Hazelnuts, if they are finely ground or served as hazelnut butter, may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Whole hazelnuts, chopped hazelnuts, and hazelnut butter are choking hazards for babies, so read our preparation by age section closely before serving.

If you are feeling terrified to introduce nuts to your baby, watch our peanut and allergen videos in our virtual course, which were created by our award-winning allergist MD and our founder, who is an allergy mom.

Also known as cobnut, filbert, fındık, noisette, and nocciola, hazelnuts grow in the wild and on farms throughout much of the northern hemisphere, from North America to Europe and Asia. Excavations have uncovered pits of hazelnut shells from ancient dwelling sites, suggesting that humans have been enjoying the sweet, creamy nut for thousands of years. Today, hazelnuts are consumed globally in sweet and savory cooking, from kofta to linzer cookies, salads to sütlü nuriye, a baklava-like dessert of flaky dough, hazelnut paste, and milky sauce in Turkey, where many of the world’s hazelnuts are cultivated. Take care when purchasing hazelnuts, as commercial farms sometimes employ workers with few protections, such as refugees and children.   

Yes, if unsalted. Hazelnuts are a rich source of vitamin E, healthy fats, and fiber, which are important nutrients to develop and maintain baby’s brain, heart, immune system, and digestion.    Nuts in general are an excellent source of iron and protein, making them a particularly healthful food for babies on plant-based diets. Lastly, hazelnuts contain vitamin K, a nutrient that is essential for blood clotting.

Hazelnuts are sometimes sold salted, and some brands of hazelnut butter may be high in sugar and sodium. When introducing hazelnuts to babies, opt for unsalted, unsweetened nuts or hazelnut butter, if possible.

★Tip: Like most tree nuts, hazelnuts can go rancid. Store raw nuts or open jars of hazelnut butter in the refrigerator to extend the shelf life.  Hazelnuts can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1 year and in the freezer for up to 2 years. 

No. Prior to 12 months, the only liquids an infant should consume are breast milk, formula, and, if the baby is older than 6 months of age, water in small amounts (less than 2-4 ounces / 60-120 milliliters a day) in an open cup.    If hazelnut milk is used as an ingredient in solid food (such as oatmeal), then it is acceptable to serve before 12 months of age.

If, after the first birthday, you’d like to introduce unsweetened hazelnut milk as a beverage, it’s fine to do so, but know that nut milks often lack adequate calories, fat, and protein for toddlers. Typically, fortified soy or pea milk are more nutritious.  See our Milk FAQs to learn more.

Yes. Whole nuts, nut pieces, and globs of nut butters are choking hazards for babies and young children.  To reduce the risk, finely grind hazelnuts until no large pieces remain and sprinkle on other foods or offer smooth hazelnut butter thinned with other foods like applesauce or yogurt until smooth, with no clumps. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.

Yes. Hazelnuts are tree nuts, and all tree nuts are common food allergens. Due to similarities in the nuts’ protein structure, individuals who are allergic to macadamia nut, walnut, or pecan may be more likely to be allergic to hazelnuts.  While only 1 to 3% of the population is allergic to tree nuts, it is usually life-long: only 9% of children with a tree nut allergy will outgrow it.     

Hazelnuts are a common cause of Oral Allergy Syndrome, especially in individuals who are allergic to birch tree pollen. Oral Allergy Syndrome to hazelnut typically results in short-lived itching, tingling, or burning in the mouth and is less likely to result in a dangerous reaction. 

Although an allergy to one tree nut increases risk of allergy to another, keep in mind that being allergic to one nut does not necessarily mean that all nuts need to be removed from the diet.  Having as diverse a diet as possible, even within the confines of food allergies, is important to get the nutrients we need to be healthy.

There is no recommendation to complete allergy testing before introducing tree nuts into the diet, even if there is a family history of food allergy. However, if you suspect baby may be allergic to nuts, make an appointment with your primary care clinician or a pediatric allergist before introducing nuts at home.

When it’s time to introduce the nut, offer a scant quantity (such as a pinch of finely ground nut or 1/8 teaspoon of smooth hazelnut butter thinned with water) for the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals. It is okay if baby does not consume each serving entirely. It is important to maintain common food allergens (such as tree nuts) in the diet regularly (twice weekly, if possible) once introduced. Don’t stop offering the nut unless the baby shows signs of a reaction.

Recommended Guide: Introducing Allergens

Hazelnuts and hazelnut butter can help prevent constipation by promoting bowel movement regularity. They are a good source of fiber and magnesium, which help move stool along in the intestine.

Hazelnuts are delicious on their own or mixed with other nuts, but if you want to use the nuts in your cooking, there are plenty of options. Grind the nuts to make an earthy topping that you can sprinkle on grains and vegetables or use to coat proteins to make chicken nuggets, fish sticks, or tofu strips. Blend the nuts to make a dairy-free butter to spread on toast or eat with fresh fruit. You can also grind and soak the nuts to make hazelnut milk, which can add creamy flavor and lots of nutrition to grains, porridges, and smoothies. Hazelnuts also taste delicious with creamy cheeses; try mixing ground hazelnut with ricotta cheese and lemon zest to make tagliatelle di nocciola, a delicious pasta dish from the Piedmont region of Italy.