Homemade chocolate hazelnut balls made with only six real-food ingredients. They taste like Ferrero Rocher candies but are healthier, gluten-free, vegan and paleo-friendly.
Ohh man. I don’t know if you’re ready for these chocolate hazelnut balls. They’re my take on homemade Ferrero Rocher (aka one of my favorite candies growing up). They’re such an easy dessert to make and are guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.
Store-bought Ferrero Rocher are delicious, but they’re made with some not-so-healthy-for-you ingredients like milk chocolate, white sugar and palm oil. In true EBF fashion, I decided to make a homemade version that’s sweetened with just a touch of pure maple syrup (and chocolate chips if you use them) and made with only SIX real-food ingredients. They taste just like the real deal… some taste-testers have even said that they like them better than the original candies. Go figure! 🙂
You only need six simple ingredients to make this tasty treat:
Chop hazelnuts – add 1 cup hazelnuts into a food processor fitted with the S-blade and process until hazelnuts are chopped into small pieces.
Combine ingredients – add cacao powder, maple syrup, vanilla, sea salt and chocolate chips (if using) into the processor and pulse a few more times, until the ingredients start to stick together. If the mixture seems too dry, add a little water, 1 teaspoon at a time until the mixture holds together well enough to be formed into balls. Be sure not to add too much water.
Form into balls – roll the mixture into bite-size balls and insert one hazelnut into the center of each, forming the ball around it. This step is totally optional but makes the bites more like the traditional Ferrero Rocher.
Coat balls with hazelnuts – chop the remaining 4 hazelnuts into tiny pieces. Roll each ball in the mixture to coat the outside. Enjoy right away and/or store the remaining balls in the fridge for later.
Store chocolate hazelnut balls in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you store them in the freezer, make sure to let them thaw a bit before eating otherwise they’ll probably be too hard.
Be sure to check out all of my dessert recipes and no bake recipes here on EBF!
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I just made this recipe in 5 minutes, these treats are so so good ! I did wet my hands so they don’t stick. Thanks !
Woo! So glad this recipe was a success for you, Romane! Thank you so much for leaving a review and star rating, I appreciate it so much.
There really wasn’t much flavor and the balls just fell apart when you bit into them. I had high hopes but unfortunately, this recipe is not worth the calories.
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that, Grace. Do you mind if I asked if you changed anything about the recipe?
These were so good! I love all of Brittany’s “copycat” recipes so I had to try this one, and was not disappointed! Needed to make extra because I kept eating the batter! Highly recommend!
Woo!! This makes me so happy to hear! So pumped these were a hit for you, Rachel. Thanks so much for the review!
WOW! Ever since I have been eating clean, I have been missing the candies here and there I used to eat. These energy balls taste just like the Ferrero Rocher chocolates, but without the refined sugar! These energy balls satisfy your cravings and are so easy to whip up in the food processor! Thanks Brittany!’
So glad you enjoyed these chocolate hazelnut balls, Taylor! Thanks for making them and coming back to leave a review 🙂
I’ve just made these. I subbed cacao powder with carob powder. They are delicious 🙂
Ah yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Linda! Thanks so much for trying them and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!