Easy, delicious homemade hazelnut butter recipe is a great replacement for the overused peanut butter. Read on for nutritional info, step-by-step instructions, storage, hazelnut butter flavor combinations and delicious ways to use it in everyday eating.
We've tried a lot of store-bought hazelnut butters, and those that don't have anything added (salt, palm oil) are good for both kids and adults, but nothing beats making your own at home. Especially when it's so easy. The only thing you really need for this is a really good food processor... and some hazelnuts.
Why we love this recipe:
- 1 ingredient
- Super easy
- Healthy and nutritious
- Tastier than peanut butter (yes, I said it)
- Perfect for breakfast, snacks and desserts
- Loads of delicious flavor combinations (see below)
Hazelnut Butter Nutrition
Like other nuts, hazelnuts are a great source of fat and therefore calories. We tend to classify fats as good or bad (although we shouldn't since all are essential) but the fact is that hazelnuts are packed with the "good" kind. The kind that we need to eat more of and the kind that helps our body minimize the risks of cardiovascular diseases.
Since they are a great source of fat, hazelnuts also have a lot of fat-soluble vitamins – especially vitamin E, which is also an antioxidant.
They also have a good amount of certain minerals like manganese and copper.
Hazelnuts are even a pretty good source of protein as well.
How to make hazelnut butter? Step-by-step
- Roast the hazelnuts. Preheat the oven to 360°F / 180°C. Once heated place the hazelnuts on a baking tray and roast for about 15-20 minutes. Any longer and they will get burned and the butter will not taste nice. You'll know that they're done when the skin has browned and begun to peel, but hasn't turned black.
- Peel the skin. Let the hazelnuts cool for about 10 minutes and then place them in a dish towel and rub them between your palms (the towel will be full of hazelnut skin). If you prefer, you can do this with just your hands. Put the peeled hazelnuts in a bowl ready for blending.
- Blend the hazelnuts to a smooth consistency. Next just put them in a food processor and let it do its magic. It will take 7-10 mins before the oils release and you get a nice smooth consistency. You'll also want to stop occasionally to scrape the sides of the processor. Otherwise, just sit back and watch!
Tips
- Put a timer on your phone to check the hazelnuts after 15 min of roasting to make sure they don't burn
- It might feel like ages for the butter to form, but be patient and it will all come together - it just takes time for the oils to release and turn the ground hazelnuts into butter
- To get a smooth hazelnut butter you need a really good food processor. We usually use the Kitchen Aid
- If you have kids around ask them to help you with taking the skins of the hazelnuts - they may find it fun
How to use hazelnut butter
- Spread it on toast
- Spread it on pancakes
- Use it to make cookies, like these Hazelnut Cookies
- Make healthy Nutella that you can just eat with a spoon
- Use it in any dessert or baked good that calls for nut butter
- Make these no-bake energy balls
Flavored hazelnut butter combinations
- Chocolate Hazelnut Butter - to the recipe below add 2 tsp raw cacao powder and 2 tbsp of sweetener (honey, agave syrup, or sugar)
- Cinnamon Hazelnut Butter - add a tsp of cinnamon to the mix
- Peanut & Hazelnut Butter - add 2 tbsp of peanut butter to hazelnut butter
- Add tbsp of unsalted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds or hemp seeds to make it even more nutritious
- Make healthy Nutella
Storage
- Room temperature in a cool dark place for up to 1 month in an airtight container
- Fridge up to 3 months in an airtight container
- Freezer for up to 6 months in an airtight container
FAQ
After roasting and removing the skins, place the hazelnuts in a good-quality food processor. It takes about 7 minutes for the butter to form, and if you have a great food processor the butter should come out very smooth with no grains.
You can but it won't taste as delicious as with roasted hazelnuts. To make raw hazelnut butter you just place the hazelnuts in the food processor and blend until you have the butter. May take about 10 minutes or more.
Yes, hazelnut butter is great for babies because it is a great source of fat and minerals and a little bit of protein. Babies can have hazelnut spread from 6 months old + and the best way to give it is to dip some fruit in it or spread it on bread or pancakes. You can see how to serve pancakes to babies with nut butter in this 3-ingredients oat banana pancakes for baby recipe.
If you've tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then please rate it and leave us a comment below!
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Easy Hazelnut Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw hazelnuts
Instructions
- Roast the hazelnuts. Preheat the oven to 360°F / 180°C. Once heated place the hazelnuts on a baking tray and roast for about 15-20 minutes. Any longer and they will get burned and the butter will not taste nice. You'll know that they're done when the skin has browned and begun to peel, but hasn't turned black.
- Peel the skin. Let the hazelnuts cool for about 10 minutes and then place them in a dish towel and rub them between your palms (the towel will be full of hazelnut skin). If you prefer, you can do this with just your hands and no towel.
- Blend the hazelnuts to a smooth consistency. Next just put them in a food processor and let it do its magic. It will take 7-10 mins before the oils release and you get a nice smooth consistency. You'll also want to stop occasionally to scrape the sides of the processor. Otherwise just sit back and watch!
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