I haven’t had Nutella since I was a student traveling in Europe decades ago with a EuroRail pass, sleeping in youth hostels. Back then we used to eat this incredible chocolate spread for breakfast. Because I now find the real thing way too sweet for my taste, I’ve created my own healthy homemade Nutella.
Like everything I create, this is another easy paleo recipe with only 6 ingredients. To make it you’ll need hazel nuts, cacao powder, hazelnut oil, honey, vanilla, and salt. Simply throw the ingredients in a food processor and you’ve got a healthy homemade version of Nutella that kids and adults love!
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Ingredients
- 1 cup hazelnuts
- ¼ cup cacao powder
- 5 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon hazelnut oil
- pinch celtic sea salt
Instructions
- Roast hazelnuts at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until they turn golden and smell fragrant
- Transfer hazelnuts to a towel and rub skins off
- In a food processor, grind hazelnuts 5 minutes until a smooth butter, scrape sides as needed
- Add cacao, honey, vanilla, oil, and salt and process until well blended, about a minute
- Store in a one quart mason jar in refrigerator
- Bring to room temperature prior to serving
I decided to make my own homemade Nutella, after seeing Amy Scattergood’s recipe in the Los Angeles Times. The consistency of my chocolate hazelnut spread is a bit thicker than peanut butter. If you want to thin out your spread, add more hazelnut oil. I think this treat has a very similar taste to Nutella, though find the consistency not as creamy.
Everyone in my house loved this homemade hazelnut chocolate spread and it vanished quickly. Even though it’s not exactly the same thing, I like having a decadent treat and at the same time knowing exactly what’s in it!
We’re off to baseball practice. It’s a gorgeous 70 degree day perfect for our first day of spring training in Boulder!
Caro says
Another way to get the skins off of nuts is to put them in a colander and rub them around the bottom with a flat hand… this way all the skin falls through the holes.
I’m totally making this!!!
yaelian says
What a great recipe ! Thanks Elana!
Jodye says
Oh my, this looks outstanding! I missed nutella day, but I think making this could make up for it.
Barbara Filteau says
Elana,
I’m really enjoying your site and the many baked goods. I’m going to make the brownies but how do you store the leftovers?
kansaswolf says
Wait, you have LEFTOVER brownies? ;)
NAOmni says
I came across you on tastespotting and had to come see this…Nutella is sooo good!
NAOmni
zebe912 says
I’ve been missing nutella lately and was drooling over it the other day in a store wishing I could eat it. But the refined sugars in it are a no-no. I have a whole bag of hazelnut meal in my cupboard. I wonder how I could make that work. Yum!!
Jennifer says
I have been looking for a better-nutella recipe to make! THANK YOU!!!
Alisa - Frugal Foodie says
That looks wonderful!
Shenan says
Thank you for being a psychic chef! As we are in Europe, Nutella is plentiful…and just this week I was looking longingly at the jar and thinking how that is one treat I actually miss now that I am on a food sensitivities diet. I guess all things ARE possible! :-)
Mae Bird says
OH MY GOODNESS…. I am going to try this right away. Thank you for your wonderful recipes and ideas… LOVE THEM!