Introduction
Which hazelnut chocolate brand should you try? It depends on the bite you’re after. Venchi is one name with a dedicated hazelnut chocolate collection, whilst Ferrero Rocher is known for chocolate and hazelnut bars. Ritter Sport has also made a dark chocolate bar with whole hazelnuts.
Then there’s the wafer question. At LoveRaw®, we’re partial to crisp layers, smooth hazelnut filling and plenty of choc. But a whole-nut bar, a white chocolate treat and a caramel-filled sweet all offer something different. Knowing what’s inside makes choosing much easier, whether you’re after a snack, a gift or something to chop into cookies.
Hazelnut Chocolate Brands to Know
There’s no single brand that owns the hazelnut chocolate idea. Some put whole nuts front and centre. Others blend hazelnuts into a smooth filling or add them to a crisp wafer.
| Brand or product | Hazelnut style | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Venchi | Its hazelnut collection includes whole-hazelnut bars and filled chocolates. | A useful name to know if you want to explore different chocolate and hazelnut formats. |
| Ferrero Rocher | Ferrero Rocher has chocolate and hazelnut bars, as noted in this list of chocolate bar brands. | Look for a bar format when you want chocolate and hazelnut together in shareable pieces. |
| Ritter Sport | A Tasting Table review describes its Dark Whole Hazelnuts bar. | A dark chocolate and whole-nut combination suits a proper crunchy bite. |
| Kinder Bueno | The same review describes a chocolate-covered wafer with a smooth hazelnut filling. | A familiar choice if you prefer wafer crunch to whole nuts. |
| Our M:lk® Choc Cre&m® Wafer Bar | Crisp wafer and a smooth hazelnut filling with a chocolate coating. | Our pick when you want layers and crunch in a vegan treat. |
These aren’t a ranking, and we haven’t run a taste test. Product ranges can change, so check the exact bar or box rather than assuming every variety has the same filling.
Not every hazelnut chocolate is made without dairy, either. If that matters to you, check the ingredients of the specific product, including any filling or coating.
Which Brand Specialises in Hazelnut Chocolate?
Venchi is a good place to start: the chocolatier has a collection dedicated to hazelnut chocolate, including bars and filled pieces. That doesn’t mean every Venchi product contains hazelnuts, or that every item in its collection will be available in the UK.
For a different kind of specialist snack, our focus is vegan confectionery. Our hazelnut wafer bar is made for people who want the contrast of crisp wafer and a velvety centre.
What Kind of Hazelnut Chocolate Do You Want?
The word "hazelnut" tells you the flavour, but it doesn’t always tell you what the chocolate will feel like. Here’s how to choose between the most common styles.
Whole or Chopped Hazelnuts
A solid bar with whole hazelnuts gives you a firm snap followed by a chunky nutty crunch. Chopped hazelnuts spread that crunch through the chocolate, so you’ll tend to get smaller pieces in more bites.
Look for "whole hazelnuts" on the wrapper if you want to see and bite into the nuts. If the front simply says "hazelnut", check the description or ingredients to find out whether they’re whole, chopped or blended.
Whole-nut bars are especially good for breaking into squares and sharing. They’re also handy chopped over a dessert when you want both chocolate shards and a bit of crunch.
Smooth Hazelnut Filling
Chocolate with hazelnut inside might have a soft centre rather than a whole nut. The filling can be tucked into a chocolate shell, layered inside a bar or spread between wafers.
This is the one to choose if you want the hazelnut flavour throughout the bite without big nut pieces. A crisp shell or wafer adds contrast, whilst a smooth centre gives a more melt-in-the-mouth texture.
For a snack that leans into that contrast, our M:lk Choc Cre&m Wafer Bar pairs crisp layers with a smooth filling. Try it alongside a coffee, or chop it over a bowl of plant-based ice cream just before serving.
Gianduja and Hazelnut Praline
Gianduja, sometimes spelled gianduia, is a smooth chocolate and hazelnut mixture. Rather than getting separate pieces of nut in a solid bar, you get a blended, nutty flavour through the chocolate.
Hazelnut praline can mean different things on a chocolate box. It may refer to a smooth nutty filling, or to a confection made with caramelised nuts. If texture matters to you, read the product description rather than relying on the name alone.
