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!
Megan Holder says
Looks amazing!!! Yum!!!
Ste K says
The tip above about using baking soda to get the skins off of the hazelnuts? TOTALLY WORKS. I highly recommend it.
Pamela says
Oh,Elana!! I just had to respond to this post.I also discovered Nutella as a student traveling Europe on a Eurail Pass and staying in youth hostels! We would eat it for breakfast and then smuggle sliced baguette back to the room and snack on it spread thickly with Nutella: heaven. Thanks for the memories :)
Amber says
Elana first off I absolutely LOVE your website. All your recipes are amazing.
I just had a question about this Nutella recipe. I know you say to roast the hazelnuts BUT, if I buy them already roasted, can I just skip this step? Or would that ruin the recipe?
Also I think if I buy them roasted, the skins are usually already off too, right?
Elana says
Amber, I think it might work to buy the hazelnuts already roasted, but I haven’t tried that so I’m not certain it will work :-)
odessa says
I feel terrible saying this, but I liked this much better than the store version — it’s less sweet (I did cut the agave by 1 Tbspn) and the flavor is really, really nice.
As for the hazelnut skins, I found keeping nuts in an unsealed bag in the refrigerator for a day or two and then toasting them makes the skins come off fairly easily.
Elana says
Odessa, I’m so happy that you liked this better than the store bought version!
Desi Domo says
Hi Elana!
I FINALLY whipped up a batch of this stuff (it’s been on my list of recipes to try FOREVER), and it is absolutely delicious! I really miss Nutella, and this is the perfect substitution. I used blanched hazelnuts so I did not have to worry about skins and it worked perfectly. Thank you so much for this recipe!
~Desi
Elana says
Thanks Desi! I’m so glad that this was absolutely delicious!
Richard says
Looks wonderful!
Chaplin says
To remove those pesky hazelnut skins, bring 3 c water to boil and mix in 1/4 c baking soda. Add your 1 C hazelnuts and boil 3 minutes. Remove 1 and put under cold water, the skin should slide off, if not, boil another minute or 2.
Blender Benefits says
Elana, along with the cuisinart food processor, I would recommend to your readers to try recipes like this with a Blendtec Blender. It will handle ingredients like nuts very easy and can replace many other appliances in the kitchen.
Dominika says
Elana,
What food processor do you use? I have been dying to make this recipe along with my own almond butter but I doubt that my Magic Bullet will suffice.
Btw, I am new to your website but I am already addicted and eagerly await each new recipe!!
Cheers,
Dominika
elana says
Hi Dominika,
I use the cuisinart food processor, I’ve had mine for about 15 years without any problem and use it quite frequently. So glad to hear you are enjoying my recipes!