National Hazelnut Cake Day Date in the current year: June 1, 2026

The term “hazelnut cake” does not refer to one specific type of cake. Rather, it is an umbrella term for cakes that incorporate hazelnuts in some form. Some hazelnut cakes replace all or some of the wheat flour with finely ground hazelnuts. Others have chopped hazelnuts added to the batter or use hazelnut-flavored cream as a filling or frosting.

One of the most famous examples of the first type of hazelnut cake is the Italian hazelnut cake (torta di nocciole), also known as the Cortemilia cake (torta Cortemilia). It originated in the Langhe and Roero areas of the Piedmont region, which are famous for their high-quality hazelnuts. This cake is traditionally made with ground hazelnuts, sugar, eggs, and butter. It contains little to no wheat flour, which gives it a slightly crumbly texture.

Originally a peasant Christmas dish, the famous Piedmont hazelnut cake was prepared with hazelnuts left over from the summer harvest. As it became the region’s specialty, local pastry chefs established a set of rules for making the dessert. To be called a Cortemilia cake, it must contain at least 35% toasted Piedmont hazelnuts (Nocciola del Piemonte, typically of the Tonda Gentile del Piemonte variety), eggs, sugar, and butter. Some recipes also incorporate dark chocolate or cocoa, locally produced honey, rum, or lemon zest.

The cake has a naturally nutty flavor that stands well on its own, so it is typically served plain with a light dusting of powdered sugar. However, it may also be served with whipped cream or zabaione, a custard-like dessert made with egg yolks, sugar, and sweet wine. The cake pairs well with coffee and local wines, such as Brachetto d’Acqui or Moscato d’Asti.

In Bern, Switzerland, a hazelnut cake called Berner Haselnusslebkuchen is a traditional Christmas treat. It is a type of Lebkuchen made with roasted and ground hazelnuts and almonds (about 7/8 hazelnuts and 1/8 almonds), honey, sugar, egg whites, cinnamon, and candied lemon or orange peel.

Another famous hazelnut cake is the Kyiv cake, a signature dessert of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Created in the 1950s at the Karl Marx Kyiv Confectionery Factory (now known as the Kyiv Confectionery Factory “Roshen”), it has two layers of meringue with a buttercream filling and chocolate frosting. The Kyiv cake may have been inspired by the dacquoise, a French cake consisting of two or three layers of almond or hazelnut meringue separated by buttercream or whipped cream.

The origins of National Hazelnut Cake Day are unclear, but that shouldn’t stop you from treating yourself to a slice or two of delicious cake to celebrate. You can bake a hazelnut cake at home or order one from your favorite bakery. Don’t forget to take a picture of your cake before eating it and post it on social media with the hashtag #NationalHazelnutCakeDay to spread the word!