Italian Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Learn how to make Italian Chocolate Hazelnut Spread at home with just 5 simple ingredients. It’s easy to make, and tastes absolutely incredible!
Growing up in Italy, one of my favourite merenda (afternoon break in Italian) was 2 thick slices of ciabatta bread smothered with as much chocolate hazelnut spread I could put on them.
This Italian chocolate hazelnut spread is a fantastic alternative if you have trouble finding the store-bought version at your local store.
Did I mention it tastes absolutely incredible? Chocolaty, full of nutty flavour, creamy and rich, this Italian chocolate hazelnut spread recipe is a keeper!
All You Need Is Just 5 Ingredients!
This Italian chocolate hazelnut spread only calls for 5 simple everyday ingredients I’m pretty sure you have in your pantry already:
- hazelnuts
- dark chocolate
- organic brown sugar
- olive oil
- and fresh milk. YEP. That’s it!
Hazelnuts
Use whole unpeeled hazelnuts, they're cheap and easy to peel once you roast them in the oven. To make things quicker however, you can also use hazelnut flour.
Sugar
Use unrefined organic brown sugar for a great result. You can also use regular sugar, and even brown confectioner sugar (I use it occasionally, and can be easily found online).
Oil
Adding a tiny little bit of oil into your hazelnut spread will add up extra richness and a smooth result.
You can use a mild-flavoured oil such as a light olive oil and sunflower oil, or go for hazelnut oil for a deeper flavour. You can also skip it altogether.
Milk
High-quality fresh milk is the key for a rich delicious hazelnut chocolate spread.
Go for whole fresh milk for the best results, however, you can also use semi-skimmed milk if you like.
Dark Chocolate
High-quality dark chocolate will give all the amazing chocolaty flavour in this hazelnut chocolate spread, so make sure you get the best you can.
I always opt for 70% organic dark chocolate, because it is made with only cocoa butter, cocoa beans and a hint of vanilla.
How To Make Homemade Hazelnut Chocolate Spread
Making this delicious chocolate treat is easier than you think!
Once you have roasted your hazelnuts, this amazing spread comes together in less than 10 minutes.
Check below my easy to follow step-by-step recipe pictures for fool-proof results.
Place the hazelnuts on a tray and roast them for 10 minutes or until the nuts are nicely toasted.
Halfway through baking time, give them a good stir and pop them back in the oven until they turn golden brown and smell delicious.
Let them cool a couple of minutes then place them in a tea towel and give them a nice rub to peel them as much as possible.
It's OK if you don't peel all of them, but the more the better.
Of course, if you have bought roasted hazelnuts (some stores sell them), you can skip this step altogether.
Place the roasted hazelnuts in a powerful food processor (I use a KitchenAid) or blender (I use a Vitamix), together with the sugar of your choice (I go for organic raw brown sugar or confectioner brown sugar).
Mix until smooth and the hazelnuts are reduced to a fine paste.
This may take about 2-5 minutes depending on the kind of appliance you're working with.
At this point, with the motor running, slowly add in warm melted dark chocolate, followed by warm milk, and finally a little bit of oil.
This will help to thin out the spread just enough to make it smooth and spreadable as it is supposed to be.
And, that's pretty much it! Your Italian chocolate hazelnut spread is all ready!
Store in a sterilized airtight jar and it will keep well in the fridge for about 1 week, but I bet it won't last that long - In our household, it disappears within a couple of days!
What do You Put Italian Chocolate Hazelnut Spread On?
There are endless ways to enjoy your homemade chocolate spread, but here are a few favourites:
- Eat it with a spoon (my absolute favourite)
- Spread in on toasts, croissants, brioches, banana bread, and Japanese pancakes
- Add it into milkshakes
- Make a no-bake chocolate hazelnut spread cheesecake
- Bake a 2-Ingredient chocolate hazelnut spread cake
- Make this tart inspired by famous pastry chef Pierre Hermé
- Bake delicious chocolate hazelnut spread & coconut samosas
- Add it to this Italian chocolate semifreddo.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook! Looking at your pictures always makes me smile *and super hungry*!
Recipe
Italian Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Ingredients
- 120 g raw unpeeled hazelnuts
- 120 g brown sugar
- 80 ml light olive oil, (or hazelnut oil)
- 150 g organic dark chocolate, chopped
- 200 ml fresh whole milk, warmed
Instructions
- Spread the hazelnuts on a baking tray and roast them in a preheated oven to 350ºF (180ºC), stirring them halfway through cooking time, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the hazelnuts are golden brown.
- Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, then stir with a spoon until the chocolate is fully melted and keep the chocolate warm.
