A round tree nut with an intensely aromatic, sweet flavour that develops fully only on toasting. The papery skin is bitter and is usually rubbed off.
What it does in a recipe: A firm, aromatic nut that keeps its crunch in a wet batter and grinds into a rich, oily paste. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.
Also called: Filberts, Cobnuts
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Nuts & seedscategory
Quick answer
Almonds
1 cup hazelnuts = 1 cup whole almonds, toasted
All substitutes, best first
4 ways to replace hazelnuts
Almonds
Reliable
1 cup hazelnuts = 1 cup whole almonds, toasted
Almost identical density and fat content, so they grind, chop and toast the same way and behave interchangeably in a dacquoise or a praline.
Trade-offFar less aromatic. Almond is a background flavour where hazelnut is a foreground one, so the bake will taste plainer.
Allergen checkAlmonds are a tree nut and are commonly processed alongside hazelnuts. Check the packet for shared-equipment warnings. Swapping one tree nut for another offers no protection to someone with a nut allergy, which is a medical matter for a clinician.
Macadamia nuts
Reliable
1 cup hazelnuts = 1 cup macadamia nuts, toasted
Macadamias have a similar round shape and even higher fat content, so they toast rich and grind to a smooth paste.
Trade-offSofter, creamier and much milder, with none of the hazelnut's distinctive perfume. Also considerably more expensive.
Allergen checkMacadamias are a tree nut and share facilities with other nuts as standard practice. Look for cross-contact statements on the packaging, and where the allergy is severe confirm with the manufacturer rather than relying on the label.
Walnuts
Reliable
1 cup hazelnuts = 1 cup walnut halves, toasted
A similar oil content and a comparable ability to grind into a paste, though the flesh is softer and the flavour more tannic.
MethodToast and cool before grinding. Grinding warm walnuts releases enough oil to turn the mixture into a paste before you want it.
Trade-offSlightly bitter and much softer, so the crunch in a biscuit or a torte is noticeably reduced.
Allergen checkWalnuts are a tree nut and processing lines are typically shared across species. Read the packaging for shared-equipment notices. If the reason for the swap is an allergy, use seeds and take medical advice rather than substituting a different nut.
Toasted sunflower seeds
In a pinch
1 cup hazelnuts = 1 cup raw sunflower seeds, toasted
They toast to a similar crunch and grind to a workable paste, and being seeds they carry no tree nut protein, which makes them the nut-free choice.
Trade-offSavoury and much less aromatic, and they can turn green in a batter raised with baking soda. Harmless, but visually surprising.
Allergen checkSunflower seeds contain no tree nut protein and are appropriate for a nut-free kitchen. Because they are so often packed on nut lines, choose a brand that states a nut-free facility if the allergy is severe, rather than relying on the ingredient list.
Worth knowing
Toast hazelnuts at 350°F/175°C for 12 to 15 minutes, then tip them into a tea towel, fold it over and rub hard. Most of the skins come away, and the ones that do not will not spoil anything.
Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.