With just 4 ingredients you’ll have your own ultra-creamy, rich, chocolate hazelnut spread at home. This homemade Nutella recipe has an indulgent roasted flavor and works just as well on a piece of toast as it does as a smear on top of a brownie.
Shopping for food in Italy is remarkable for many reasons, but Nutella is one iconic product that shows up everywhere. Making a copycat nutella recipe might not be as good as picking some up in Italy, but it might scratch the itch for a hazelnut chocolate spread.
Why is there so much Nutella in Italy? Turns out, it was invented there. The scarcity of cocoa following the second world war led to the creation of a spread made from hazelnuts, sugar, and a small amount of hard-to-come by cocoa.
We were amazed by the variety of Nutella products on the shelves, from snacks to containers the size of paint cans!
Homemade Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
With roasted hazelnuts for flavor, pure dark chocolate, and a hint of flavor all you need to do is blend it until it’s creamy.
This plant based hazelnut butter has the flavor of store bought nutella, but it’s dairy free. It also happens to be gluten free.
Enjoy your favorite rich chocolate spread anytime you want.
Ingredients
This Nutella recipe requires only 4 ingredients and it is healthier than the traditional version. It skips the palm oil but doesn’t shortchange on flavor.
Raw hazelnuts: you’ll need to roast the hazelnuts which is what brings out the natural oils in the nuts to make a smoother spread. Likewise, roasting them also maximizes the flavor you’ve come to know and love.
Pure chocolate bars: the better quality of the chocolate bar, the more delicious the homemade Nutella will be. You have a little flexibility here; you can choose to use dark chocolate or milk chocolate bars in this hazelnut butter.
Vanilla extract: opt for pure vanilla extract instead of imitation if possible so that the flavor comes through more.
Salt: this helps the Nutella spread come together in flavor.
How To Make It
Roast the hazelnuts for roughly 15 minutes before letting them cool on the baking tray.
Place the roasted hazelnuts on a dish towel and shake them around. As you do, peel off the skins.
Process the hazelnuts in a high-speed food processor until creamy.
Break the chocolate into pieces and melt it in the microwave in intervals of 30 seconds while stirring in between.
Add the melted chocolate to the creamy hazelnuts along with the vanilla and salt.
Process for one more minute.
Expert Tips To Make It
You need to roast the hazelnuts to release their natural oils. This helps to create a smother texture. Roasting them also helps get the skins off easier.
Make sure to roast them in a single layer.
You don’t need all the skins off the hazelnuts so long as you get most of them. The skin doesn’t break down as well when processing and can leave a chunkier texture.
You need a high-powered food processor to make the Nutella spread ultra-creamy. It does take a few minutes while processing them so make sure you have a machine that doesn’t overheat. You may also need to use a tamper depending on the kind of processor you have.
What To Use Nutella Spread For
The best part about homemade Nutella is that is works on absolutely everything. Aside from licking it off a spoon because it’s so tasty, you can use it:
· On top of pancakes and waffles
· Mixed into oatmeal or yogurt
· Spread on cupcakes or cookies
· On top of a bagel for a quick treat
Know that the texture of this recipe is soft and great to smear on top of recipes but not as much to drizzle.
Homemade Nutella also makes an extremely thoughtful food gift! Package it into a jar, add a label with a few ideas on how to use it, and gift it to a friend or neighbor.
Storing It
Nutella tends to thicken up a bit too much when stored in the fridge. This makes it so that it’s not overly spreadable. This is why it’s best to store your Nutella in a sealed container or jar at room temperature.
Like this, the Nutella should last about two weeks,
Make sure when you’re dipping your spoon or knife into the jar that you’re using a clean utensil. Excess moisture will cause the Nutella to go rancid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any nut can technically be made into a chocolate spread. However, the traditional Nutella recipe is flavored using hazelnuts because they’re so rich. So, know that the flavor will change based on the nut you choose.
Commercially produced Nutella is sweetened with sugar and includes palm oil. This homemade version, however, uses only chocolate. With this version, you get the rich chocolate flavor and skip the additives.
You need to roast the hazelnuts to maximize flavor and bring out their oils for a smooth spread. After some time, these oils may separate when stored (similar to natural peanut butter). All you need to do is mix the spread with a butter knife quickly before using it to combine it.
Nutella includes skimmed milk powder in its ingredients so it is not vegan.
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Ingredients
- 1 pound raw hazelnuts
- 2 pure chocolate bars 2.64 oz/75 grams each
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and put your hazelnuts on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 15 minutes.
- Once roasted, remove from the oven, and let them cool off for a few minutes.
- Then place them in a clean towel and peel off the skins. You can peel them off with the towel, while you shake them around. This doesn’t have to be perfect, as long as the majority of the skin is removed.
- Place the hazelnuts in a high-speed food processor for about 10 minutes or until creamy.
- Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a microwave safe bowl and heat for about 2-4 minutes (depending on the strength of your microwave), in increments of 30 seconds, until fully melted. Make sure to stir every 30 seconds so they can melt evenly.
- Once the hazelnuts are creamy, add melted chocolate, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix 1 more minute.
- Store in an airtight jar at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
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