieve and store in squeeze bottle in the refrigerator (can be made 4-5 days ahead of time).
• ---ToAssemble And Serve---.
• Place one cake layer on a serving dish and top with 1/2 the whipped cream, add second layer and the remaining whipped cream.
• Chill at least 2 hours.
• Place cake slices on desert dishes and drizzle raspberry sauce in a decorative pattern around the edges.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8" square baking pan; set aside. Toss hazelnuts, chocolate, cinnamon, and 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. With mixer on low speed, add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with yogurt in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
• Pour half of batter into prepared pan and smooth top; top with half of hazelnut mixture. Spoon remaining batter over and smooth top; top with remaining hazelnut mixture. Bake cake until top is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cake cool in pan before turning out.
• DO AHEAD: Cake can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON SUNDAE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of 8-inch square pan with shortening or spray with cooking spray; lightly flour.
• In medium bowl, beat all ingredients except chocolate syrup, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and the ice cream with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 4 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate syrup and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warm. Serve sauce warm or cool. Drizzle sauce over warm or cool cake. Serve with ice cream.