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    Home » Desserts » Homemade Italian Kisses: Baci Chocolate Recipe

    Homemade Italian Kisses: Baci Chocolate Recipe

    February 1, 2023 , Updated March 16, 2023 Maria 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Kisses on a silver tray.

    If you enjoy Italian chocolates, you’ll love this homemade chocolate recipe for Italian kisses! It requires milk and dark chocolate, hazelnuts, Nutella®, butter and cocoa powder. These baci kisses are the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day or any other special occasion. You won’t believe how easy it is to make these Baci balls!

    If you like the combination of nuts and chocolate, be sure to try these chocolate almonds as well as these almond clusters.

    Three homemade Italian kisses in red confection liners on a silver tray.
    Jump to:
    • Introduction
    • Mise en place
    • How to make Italian chocolate hazelnut kisses 
    • Tips
    • FAQ
    • Simple chocolate recipes
    • Recipe origins
    • Recipe

    Introduction

    Italian chocolates are known around the world for their quality and taste.

    Baci, which means “kisses” in Italian, is a popular brand of Italian chocolate candy. These chocolate treats have been in production since 1922 and to this day, the Perugia factory still produces thousands of Baci chocolates daily.

    This chocolate-covered hazelnut confection is a creative and innovative recipe from fashion designer Luisa Spagnoli. The combination of chopped nuts and melted chocolate filling is topped with a whole roasted hazelnut and submerged in dark chocolate. This is sure to satisfy your chocolate cravings! 

    Baci chocolates are a classic Italian chocolate candy synonymous with love and romance. Not surprisingly, they are a popular gift for Valentine’s Day.

    However, you don’t need to spend money on store-bought chocolates when homemade Italian kisses taste so much better! This homemade Baci chocolate recipe is simple and requires only six ingredients, including Nutella and hazelnuts.

    Let me show you how easy it is to make these homemade Italian chocolates!

    Ingredients to make homemade Baci balls.

    Mise en place

    You must prepare your hazelnuts to make the most delicious and rewarding homemade chocolate. We need 50 grams of toasted hazelnuts. Please refer to this step-by-step tutorial on how to roast hazelnuts.

    Remove the skins and place the roasted nuts on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, finely chop them to a crumb-like consistency. Set them aside to cool down to room temperature. 

    How to make Italian chocolate hazelnut kisses 

    Once the chopped hazelnuts are at room temperature, we can begin to make homemade Baci.

    The first thing we will do is line a small pan with parchment paper. Set it aside for now. 

    Let’s begin by melting 10 grams of butter with 50 grams of milk chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. You can use a microwave or a double boiler. 

    Stir until this mixture is completely smooth.

    Add 50 grams of chopped toasted hazelnuts, 50 grams of chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella®) and 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. Stir together until all the ingredients are properly combined.

    Transfer the mixture to the refrigerator for 2-3 minutes for it to just begin to harden.

    An ice cream scooper portioning the chocolate hazelnut mixture.

    With the help of a small ice cream scooper, portion 12 balls of chocolate, approximately 1-inch in diameter and place them on the parchment-lined pan. As an optional step, you may roll each Baci ball to obtain a smoother surface. 

    Homemade Baci chocolate on a parchment-lined tray.

    Gently press a whole skinless hazelnut into the top of each chocolate Baci ball.

    Transfer the chocolate balls to the refrigerator for 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, place 100 grams of dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a hot, barely simmering pot of water.

    Once the chocolate is almost melted, remove the pan from the heat and whisk the chocolate until completely melted. Leave the bowl in place over the pot of hot water.

    Homemade chocolate hazelnut kisses freshly covered with dark chocolate on a tray.

    One by one, roll each ball in the melted chocolate. With the help of two forks, return the chocolate-covered balls to the parchment-lined baking sheet to allow the chocolate to set. 

    And now for the taste test! According to some family members, they were better than the original!

    A baci chocolate cut in half.

    Tips

    • Toasting hazelnuts bring out their flavor.
    • Removing the skins of the hazelnuts ensures no bitter aftertaste.
    • With at least 85% cocoa, high-quality chocolate discs provide the best-tasting and looking homemade Baci candy.
    • Wearing plastic gloves is a great idea if you roll the chocolate balls to obtain a smoother surface, as it can get messy.
    • If you have leftover dark chocolate, make chocolate bark by adding seeds, chopped nuts, or dried fruit. 

    FAQ

    Can I use chocolate chips in this recipe?

    Although you can melt chocolate chips and combine them with the toasted hazelnuts, it is not recommended to use them for the chocolate coating as they are designed to hold their shape, and the results will not be great. 

    Can I make vegan Baci chocolate? 

    Yes, here’s how; replace the milk chocolate with vegan dark chocolate; use this vegan chocolate hazelnut butter to replace a commercial product and replace the 10 grams of butter with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. The rest of the ingredients remain the same.

