How to Roast Hazelnuts

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 Approved

Roasting hazelnuts, or filberts, will remove some of the moisture in the nut, allowing it to have a more crunchy texture, and the natural fats in the nut will turn the nut brown. Roasted hazelnuts have a nuttier flavor, but over-roasting them can result in burned or bitter nuts. Roasted hazelnuts can be used in recipes or eaten as they are. See Step 1 below to begin roasting your very own hazelnuts.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Roasting in the Oven

1
Roast hazelnuts in the oven.
2
Spread your shelled hazelnuts on a cookie sheet in a single layer.

Advertisement
3
Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
4
When heated, place the cookie sheet on a rack in the middle of the oven.
5
Let the nuts roast for about 12 minutes, then check on them.
- If they smell nutty and are lightly browned then they're done. If they're not, keep checking on them every minute or so.
6
Watch them closely so they don't over-roast.
- If you'd like to give them a longer, slower roast, you can heat them at 275ºF (125ºC) for 15-20 minutes.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Roasting in a Pan

1
Roast hazelnuts in a pan. Pan-roasting your hazelnuts can give them a delicious, heavenly taste. You can consider adding a bit of oil to the pan so they don't burn, but too much oil will change the flavor. Here's how to cook hazelnuts in a pan:
2
Put your hazelnuts into a heavy saucepan in a single layer.
3
Place the pan on the stove over medium heat.
4
Stir the hazelnuts around every minute or so.
5
Watch them carefully when they start to brown and smell nutty as they will overcook very quickly.
6
Cook them for 5-10 minutes until they are fragrant and brown.
7
When browned, immediately remove them from the pan to prevent them from over-roasting.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Roasting Over an Open Fire

1
Roast hazelnuts over an open fire. Hazelnuts take on a smoky flavor when roasted over an open fire such as a fire pit or barbecue. They also make for a delicious snack if you're out camping with friends. Here's what you have to do if you want to roast hazelnuts over an open fire:
2
Place the shelled nuts in a fire safe pot or pan and carefully set them on hot coals.
3
Stir them frequently for 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the heat, until they are brown, roasted and fragrant.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Skinning the Hazelnut

1
Remove excess skin. You can certainly eat the skins of hazelnuts, but most people like to remove as much of the skin as possible so they can cleanly enjoy the taste of a roasted hazelnut. Roasting them actually makes it easier to remove the skin, so you should do so after roasting. However, know that some varieties of hazelnut, such as the Oregon hazelnut, have stubborn skins that are difficult to remove. You won't be able to remove all of the skin of the hazelnuts, and that's okay; the skin provides the nuts with color and valuable nutrients. Here's how you remove the skin of the hazelnuts:
2
Carefully transfer the hot roasted nuts to a clean kitchen towel.
3
Wrap the nuts in the towel then rub the nuts lightly against each other.
4
This will remove any loose papery skin, which may have a slight bitter taste.
5
Serve. Many people love eating roasted hazelnuts just plain, as they are, while others like to incorporate them in salads, meat dishes, as well as other recipes. Here are some great recipes that include hazelnuts that you can try:
- Hazelnut milkshakes
- Hazelnut bacon cookies
- Hazelnut martinis
- Homemade Nutella
- Hazelnut bananas
- Chocolate hazelnut buns
- Hazelnut cupcakes

Community Q&A
Did you know you can get answers researched by wikiHow Staff? Unlock staff-researched answers by supporting wikiHow

Question

How do I remove skins from the roasted hazelnuts?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.

Place the hot hazelnuts onto a clean tea towel. Fold half of the kitchen cloth over the hot nuts and rub gently over the hazelnuts to loosen and rub the skins off. The skins will come off easily while the nuts are still hot. Allow to cool completely before using or eating the bare hazelnuts.
Question

I roasted mixed nuts, then chopped them, and they became very oily - how can I get rid of the oil?

Community Answer

Nuts naturally produce oil, some more than others. Getting rid of the oil completely is probably impossible, but what you can do, after roasting, is chill them. That way the oil will solidify or be reincorporated back into the nut.
Question

I have been roasting last falls hazelnuts. They are large and when roasted 15 minutes many are still rubbery. How do I finish the roast without overdoing it?

Community Answer

Perhaps they are old, and that's why they come out rubbery. Try the same steps with fresher ingredients.

Warnings

Carefully watch hazelnuts as they begin to turn brown as they can burn very quickly. Discard burned hazelnuts as they'll be very bitter.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 11 Not Helpful 6