How We Tested

Hazelicious Chocolate Hazelnut Butter was sent directly by the brand to a total of 16 consumer testers, judges and analysts, with distribution coordinated by Best of the Year. Because the product had been temporarily out of stock, samples arrived in early August. Recipients then had several weeks to taste and assess the product before completing their scorecards.

Six designated consumer testers tried the hazelnut butter at home. They rated its overall quality, taste, texture, freshness, household appeal and their likelihood to recommend or purchase it.

A chef and two registered dietitians assessed the product’s taste, texture, ingredients, nutritional value, allergen labeling and overall performance within its category. These judges also considered consumer need, innovation, differentiation, value and the accuracy of the marketing claims. Packaging experts reviewed functionality, product protection and material selection, while sustainability experts looked more broadly at the brand’s environmental and social initiatives.

Best of the Year analysts and editors also tasted the product at home with their families. They reviewed the entry and submitted materials, including manufacturing-related certifications, and considered its performance, packaging and social and environmental attributes in their scorecards.

What Experts and Consumer Testers Said

Delicious. That's the main headline from our judges and testers. They loved how much the hazelnuts actually taste like hazelnuts, with rich chocolate flavor that doesn't overwhelm them and considerably less sweetness than you might expect from a chocolate-hazelnut spread. “It's so yummy. I can't believe how delicious it is," says one Best of the Year judge & food category expert. "And it's not even that sweet. Eat it by the spoonful, spread it on bread, or use it in a dessert, this stuff is perfect!”

Our food experts were particularly impressed by the balance. Rather than tasting chocolate and sugar first and getting a little nuttiness somewhere in the background, the roasted hazelnuts come through immediately. The chocolate is there — absolutely — but it doesn't take over. “It's genuinely delicious and very well balanced. The hazelnut flavor comes through immediately, and the chocolate tastes natural rather than artificial. It's neither overly sweet nor salty, letting the hazelnuts stay the star.”

“It's so yummy. I can't believe how delicious it is, and it's not even that sweet. Eat it by the spoonful, spread it on bread, or use it in a dessert, this stuff is perfect.” -Best of the Year Judge & Food Category Expert

Our registered dietitians also liked what they saw when they turned the jar around, too. Hazelicious has a short three-item ingredient list, with hazelnuts right up top, and just 7 grams of sugar per serving. There's no palm oil, either. Taken together, those choices make this feel more at home alongside the peanut and almond butter in your pantry than something you're saving exclusively for dessert.

“It's a great-tasting product. It's nutritionally superior, so it's better for kids, they won't know it has less sugar, and no palm oil. I'm so glad I got to try this.” -Best of the Year Judge & Food Category Expert

There is only one trade-off we noted during our evaluations. Without the stabilizers you may be used to in other chocolate-hazelnut spreads, Hazelicious has a thinner, more natural nut-butter consistency. A couple of our testers wished it were a little thicker, and you may need to give the jar a good stir. Consider storing it upside down to solve for this, which you might be familiar with if you eat other natural nut butters.

Best of the Year Bottom Line

Chocolate-hazelnut spread for breakfast? For a snack? For dinner? Go for it. (Well, maybe not for dinner.) This award-winning hazelicious spread gives you the chocolatey deliciousness you're after, but with more hazelnuts, less sugar and a very short ingredient list. Spread it on toast, dip in some fruit or eat it straight from the spoon. We're right there with you.

Why Trust Us?

The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.

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