    Simple chocolate recipes

    Are you looking for more easy chocolate treats? Try out this recipe for chocolate fudge or this nutty chocolate bark. One other suggestion is this recipe for chocolate espresso beans. These homemade sweet treats also make great hostess gifts any time of the year!

    A stack of Italian chocolate cookies.

    Italian Chocolate Cookies

    If you are a chocolate lover, these Italian chocolate cookies are for you! Their aroma will fill your home with warmth and comfort as they bake in the oven. 

    GET THE RECIPE

    Do you enjoy having biscotti? If you do, you must try these hazelnut biscotti. 

    Homemade Italian kisses, aka baci, on a silver platter.

    Recipe origins

    A few years ago, I wanted to make homemade chocolates for Valentine’s Day for my family and friends. My goal was to replicate Italy’s infamous Baci Perugina chocolates, one of my favorite chocolates.

    A colleague of mine, Tony, shared his favorite recipe for these decadent confections.

    My whole family fell in love with this Baci chocolate recipe.

    Although they are a little messy, the result is amazing!

    Treat yourself and your loved ones for Valentine’s Day or any other special occasion. 

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    If you haven’t already joined, here is the link where you can sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter. This way, you won’t miss any of my new recipes and it’s free! 

    Ciao for now,

    Maria 

    ★★★★★ If you have made this homemade chocolate Baci recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    A close up photo of homemade baci chocolate.

    Homemade Italian Kisses: Baci Chocolates

    You don't have to be a chocolatier to make Homemade Italian Kisses. Fun to make and a joy to eat. Treat yourself and your loved ones to Baci.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 136kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 50 grams milk chocolate
    • 10 grams butter
    • 50 grams toasted and blanched hazelnuts chopped, toasted and skinless
    • 50 grams chocolate hazelnut spread Nutella
    • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder unsweetened
    • 12 whole hazelnuts skinless
    • 100 grams dark chocolate

    Instructions

    • Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
    • In a small heatproof bowl, melt the milk chocolate with butter in the microwave or on top of a double boiler.
    • Remove from heat and add the chopped hazelnuts, Nutella and cocoa powder.
    • Stir together until all the ingredients are properly combined.
    • Transfer to the refrigerator for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture begins to harden.
    • With the help of a small ice cream scooper, portion 12 balls of chocolate, approximately 1-inch in diameter and place them on the parchment-lined pan.
    • Gently press a whole hazelnut into the top of each chocolate Baci ball.
    • Transfer the Baci balls to the refrigerator for 2-3 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, place the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl, over a pot of hot, barely simmering water. 
    • Once the chocolate is almost melted, remove the pan from the heat and whisk the chocolate until completely melted. Leave the bowl in place, over the pot of hot water.
    • Dip the chocolate balls in chocolate.
    • Place on the parchment-lined baking sheet and allow for chocolate to dry.
    • Enjoy.
    Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon’t miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

    Video

    Notes

    • Toasting the hazelnuts brings out their flavor.
    • Removing the skins of the hazelnuts ensures no bitter aftertaste.
    • With at least 85% cocoa, high-quality chocolate discs provide the best tasting and looking homemade Baci candy.
    • Wearing plastic gloves is a great idea if you decide to roll the chocolate balls in order to obtain a smoother surface, as it can get a little messy.
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
    *recipe from Misya

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 2mg
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    This post was originally published on January 29, 2015, republished on February 11, 2022, and again on February 1, 2023 with updated content and a video.  Thanks for sharing!

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    Filed Under: Desserts

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sandie 2

      February 15, 2022 at 5:30 pm

      How wonderful Maria, year’s ago we used to get Baci’s from an occasional Italian visitor to our company, wrapped in silver foil.
      I will definitely be making these, thank you so much for the recipe.😋

      Reply
      • Maria

        February 15, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        My pleasure Sandie! Thanks so much for stopping by!

        Reply
    2. Sandy

      November 08, 2021 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      I have made these and every single person who tried absolutely loved them! My question is, how long would you think they can last? Thinking of gifting some for Christmas.

      Reply
      • Maria

        January 04, 2022 at 8:28 am

        How wonderful Sandy, thanks for sharing. To be honest, they never last that long 🙂 I would say a few days -I would place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them. The next time I make them I will experiment with freezing them.

        Reply
    3. Ur pal val

      April 27, 2018 at 7:14 pm

      5 stars
      This looks amazing, I have pinned to try. Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Maria

        April 28, 2018 at 8:00 am

        They are a little messy to make but so so good! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

        Reply
    4. Emily | OatandSesame

      January 04, 2017 at 6:52 pm

      I love these treats! Hazelnut and chocolate is my weakness!

      Reply
      • Maria

        January 04, 2017 at 7:28 pm

        Mine too ♥ Enjoy! Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂

        Reply

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