When a recipe lists hazelnuts in tablespoons and your scale reads grams, the conversion is 8.9 g per tablespoon. The maths is a single division: one cup of hazelnuts weighs 142 g, and one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so 142 ÷ 16 = 8.9 g. That one number unlocks the whole table below, from a single teaspoon at 3 g up to a full cup at 142 g.
Every figure here is approximate and comes from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled. Small spoonfuls are the hardest amounts to weigh accurately, so if the recipe matters, check the weight on a kitchen scale.
About Hazelnuts
Round, sweet nuts with a thin brown skin. Nutella-style spreads, praline, baking and salads. That is why it shows up in recipes measured by the tablespoon: it is used in amounts too small for a cup measure to be practical, yet large enough that guessing the weight can throw a dish off. Knowing that one tablespoon weighs 8.9 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Airtight container, cool and dry; refrigerate for longer.
Worked examples
A smoothie or a breakfast bowl
A breakfast bowl or a smoothie for one person takes 2 tablespoons of hazelnuts, about 17.8 g, sprinkled on top or blended in. Two tablespoons is a sensible single serving: enough to add flavour and texture without overwhelming the bowl. If you are blending them in, add them last and pulse briefly, so they break up without turning the whole bowl gritty.
A batch of cookies
A batch of cookies for a dozen people uses 4 tablespoons of hazelnuts, about 35.5 g, folded into the dough at the end. Four tablespoons spread through a whole batch gives a nut in most bites without making the cookies crumbly. Chop them roughly rather than finely, so they keep some texture, and fold them in last so they do not get crushed by the mixing.
A salad topping for lunch
A lunch salad for two people takes 2 tablespoons of hazelnuts, about 17.8 g, scattered over the top just before serving. Two tablespoons adds crunch and richness without turning a light salad into a heavy one. Toast them in a dry pan for a minute first, because toasting deepens the flavour enormously, and let them cool before they go on the salad so they stay crisp.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 3 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 8.9 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 17.8 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 26.6 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 35.5 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 44.4 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 53.2 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 62.1 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 71 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 79.9 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 88.8 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 97.6 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 106.5 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 115.4 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 124.2 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 133.1 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 142 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 142 g divided by 16 and rounded to one decimal place. Sixteen tablespoons make one cup, which is why the last row of the table matches the cup weight exactly. All figures are approximate; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
Cups to grams for reference
Most recipes switch between cups and tablespoons, so here is the same ingredient measured in cups. Use this table when a recipe gives a cup amount and you want to weigh it, or when you have already measured in tablespoons and want to check the total.
| Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 4 tablespoons | 35.5 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 47.3 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 71 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 94.7 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 106.5 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 142 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 213 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 284 g |
How the figure is measured
Hazelnuts is measured spooned and levelled: spoon it loosely into the tablespoon, then sweep the top flat with the back of a knife. Do not scoop directly from the bag or jar, because scooping packs the ingredient down and a scooped spoon can weigh far more than a spooned one. The spoon-and-level method is the one the source data assumes, so it is the method that makes the numbers on this page true.
The cup weight of 142 g comes from King Arthur Baking. The tablespoon figure is that cup weight divided by 16, rounded to one decimal place, which is why the table is consistent from one row to the next. All results are approximate: brand, grind, humidity and temperature all move the real weight a little, so when a recipe has to work the first time, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale and use these numbers as a guide.
When precision matters most
Not every recipe needs weighing. A soup, a stew or a marinade will forgive a tablespoon of hazelnuts more or less, because the balance of flavours is broad and you can adjust it at the end. Baking is different: a cake, a loaf or a batch of biscuits depends on the ratio of ingredients, and being out by a few tablespoons of hazelnuts can change the texture, the rise or the sweetness.
Use the scale whenever the amount is large, whenever the recipe is one you have never made before, and whenever the ingredient is doing structural work rather than just adding flavour. For a single tablespoon in a savoury dish, a level spoon is accurate enough. For 71 g, which is 8 tablespoons, the spoon is a slow way to measure and a scale is both faster and more accurate. The habit to build is simple: weigh the ingredients that matter, spoon the ones that do not, and know which is which before you start cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of hazelnuts?
One tablespoon of hazelnuts weighs 8.9 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 142 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 3 g, and one cup is 142 g.
Can I use a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon?
It is not a good idea. Eating spoons vary widely in size and shape, and a tablespoon from a cutlery drawer can hold noticeably more or less than a standard measuring tablespoon. A set of measuring spoons costs very little and is the only way to make the figures on this page true in your kitchen.
Is 8.9 g per tablespoon exact or approximate?
It is approximate. The cup weight of 142 g comes from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled, and the real weight of a tablespoon varies with brand, grind, humidity and how the spoon is filled. For most cooking the approximation is fine, and for baking or any recipe that has to work the first time, verify with a kitchen scale.
How do I measure hazelnuts without a scale?
Fill a measuring tablespoon spooned and levelled and level it off with a straight edge. For amounts up to a few tablespoons, that is accurate enough. For larger amounts, use a cup measure: one cup of hazelnuts is 142 g. Count spoonfuls only for small amounts, since the error on each spoon adds up over sixteen of them.
How much does 35.5 g of hazelnuts work out to in tablespoons?
That is 4 tablespoons, which weigh 35.5 g. Four tablespoons is a quarter of a cup, so it is a convenient amount to measure with a quarter-cup measure if you have one. The same arithmetic works for any amount: divide the grams by 8.9 to get tablespoons.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Scooping directly from the bag, which packs the ingredient down and makes a spoonful weigh far more than a spooned one.
- Leaving the spoon heaped instead of levelling it, which adds an unpredictable extra amount every time.
- Measuring a damp or clumped ingredient without breaking it up first, which leaves air pockets and a short measure.
- Using a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon, since eating spoons vary widely in size.
The thread running through all of these is the same: a tablespoon is only a standard measure when it is filled in the standard way. Measure hazelnuts spooned and levelled, level it off, and check the weight on a scale when the recipe has to be right, and the numbers on this page will serve you well.