We’d choose a whole-nut bar for crunch and gianduja for a smooth, lingering hazelnut flavour. Neither is the "right" version. It’s your snack.
Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Bars
Dark chocolate brings a more pronounced cocoa flavour to the hazelnut pairing. A solid bar with whole nuts is a good choice if you want a firm bite, whilst a dark chocolate shell around a hazelnut centre gives you a mix of snap and softness.
If you’re considering a dark chocolate hazelnut bar, look at how the nuts are used:
- Whole hazelnuts give the chunkiest bite.
- Chopped hazelnuts add smaller pieces throughout the bar.
- A hazelnut centre gives you a smooth middle beneath the chocolate.
- A blended chocolate and hazelnut bar offers a more even texture.
A dark chocolate bar and a dark chocolate wafer bar aren’t the same thing. For a wafer, check that the product has both the crisp layers and the hazelnut filling you want. A dark coating alone doesn’t tell you what’s inside.
Dark chocolate also isn’t automatically made without dairy. Check the label if you’re choosing a vegan product or buying for someone who avoids dairy.
White Chocolate and Hazelnut
White chocolate and hazelnut make a sweeter, mellow pairing. White chocolate brings a soft, vanilla-like flavour, while hazelnuts add a roasted, nutty contrast. Add a wafer or chopped nuts and you’ve got some welcome crunch too.
When choosing a white chocolate hazelnut bar, check whether the hazelnut is in the chocolate, the filling or both. A bar with a smooth centre will eat differently from one scattered with chopped nuts.
For a plant-based version, check the white chocolate and any filling separately. You can also pair a suitable white chocolate with our White Hazelnut Spread "White Hazel Daze" at home. The spread gives you hazelnut flavour, whilst pieces of white chocolate add a firmer bite.
White Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies
These cookies combine chopped hazelnuts, white chocolate pieces and hazelnut spread. They’re soft in the middle with crisp edges, and they’re excellent with a cup of coffee.
Serves: 12 cookies
Prep time: 20 minutes, plus baking and cooling
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
- 60 g plant-based baking block, softened
- 80 g light brown sugar
- 125 g White Hazelnut Spread "White Hazel Daze"
- 2 tbsp plant-based milk
- 160 g plain flour
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 80 g dairy-free white chocolate, roughly chopped
- 40 g chopped hazelnuts
Method
- Heat the oven to 180°C, or 160°C fan. Line two baking trays with baking paper.
- Beat the baking block and sugar together in a bowl. Stir in the hazelnut spread and plant-based milk.
- Add the flour and bicarbonate of soda. Mix until combined, then fold in the white chocolate and hazelnuts.
- Divide the dough into 12 portions and place them on the trays, leaving space between each one. Flatten them slightly.
- Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the centres are still soft.
- Leave the cookies on the trays for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
Use a firm baking block rather than a soft spread for a dough that’s easier to portion. If the dough feels too soft to handle, chill it briefly before shaping.
For bigger chocolate pockets, chop the bar into uneven chunks rather than fine pieces. Once the cookies are completely cool, keep them in an airtight container and enjoy them within a few days.
Tip: Want extra crunch? Scatter a few chopped wafer pieces over the cookies after baking, whilst the tops are still warm.
White Chocolate Hazelnut Latte
A hazelnut latte doesn’t need a coffee-shop syrup to taste like a treat. Stirring white hazelnut spread into warm plant-based milk gives the drink a nutty sweetness, with white chocolate for an extra mellow note.
Serves: 1
Prep time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
- 200 ml plant-based milk
- 1 tbsp White Hazelnut Spread "White Hazel Daze"
- 15 g dairy-free white chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 shot of espresso or 50 ml strong coffee
- Chopped hazelnuts, to finish, optional
Method
- Warm the plant-based milk in a small pan over a low heat until steaming, without letting it boil.
- Add the hazelnut spread and white chocolate. Whisk until melted and combined.
- Pour the coffee into a mug, then add the warm hazelnut mixture.
- Finish with a little chopped hazelnut if you like some crunch on top.
Taste before adding anything else: both the spread and white chocolate bring sweetness. For a less coffee-forward drink, use a little less coffee. For a frothier top, whisk the warm mixture before pouring.
