To make the Chocolate Hazelnut Friands:

• Pre-heat oven to 190 degrees C. Lightly grease 2 (6 capacity) friand trays with butter. If friand moulds/trays are not available, a muffin pan can be used as well.
• In a large bowl, place the egg whites and whisk them lightly (we are looking for a frothy consistency, not peaks). Add the melted butter, icing sugar, hazelnut meal, flour, cocoa powder and whisk until combined.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared friand holes till about two-thirds full. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through (check with a wooden skewer). Remove from the oven, leave aside for 5 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Once cooled to room temperature, frost them with chocolate cream cheese frosting (recipe below). You could pipe or just spread generously. Top with cocoa nibs, chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles. Enjoy!
• To make the frosting, with a hand mixer or electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar, one cup at a time beating well after each addition until smooth. Add the cocoa powder and vanilla essence and whip till well blended.