Chocolate hazelnut paste is the perfect marriage between the sweetness of hazelnuts and the intensity of chocolate. Creamy and delicious, it can be used as a base in an ice cream, in a swirl for marbling, or simply as a topping to enhance any frozen creation. And the best news? It’s super easy to prepare at home!
Ingredients :
- 200 g whole hazelnuts (unsalted)
- 100 g of dark or milk chocolate (depending on your taste)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of neutral oil (like sunflower oil)
- 50 g caster sugar or icing sugar (adjust according to your preferences)
- 1 pinch of salt
Preparation :
- Roasting the hazelnuts
Start by roasting the hazelnuts to intensify their flavor. Spread them on a baking tray and grill them in the oven at 180°C for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once grilled, let them cool slightly before rubbing them between your hands to remove their skin. - Mixing the hazelnuts
Put the hazelnuts in a powerful blender and blend them until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous paste. This will take a few minutes, because you have to wait for the hazelnuts to release their oil to become nice and creamy. - Melt the chocolate
While the hazelnuts are turning into a paste, melt the chocolate in a bain-marie or in the microwave in short bursts, stirring between each step to prevent it from burning. - Chocolate and hazelnut mixture
Once the hazelnut paste is smooth, add the melted chocolate, sugar, oil and a pinch of salt. Mix again to integrate all the ingredients well and obtain a very smooth paste. Adjust the texture with a little more oil if necessary. - Store your chocolate hazelnut paste
Pour the paste into an airtight jar and store it in the refrigerator for several weeks. You can reheat it slightly to soften it if it becomes too thick.
My Personal Tip:
This chocolate hazelnut paste is a killer way to make chocolate-hazelnut ice cream with your Ninja Creami. I also love it as a topping on vanilla ice cream or even on coffee ice cream for a delicious contrast of flavors. And if you want to treat yourself, try it as a marbling in your ice cream before churning, it's simply irresistible!
There you have it, a homemade chocolate hazelnut paste, rich and delicious, which will give a boost to all your frozen creations. Easy to make and always a success!
