This homemade Ferrero Rocher recipe is just as delicious as the Italian classic confection, with rich chocolate hazelnut flavor in each irresistible bite!
Chocolate hazelnut Ferrero Rocher
Homemade Ferrero Rocher truffles are the ultimate chocolate experience.
Close your eyes, and imagine biting into a velvety ball of chocolate, with a hidden hazelnut center and a texture both crunchy and silky smooth at the same time.
To me, they taste exactly like Nutella in the shape of a ball.
The recipe is so easy to make in your very own kitchen, without any expensive machines or equipment.
And the no bake chocolates can be dairy free, soy free, gluten free, corn syrup free, sugar free, keto, and vegan, with no heavy cream, artificial flavors, or palm oil.
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What is Ferrero Rocher?
Ferrero Rocher is a chocolate hazelnut bonbon with a roasted hazelnut center and opulent chocolate filling.
The chocolates are covered with a crispy chocolate wafer and hazelnut coating and wrapped in fancy gold foil.
It is the most famous flavor of the Italian company Ferrero, who also makes coconut Raffaello and chocolate almond Rondnoir confections.
If you love the popular chocolate candies, hopefully you will love this homemade version as well.
For a copycat Raffaello recipe, try these Coconut Balls
Ingredients and substitutions
To make your own DIY chocolate hazelnut truffles, you need just five ingredients.
Buy the following on your next grocery store shopping trip: hazelnuts, cocoa powder, sweetener, salt, and pure vanilla extract.
Hazelnuts – You may start with either raw or roasted hazelnuts. Or feel free to swap out some of the hazelnuts with roasted pistachios, cashews, peanuts, or pecans.
Sugar – My preference is to use unrefined coconut sugar. Regular sugar will also work, as will erythritol or xylitol for sugar free truffles.
To ensure the best chewy texture, it is important to go with a granulated sugar as opposed to a liquid option like pure maple syrup or honey.
Cocoa Powder – Use a high quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the most chocolatey flavor. Raw cacao powder contains more antioxidants than more processed cocoa powder and also works well here.
Optional ingredients – For classic Italian Ferrero Rochers similar to the ones sold in a box, press a whole hazelnut into the center of each candy and dip in melted milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate chips.
Garnish your finished chocolates with finely chopped hazelnuts.
Thanks to the nuts and cocoa powder, these healthy Ferrero Rocher treats contain a gram of fiber and one and a half grams of protein in each little ball.
Hazelnut chocolate balls recipe video
Watch the step by step recipe video above.
How to make homemade Ferrero Rocher
If you start with raw hazelnuts, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper for six minutes or until lightly browned.
If you buy roasted hazelnuts, you can skip the baking step.
Rub the nuts together in a cloth or paper towel to remove many of the skins. A few skins will remain, which is fine.
Add the hazelnuts to a high quality food processor or a high speed blender. Process until very finely chopped. This should take around twenty seconds.
Now add the cocoa powder, sugar or sweetener, salt, and pure vanilla extract. Blend until it transforms into a chocolate hazelnut cookie dough texture and all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Roll the dough into balls or press into shapes of your choice. If desired, press a whole hazelnut into the center of each truffle ball.
The recipe is yummy as is, or you can dip them in melted chocolate to create true chocolate covered chocolate hazelnut truffles.
Carefully melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or by using the double boiler method. For a smoother chocolate sauce, you can add half a teaspoon of vegetable or coconut oil after melting the chocolate.
Dip each ball into the chocolate, then set on a parchment lined tray or large plate. Let the plate sit for a few minutes until the chocolate sets.
Homemade Ferrero Rocher serving suggestions
These festive chocolate hazelnut truffles are a wonderful addition to any Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas cookie tray.
Or use them to garnish ice cream, cupcakes, or this Vegan Chocolate Cake.
Copycat Ferrero Rocher make great holiday gifts for family and friends. Wrap them up in shiny gold foil for authentic presentation.
If shipping homemade chocolates in the mail, I recommend either investing in an ice pack or omitting the chocolate coating so they do not melt and make a mess before arriving at their destination.
Storing the hazelnut truffles
The recipe is easy to transport and always a big crowd pleaser at parties. It is fine to leave them out in a cool, dry place for a few hours.
Store any leftovers in a covered container on the counter for two days or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Homemade Ferrero Rocher are also delicious eaten straight from the freezer.
- 2 cups hazelnuts
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder or cacao powder
- 1/4 cup sugar or granulated sweetener of choice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract
- whole and chopped roasted hazelnuts (optional for garnish)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional for coating)
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If starting with raw hazelnuts instead of roasted, preheat the oven to 400 F and bake on a parchment lined sheet for six minutes or until they begin to brown. Rub together in a cloth or paper towel to get most of the skins off. It is fine if a few skins remain.To make homemade Ferrero Rocher, process the roasted hazelnuts until very finely chopped in a food processor or high speed blender. This should take about twenty seconds. Add all remaining non optional ingredients and blend just until evenly incorporated. Roll into balls or press into shapes. If desired, you can press a hazelnut into the center of each ball, dip in melted chocolate, and garnish with finely chopped hazelnuts.View Nutrition Facts
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