If you want to wow someone special this Valentine’s Day without spending hours in the kitchen, I have just the thing for you. I’m calling them Nutella Hearts, and they are every bit as delicious as they sound.
These little gems are proof that you don’t need to be a professional chocolatier to make something that looks (and tastes) incredibly fancy. Imagine biting into a crisp chocolate shell to reveal a creamy, dreamy center of Nutella and roasted hazelnuts. It’s like a homemade version of those expensive gold-wrapped chocolates, but made with love right in your own kitchen!
Whether you’re making them for your partner, your kids, or just treating yourself (because you deserve it!), these bonbons are a guaranteed hit.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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Surprisingly Easy: If you can melt chocolate in a microwave, you can make these.
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Decadent Flavor: The combination of rich dark chocolate, sweet hazelnut spread, and crunchy nuts is unbeatable.
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Gift-Ready: Pop them in a cute box, and you have a heartfelt DIY gift.
Ingredients
Here is everything you need to get started:
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Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: 1 cup (This forms the glossy outer shell).
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Nutella: ½ cup (The star of the show!).
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Raw Hazelnuts: ¼ cup (For that essential crunch).
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Unsalted Butter: 3 tablespoons (To make the filling extra silky).
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Powdered Sugar: 1 tablespoon (Adds just the right amount of sweetness and structure).
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Roast the Hazelnuts
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread your raw hazelnuts on a baking sheet and roast them for about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn! Once they are fragrant, let them cool down. Rub them between your hands or in a clean kitchen towel to flake off the skins.
2. Grind for Crunch
Toss your roasted, cooled nuts into a food processor. Pulse them until they are finely ground. You want a nice crumbly texture, not hazelnut butter!
3. Make the Creamy Filling
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the Nutella and butter. Heat for about 30 seconds—just enough to melt the butter. Whisk them together until smooth, then stir in the powdered sugar until it is completely blended. Set this luscious mixture aside.
4. Melt the Chocolate Shell
Place your chocolate chips in a separate bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, for a total of about 2 minutes or until completely smooth and glossy.
5. Create the Shell
Using a pastry brush or a small spoon, coat the inside of your heart-shaped silicone mold with the melted chocolate. Make sure to get into every nook and cranny! Flip the mold upside down over a piece of parchment paper to let the excess drip out—this ensures a nice thin shell. Scrape the top clean and pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes to set.
6. Fill and Seal
Once the shells are firm, sprinkle a pinch of your ground hazelnuts into the bottom of each heart. Next, pipe or spoon in the Nutella mixture, but don’t fill it all the way to the top—you need room for the final layer!
Pour the remaining melted chocolate over the filling to seal your hearts. Give the mold a gentle tap on the counter to release any trapped air bubbles and smooth out the top.
7. Chill and Enjoy
Place the mold back in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Once they are rock solid, gently pop them out of the mold.
And there you have it—stunning, delicious Nutella Hearts ready to be devoured. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentine's Day Nutella Hearts
Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chip morsels
- ½ cup Nutella
- ¼ cup raw hazelnuts
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Turn your oven on to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to get started.
- Roast the Hazelnuts: Spread the hazelnuts on a baking tray and roast them for about 5 minutes. Let them cool off, then rub off the skins with your hands.
- Grind the Hazelnuts: Put the cooled hazelnuts into a food processor and grind them until they're finely chopped.
- Melt Nutella and Butter: In a microwave-safe bowl, mix Nutella and butter. Heat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or until the butter melts. Stir them together until they're smooth.
- Mix in Powdered Sugar: Stir powdered sugar into your Nutella and butter mixture until it's fully combined.
- Melt the Chocolate: Place chocolate chips in a separate bowl and microwave them for 2 minutes, pausing every 30 seconds to stir, until completely melted.
- Prepare the Mold: Use a brush to coat your heart-shaped mold with the melted chocolate, making sure to cover all the spaces. Turn the mold upside down to let any excess chocolate drip out, then scrape the top clean.
- Set the Chocolate: Put the chocolate-coated mold in the fridge for about 10 minutes or until it sets a bit.
- Add Hazelnuts and Nutella Mixture: Sprinkle the ground hazelnuts into the chocolate shells. Next, fill each heart with the Nutella mixture, leaving a little space at the top for more chocolate.
- Seal with Chocolate: Pour the rest of the melted chocolate over the filled molds to seal the hearts. Gently tap the mold on the counter to remove air bubbles and ensure the chocolate settles.
- Clean the Edges: Scrape off any excess chocolate from the top of the mold.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the mold for at least 30 minutes or until the chocolate is firm. Once set, pop the Nutella Hearts out of the mold and they're ready to be enjoyed!