- Once the hazelnuts are roasted, place them in a clean tea towel and rub them to loosen the skins. Remove as much of the skins as possible then transfer the warm hazelnuts into a food processor or powerful blender.
- Add the sugar into the food processor and blend the ingredients until smooth, depending on your food processor it may take 2 to 5 minutes. Blend until you have a smooth paste.
- With the motor still running, pour the oil into the food processor, followed by the warm milk and warm chocolate and blend until smooth and fully combined.
- Pour the chocolate hazelnut spread in a large sterilized airtight jar and store in the fridge up to one week.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I've made this 10 times over the last couple of years and it's my definite go-to recipe when all other healthy snacks stop appealing to my sons - this never fails! It always turns out fantastic and I don't feel THAT guilty when I "steal" a teaspoonful or 2. I always keep it in the fridge, and the original recipe quantities make around 600g of pure heaven.
Why do you heat it up to 50° for 6 minutes? What is the difference between just mixing it all up?
Hello Petitecook, I already made the Nutella Chocolate Spread recipe and it was delicious 🤤, thank you so much for share it. ❤️
I've made this recipe many times and people lose their minds over how smooth, rich, and delicious it is. You won't be able to buy Nutella again after trying it.
Hello, I already made it and it was delicious, thank you so much for share it. ❤️
I am Greek so I always prefer using olive oil rather than butter when it's an option. I'd made a Jamie Oliver spread for a Christmas chocolate log and it was amazing, but I was looking for a recipe with olive oil, and I tried this one. It's SO GOOOOD! Thank you very much! I don't think my kids will notice the difference between this and a Nutella-type spread (did you know that the popular chocolate-hazelnut spread over here is actually named Merenda?), but I will know this is actually not too bad for them.
My husband LOVE chocolate hazelnut spreads and often adds it to his morning toast. But I've always kind of wondered how many extra preservatives and other not-so-great-for-you ingredients he was also adding to his diet. I'm definitely going to have to make him a batch of this instead!
I had no idea I could do that much with hazelnut spread! This looks awesome and I'm loving the step-by-step instructions! Can't wait to give this a try...especially in my smoothies!
I love hazelnut spread. But never tried adding dark chocolate to the mixture. I will give this recipe a try. Absolutely love how this spread looks.
Who knew that making my own hazelnut spread at home could be so easy! Next time I will skip picking up a jar of the store brought stuff.
I'm such a Nutella freak and this homemade version is soo getting made xD Looks creamy and delicious and omg pass me a spoon now! ;D
Lovely recipe and amazing spread. Looks delicious and could be enjoyed on so many options as toppings.
I have always wanted to try to make this at home. However, I have never been brave enough until now.
I know the feeling! I promise this is super easy, you'll be amazed!
that spread looks incredible! Such a smooth and silky texture, I can almost taste it! And I just love that it is made with a hanful of simple ingredients! Would be perfect to spread on pancakes and waffles too! Yum!
I've been meaning to make my own hazelnut spread and this seems like just the recipe I need! Love that it's only 5 ingredients and your photos are so eye catching!
This is going to sound insane, but I've never had chocolate hazelnut spread -not even the wildly popular store-bought version. I'm thinking if I'm going to give it a whirl, I should just try your recipe because it looks absolutely delicious!!! 🙂
Oh my! I need to start making my own spread from now on. I mean, more chocolate, please.
Oh this looks absolutely amazing and like it needs to be on my spoon in the very near future! This, on a sweet dough with some caramelized nuts, coconut and bruleed raspberries! So loving this!
OMG this look AMAZING and like it needs to be on a spoon for me in the very near future! I'm picturing this on a sweet dough with bourbon hazelnuts, coconut and bruleed raspberries! Gorgeous!
that looks so good!! Can’t wait to try it!
Oh this looks so easy and delicious.. and exactly what I need on my spoon! LOL I'm thinking this on a dessert pizza with toasted hazelnuts, coconut and bruleed raspberries would be AMAZING!
Oh it looks so good. I'm not sure if I should make it as I will just eat the entire thing myself. haha!
I love that you can make a healthier version of chocolate spread at home with real nuts, real milk and good quality chocolate! Pinned for later, because it looks too delicious not to try.
So much more delicious than anything store bought. YUM!
I love that this only needs a few ingredients. It looks so delicious!
I still try to heap as much Nutella on top of my toast as possible. Why? Because Nutella is spectacular and this homemade version looks the same! I am sure it tastes superior and I wonder if it is cheaper, as well!
Does this make enough for your two ingredient chocolate cake?
X
Absolutely! It makes about 350 gr of chocolate hazelnut spread 🙂