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Smoked hazelnuts add incredible flavor to homemade Nutella, making a fantastic family-friendly, yet smoky, treat! This homemade Nutella recipe is so easy to make and has none of the processed junk that you find in the store-bought versions.
*Bonus: this makes an incredible gift for the holidays!
Table of Contents
I never intended to write a recipe for smoked hazelnut Nutella. But after posting a phot on social media people went crazy for it.
I refuse to buy the store-bought versions for my kids because of all the artificial ingredients, excess sugar, and ultra-processed oils. This chocolate hazelnut spread is easy to make at home, without all the junk you find in the store-bought versions. I feel much better about letting my kids devour this recipe!
Ingredients
- Raw Hazelnuts – We’re going to be smoke-roasting these so it’s important you find raw hazelnuts. You can usually find them in the bulk foods section already pre-shelled.
- Milk Chocolate Chips or Baking Squares/Disks – Semi-sweet, dark, or a combo work well too.
- Powdered sugar – For sweetness and texture.
- Cocoa powder – For that rich chocolaty flavor.
- Hazelnut oil – Or other nut oil. You could also use avocado or coconut oil. You don’t need much.
- Vanilla extract
- Kosher Salt – Just a pinch goes a long way for the flavor.
Substitutions: Since Oregon produces 99% of the nation’s hazelnuts (fun fact!) we can find hazelnut oil around these parts with little effort. But if you can’t find it I’d suggest another mild oil (such as avocado or even olive oil). If using coconut oil I like to melt it before adding it to the blender.
Preparation
If using whole raw hazelnuts make sure to de-shell them and remove any excess skins. If using store-bought de-shelled hazelnuts, just toss them onto a baking sheet and preheat the smoker.
How to Smoke Hazelnuts
- Preheat Smoker: Set smoker to 200 degrees (F) using a fruitwood.
- Prep Hazelnuts: Place raw and shelled hazelnuts on a baking tray.
- Smoke: Place on the smoker for 60-90 minutes, checking every 30 minutes on the status of the hazelnuts (see notes).
- Remove: When cool enough to handle, remove any excess skin that may still remain. This is best to do while they are still warm.
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Recipe Tip
We’ve cooked the hazelnuts at a higher heat (225 degrees+) for less time, but when combined with the chocolate the smoked flavor is a bit muted. They need longer time on the smoker to infuse that smoky flavor, but at a lower temperature so that they don’t overcook.
We like somewhere between 180-200 degrees for closer to 90 minutes. You’ll get enough smoke flavor to know what was in it. It’s not strong or overpowering. The chocolate still overpowers the smoke a bit, but it creates a better balance.
How to Make Homemade Nutella
- Create a Hazelnut Paste: In a food processor or strong blender place the hazelnuts and blend for about 2 minutes until a paste forms. This takes time. At first, it looks like chopped nuts, but keep going, pausing periodically to push down the sides. Once a paste (similar to peanut butter) forms, you’re ready for the next step.
- Combine Ingredients: Add melted chocolate, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, hazelnut oil, vanilla, and salt, and puree until combined and creamy.
- Serve or Save: Pour into an air-tight container (like a mason jar) and keep at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
My kids go crazy for this, and I’m totally okay with them eating it by the spoonful (unlike its store-bought alternative)!
What to Use Smoked Hazelnut Nutella On
Homemade Smoked Hazelnut Nutella is so good with so many things. Some of my favorite ways to use it include:
- Graham crackers for a simple snack
- Toast
- Crepes (mmmmm, especially with some banana slices)
- Strawberries
- Pretzels (my kids current favorite)
- And so many more!
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About Vindulge
Mary (a certified sommelier and recipe developer) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbook, Fire + Wine, and have been creating content for the IACP nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.
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Smoked Hazelnut Nutella
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup raw hazelnuts, about 6 ounces
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips or chopped squares, melted, semi-sweet, dark, or a combo work well too
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons hazelnut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, we use Diamond Crystal.
Instructions
How to Smoke Hazelnuts
- Preheat Smoker – Set smoker to 200 degrees (F) using a fruitwood. We prefer cherry or apple for the sweeter smoke influence.
- Smoke Hazelnuts – Layout hazelnuts on a baking tray and place them on the smoker for 60-90 minutes, checking every 30 minutes on the status of the hazelnuts (see note one). When done, remove and cool. If there is any skin still on, remove after cooling.
Smoked Hazelnut Nutella
- Blend: In a food processor or strong blender place the hazelnuts and blend for about 2 minutes until a paste forms. This takes time. At first, it looks like chopped nuts, but keep going, pausing periodically to push down the sides until a paste forms (similar to peanut butter).
- Combine: Add melted chocolate, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, hazelnut oil, vanilla, and salt, and puree until combined and creamy.
- Store: Pour into an air-tight container (like a mason jar) and keep at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
