Chocolate and Hazelnut Pralines

I can share with you a delicious recipe for Italian-style chocolate hazelnut pralines, rich and luscious. Be aware that this is a basic preparation, and you can then customize it to your liking.

Ingredients

• 200 g of good quality dark chocolate;
• 100 g of roasted and peeled hazelnuts;
• 50 g of butter;
• 2 tablespoons of cream;
• Cocoa powder as needed for finishing.

Preparation

1. Begin by roasting the hazelnuts in the oven if they are not already. Place them on a tray and roast for about 8-10 minutes at 180 degrees. Let them cool and then, if necessary, rub them with a tea towel to remove the skins.
2. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler along with the butter and cream. Stir until smooth and homogeneous.
3. Add the toasted hazelnuts to the chocolate mixture and gently mix.
4. Prepare a tray with parchment paper. With the help of two teaspoons, form small mounds of the chocolate and hazelnut mixture on the tray, trying to include at least one hazelnut per praline.
5. Place the tray in the refrigerator and let the pralines harden for at least 1 hour.
6. Once the pralines are well chilled and solid, roll them one by one in cocoa powder to give them a finished look and prevent them from sticking to your fingers when served.

Your guests or your family will certainly be enchanted by these delicious homemade pralines.

Curiosity

Chocolate hazelnut pralines are a very common specialty in Northern Italy, especially in Piedmont where IGP hazelnuts are an ingredient of excellence. In Italy, these pralines are often called “gianduiotti”, from the name of the famous chocolate candy made with gianduia chocolate, which is a mix of chocolate and finely ground hazelnut paste.