Chocolate Hazelnut Balls (Copycat Ferrero Rocher)
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Published Jun 21, 2018, Updated Jun 12, 2023
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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.
Ferrero Rocher Made Healthier
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! 🙂
Here’s What You Need
You only need six simple ingredients to make this tasty treat:
- hazelnuts – you’ll need 14 whole hazelnuts plus additional to chop up and coat the outside.
- cocoa powder – for an extra chocolate boost. Cacao powder also works.
- maple syrup – you can swap in honey if you don’t need these balls to be vegan.
- vanilla extract – a flavor enhancer.
- sea salt – another flavor enhancer. Salt really helps to bring the flavors of any dish together.
- chocolate chips – I like using Lily’s dark chocolate chips to keep this recipe low in sugar and dairy-free.
How to Make Chocolate Hazelnut Balls
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.
How to Store Chocolate Hazelnut Balls
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.
More Healthy No Bake Treats
- 4-Ingredient Samoas
- Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
- Peanut Butter Cups
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
- Brownie Energy Balls
Be sure to check out all of my dessert recipes and no bake recipes here on EBF!
Chocolate Hazelnut Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 12 individual hazelnuts, raw or toasted
- 2 Tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- â…› teaspoon sea salt
- 1 Tablespoon diary-free mini chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks, optional
Instructions
- Add 1 cup hazelnuts into a food processor fitted with the S-blade and process until hazelnuts are chopped into small pieces.
- Add cacao powder, maple syrup, vanilla, sea salt and chocolate (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.
- Roll 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.
- Chop remaining 4 hazelnuts into tiny pieces. Roll each ball in the mixture to coat the outside.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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?
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.