Homemade Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

A delicious homemade hazelnut spread that I can’t get enough of! It tastes rich, nutty, chocolatey, and the best part? It can be whipped up in 30 minutes and only features 7 ingredients. If you’re a fan of Nutella but are looking for a healthier option, then this recipe is definitely for you!

While the original Nutella has A LOT of fat and sugar (making up for more than 50% of the jar), this homemade version is so much richer in hazelnuts and contains a lot less sugar. In fact, you can adjust the amount of sugar if you prefer a healthier alternative or make it sweeter if that’s your thing!

What does this hazelnut spread taste like?

I’ll be honest here – this hazelnut spread is nothing like the store-bought Nutella. While the store-bought spreads taste fairly sweet and have a smooth texture, this homemade version boasts a rich hazelnut taste and the consistency is more on the chunky end, much like peanut butter.

One thing is for sure – this hazelnut chocolate spread will not dissappoint. The subtle earthy undertone given by the roasted halzenuts is simply to die for, and when paired up with that rich dark chocolate… omg, what a delight!

And bonus – this hazelnut spread is super satisfying and filling, much more than anything you’ll find on the store shelves!

How sweet is this hazelnut spread?

This hazelnut spread is not very sweet, but feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to your liking. I usually try to make my recipes with minimal amounts of sugar, enough so that it satisfies my sweet tooth, but not so much that it overwhelms the other delicious flavors. So, you have the freedom to sweeten it to your heart’s content, finding that perfect balance that suits your taste buds. After all, homemade recipes are all about personalization, right?

Why should you make this recipe?

Let’s talk about why you should ditch store-bought spreads and make your own homemade chocolate spread. 

• It tastes amazing and it’s super satisfying! The rich nutty flavor is a perfect pair to the chocolate taste. It’s the perfect spread for your morning toast, a mid-day snack, or, you know, even for a midnight craving.
• No preservatives, additives, or artificial flavors. You know exactly what’s going into it, and even more, you can customize it to your liking! If you want it sweeter, you can add more sugar. If you want it creamier, you can add a little more coconut oil.
• Speaking of oil, another great benefit of making your own chocolate spread is that you can control the amount of fat going into the recipe. You can reduce the amount of coconut oil or avoid it altogether while still enjoying a delicious spread.
• Since this recipe is so easy, and doesn’t require any knife work, you can even make it together with your kids! Fun is guaranteed. 
• It’s vegan! As there are no dairy products in this recipe, this homemade hazelnut chocolate spread is completely vegan.

Ingredients

Hazelnuts – Hazelnuts are the main ingredient of this chocolate spread and they give body and a natural chunky texture to the spread. Hazelnuts are an amazing source of vitamin E, which is essential for healthy skin and for your eyesight. So not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s also good for your health!

Powdered sugar – For this recipe, I used powdered sugar instead of caster sugar because the powdered version dissolves a lot faster.

Cocoa powder – I used regular cocoa powder, but you can use Dutch processed as well.

Salt – Adding a pinch of salt to your desserts will bring out the flavor and allow all ingredients in your recipe to shine. 

Almond extract –For an extra boost of nuttiness, I like to add a bit of almond extract to this recipe. If you prefer a more subtle taste of the hazelnuts, you can substitute for vanilla extract. Rum extract also works great in this recipe, if you love the flavor of rum. 

Dark chocolate – I used 75% dark chocolate, but you can use whatever dark chocolate you prefer most. Remember, the better the chocolate – the better the spread will taste!

Coconut oil – Must be melted before you add it to the spread. Can be replaced with any other flavorless oil such as sunflower or canola oil.

Tips for recipe success

• Toasting the hazelnuts helps release the oils in the nuts, which will further contribute to a creamier texture of the spread, so it’s important not to skip this step!
• Don’t skip the salt! This simple ingredient will elevate your chocolate spread and it will enhance the chocolate flavor.
• The better the dark chocolate, the better the spread will taste!