Roasted hazelnuts have a warm, toasty flavor that can make almost any dish taste better. They add crunch to salads, richness to sauces, and a cozy sweetness to cakes and cookies.
Best of all, roasting them at home only takes about ten minutes. Once you try a few of these recipes, you might start keeping a jar of hazelnuts in your kitchen at all times.
1. Homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Picture a jar of chocolate spread with no mystery ingredients. Blend roasted hazelnuts in a food processor until they turn into a smooth, runny butter, which takes about five minutes.
Next, add melted dark chocolate, a little cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt. Blend again until glossy.
Spread it on toast, swirl it into oatmeal, or eat a spoonful straight. Keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks.
2. Crispy Hazelnut Crusted Chicken
Breadcrumbs, meet your new rival. Finely chopped roasted hazelnuts make a crust that turns golden and extra crunchy in the oven.
Mix the chopped nuts with parmesan, garlic powder, and a little parsley. Dip chicken breasts in beaten egg, then press them into the nut mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges and a simple salad for a weeknight dinner that feels fancy.
3. Classic Italian Biscotti
Did you know biscotti means twice baked in Italian? That second bake is what gives these cookies their famous snap.
Fold whole roasted hazelnuts into a simple dough of flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Shape it into a log and bake.
After it cools a bit, slice it and bake the pieces again until crisp.
They stay fresh for weeks in a tin and taste amazing dunked in hot cocoa.
4. Roasted Beet and Hazelnut Salad
Earthy beets and toasty nuts are a match made in a garden. The bright colors alone make this salad worth trying.
Roast beets until tender, then slice them over a bed of arugula. Crumble on some goat cheese and scatter roughly chopped hazelnuts on top.
A quick dressing of olive oil, honey, and balsamic vinegar ties everything together. It works as a side dish or a light lunch.
5. Spanish Romesco Sauce
Hailing from Catalonia in Spain, romesco is a smoky red pepper sauce that people slather on just about everything.
Blend roasted red peppers, roasted hazelnuts, garlic, a slice of toasted bread, olive oil, and a splash of sherry vinegar. Add smoked paprika for extra depth.
Spoon it over grilled vegetables, fish, or eggs. Leftovers make a fantastic sandwich spread, so consider making a double batch.
6. Brown Butter Hazelnut Cookies
Here is a little bakery secret: browning your butter first makes cookies taste nutty and caramel-like. Add real roasted hazelnuts, and that flavor doubles.
Cook butter in a pan until it smells toasty and turns golden brown. Let it cool, then mix it into your favorite cookie dough with chopped hazelnuts and chocolate chunks.
Sprinkle flaky salt on top before baking. Friends will ask for the recipe, guaranteed.
7. Hazelnut Pesto Pasta
Pine nuts can be pricey, so why not swap them out? Roasted hazelnuts give pesto a deeper, richer taste.
Blend fresh basil, hazelnuts, garlic, parmesan, lemon juice, and olive oil until mostly smooth. Toss it with hot pasta and a splash of the starchy cooking water.
The water helps the sauce cling to every noodle. Top with extra chopped nuts for crunch.
Dinner is ready in about fifteen minutes.
8. Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies
Fudgy, gooey, and loaded with crunch, these brownies disappear fast at any party.
Make your usual brownie batter, then fold in a cup of chopped roasted hazelnuts. For an extra treat, swirl a few spoonfuls of chocolate hazelnut spread across the top before baking.
Pull them out when a toothpick has a few moist crumbs. Waiting for them to cool is the hardest part, but it helps them slice neatly.
9. Green Beans with Hazelnuts and Lemon
Plain green beans can feel a bit boring. A handful of hazelnuts changes the whole story.
Boil green beans for three minutes, then toss them in a hot pan with butter and garlic. Add chopped roasted hazelnuts and finish with fresh lemon zest.
This side dish shows up at many holiday tables, but it is quick enough for any Tuesday. Kids who skip veggies may even ask for seconds.
10. Hazelnut Praline Crunch
Ever made candy at home? Praline is one of the easiest kinds, and it only needs two ingredients.
Melt sugar in a pan until it turns amber, then quickly stir in roasted hazelnuts. Pour it onto parchment paper and let it harden.
Break it into shards for snacking or crush it to sprinkle over ice cream and cakes. Ask an adult to help, since hot sugar can burn.
11. Egyptian Dukkah Spice Blend
Folks in Egypt have enjoyed dukkah for centuries, dipping bread into olive oil and then into this crunchy mix.
Toast coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and sesame seeds. Pound them with roasted hazelnuts, salt, and pepper until coarse, not powdery.
Beyond bread, try it sprinkled over roasted carrots, avocado toast, or fried eggs. Store it in a sealed jar, and it stays tasty for about a month.
12. Hazelnut Granola Clusters
Mornings get a lot better with homemade granola. Store-bought versions often have too much sugar, but yours can be just right.
Mix oats, chopped hazelnuts, maple syrup, coconut oil, and cinnamon. Press the mixture flat on a baking sheet and bake low and slow.
Do not stir, which helps big clusters form.
Serve over yogurt with berries, or grab a handful as an after-school snack.
13. Butternut Squash Soup with Hazelnut Topping
Cold, rainy days call for something cozy. A velvety squash soup fits the bill perfectly.
Roast cubed butternut squash with onion, then blend it with warm broth and a splash of cream. Season with nutmeg and salt.
The real magic is on top. Fry a few sage leaves in butter, then crumble them over the soup with crushed hazelnuts.
Every spoonful gets smooth and crunchy at once.
14. Hazelnut Coffee Cake
Despite its name, coffee cake usually has no coffee inside. It just tastes great next to a warm mug.
Bake a soft sour cream cake and cover it with a streusel made from butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and chopped roasted hazelnuts.
The topping bakes into a crumbly, buttery layer everyone fights over. It is a lovely choice for weekend brunch or a birthday breakfast.
15. Hazelnut Crusted Salmon
Salmon lovers, this one is for you. A nutty crust adds texture to soft, flaky fish without much effort.
Brush salmon fillets with Dijon mustard and honey. Press on a mix of chopped hazelnuts, dill, and lemon zest.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 12 minutes. Pair it with roasted asparagus or rice.
It looks restaurant fancy but takes less time than ordering takeout.
16. No Bake Hazelnut Energy Bites
Need a quick boost before soccer practice? These little bites pack energy and taste like dessert.
Pulse soft dates, roasted hazelnuts, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt in a food processor until sticky. Roll the mixture into small balls.
For a fun finish, coat them in finely chopped hazelnuts. Chill them for an hour, then pack a few in your lunch box.
No oven needed.
17. Mushroom and Hazelnut Risotto
Creamy risotto might seem tricky, yet the only real secret is patience and stirring.
Cook arborio rice slowly, adding warm broth one ladle at a time. Meanwhile, saute mushrooms with garlic and thyme until golden.
Stir them in near the end with parmesan and a knob of butter.
Top each bowl with toasted hazelnuts. Their crunch balances the soft rice, and their flavor matches the earthy mushrooms beautifully.
18. Hazelnut Meringue Cake
Want a showstopper for a special day? Crisp meringue layers filled with whipped cream look stunning and taste even better.
Whip egg whites with sugar until stiff, then fold in ground roasted hazelnuts. Spread into circles and bake low until dry and crisp.
Stack the layers with whipped cream and fresh raspberries. As a bonus, it is naturally gluten free, so more guests can enjoy a slice.