Chocolate, Caramel and Hazelnut Sweets
Chocolate and hazelnut are already a cracking pair. Add caramel and you get another texture to play with: think a soft centre, a chewy layer or a sweet sauce alongside a nutty filling.
When you’re choosing a chocolate hazelnut sweet or candy bar, check where the caramel sits. A soft caramel centre will feel different from a firmer, chewy layer. A wafer brings light crunch, whilst whole hazelnuts make the bite chunkier.
If you’re browsing a mixed chocolate box, use the flavour key to find pieces that actually combine all three. A box containing separate caramel chocolates and hazelnut chocolates won’t necessarily have a caramel-and-hazelnut centre.
You can make the combination at home without hunting down a specific bar. Spoon a little dairy-free caramel sauce over a slice of chocolate cake, add chopped hazelnuts and finish with pieces of dark chocolate. Or drizzle caramel over plant-based ice cream and add a spoonful of hazelnut cacao spread.
For a quicker option, spread our Hazelnut Cacao Spread "Choco Love" on toast and add a light drizzle of dairy-free caramel. A pinch of salt brings out the sweet, nutty flavours without making the topping more complicated.
Hazelnut Flavouring or Real Hazelnuts?
A hazelnut-flavoured chocolate can get its taste from hazelnuts, flavouring or a combination of ingredients. The name on the front tells you what flavour to expect, not necessarily whether you’ll find pieces of nut inside.
If you want the texture of real hazelnuts, look for ingredients such as whole, chopped or ground hazelnuts. For a smooth result, a hazelnut paste or blended filling is more useful than a whole-nut bar.
Flavouring can be handy in baking and drinks when you want a nutty note without adding pieces. Follow the flavouring’s own directions and start with a small amount. It won’t give cookies the crunch or texture of chopped hazelnuts.
For allergy information, don’t make assumptions based on the word "flavoured" or the absence of visible nuts. Read the full ingredients and allergy information on the packaging of every product you use.
How to Choose a Hazelnut Chocolate Gift
The best gift depends on how the person likes their chocolate. A box of individually portioned sweets is easy to share, while a bar gives them something to break into squares and savour.
Start with the texture they enjoy:
- Choose whole-hazelnut chocolate for someone who loves a chunky crunch.
- Pick filled chocolates or gianduja-style pieces for a smoother bite.
- Go for a wafer bar if crisp layers are their thing.
- Look for caramel and hazelnut together if they like a soft or chewy centre.
A mixed box can be a good choice when you know they like variety but aren’t sure which flavour is their favourite. Check the contents first, especially if you’re buying for someone who avoids particular ingredients.
For a homemade gift, pair a jar of hazelnut spread with a small batch of the cookies above. Let the cookies cool completely before packing them, and include a note listing the ingredients you’ve used.
A Final Word on Hazelnut Chocolate
Call us biased, but we think a brilliant hazelnut chocolate should make its texture count. LoveRaw pairs a smooth centre with crisp wafer because that contrast makes every bite more interesting.
- Want a big crunch? Choose whole or chopped hazelnuts.
- Prefer a smooth centre? Look for a filled bar or gianduja.
- Craving something sweeter? Try white chocolate with hazelnut, or add caramel.
Tip: Explore our wafer bar range when you’re ready for a crisp, chocolatey hazelnut snack.
FAQ
Is gianduja the same as hazelnut praline?
Gianduja is a smooth mixture of chocolate and hazelnuts. Hazelnut praline can describe a smooth filling or a confection involving caramelised nuts, so the texture depends on the product.
Is dark hazelnut chocolate always dairy-free?
No. Dark chocolate and its fillings can contain dairy ingredients, so the colour of the chocolate isn’t enough to tell you. Check the ingredient list and packaging for the specific product.
Can I use hazelnut flavouring instead of chopped hazelnuts?
You can use flavouring to add a hazelnut note, but it won’t provide the crunch or bulk of chopped nuts. In cookies, you may want another suitable crunchy addition if you’re leaving the nuts out.
How can I tell if a chocolate has hazelnuts inside?
Check the product description and ingredients for whole hazelnuts, chopped hazelnuts, hazelnut paste or a hazelnut filling. A chocolate can taste of hazelnut without containing visible pieces, so the outside alone won’t tell you.
