Homemade Nutella

Creamy Nutella Recipe

I once backpacked for 25 days through Europe.

Since peanut butter was nowhere to be found in Europe, this sweeter chocolate hazelnut spread was an acceptable backup choice.

(Looking back I can’t BELIEVE I ate that much sugar for breakfast!)

Recently I discovered that our local grocery store has grinders that make fresh Nutella in-store.  And when you look into the glass vat all you will see are two ingredients – roasted hazelnuts and chocolate chips.

So you better believe that as soon as I got home I was whipping up what I thought would be a very simple and straightforward recipe.

After all, how could you really mess up 2 ingredients that get ground together?

Well, I’ll tell you what – you CAN mess it up, and I did.

But third time’s the charm.  After learning from mistakes, this Homemade Nutella you see here was born. And ya’ll—it’s gonna change your breakfast and snacking game!

You’ll never want to buy store-bought again. Promise.

What is Nutella?

Nutella is a sweet spread made from hazelnuts and cocoa. It was first created by Pietro Ferrero in 1946 in Alba, Italy. This town is known growing hazelnuts.

Originally, it was solid and people had to cut away servings. In 1951, a creamy, spreadable version was released. In Italy, this spread is called Supercrema gianduja.

The original recipe has palm oil, but that’s expensive and not sustainable.

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this healthy homemade Nutella include:

• Hazelnuts. Roasted, and not raw hazelnuts, are used in this recipe.  You can either buy them already roasted from your grocery store or learn how to roast hazelnuts at home.
• Chocolate. Depending on how rich you like your Nutella you can choose what kind of chocolate you prefer. You can go with semi-sweet, dark chocolate, or even milk chocolate chips.  Dairy-free and allergen-friendly chocolate chips may also be substituted with similar results.  If you don’t want all of the sugar that comes in chocolate chips, read below about a Paleo and healthier alternative you can try.

Healthy Substitute for Chocolate Chips

While using chocolate chips in this recipe does make it super quick and easy to make, it will still have quite a bit of added refined sugar in it.

If you’d like to opt for a healthier homemade Nutella recipe you can substitute those chocolate chips for the following:

• Cocoa powder – Regular or dark can be used.
• Unrefined Sweetener – Pure maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar all work great.
• Melted coconut oil – Make sure it’s liquid before using.

Whisk all of these ingredients together before adding into the processor or blender. You can easily ensure a vegan Nutella with this simple substitute.

How to Make Nutella

Below are the steps to making this healthy Nutella recipe at home.

Pre-Chop the Hazelnuts

The reason my first batch came out too chunky is because I tossed in the roasted hazelnuts whole and did not chop them up.

If you had an industrial grinder, this wouldn’t be a problem.  But even with my very advanced Vitamix, it took a LOOOONG time to actually turn the hazelnuts into a butter.

For the best results, give your nut butter a jumpstart by coarsely chopping the hazelnuts.  While doing this you’ll also see that a lot of the skin falls off.

It’s not necessary, but try to remove as much of the skins as possible before adding in the hazelnuts.  No need to worry if you leave some on, they won’t affect the flavor of the Nutella by much.

Melt the Chocolate Chips

Melt chocolate chips in microwave, stirring every 20-30 seconds to prevent burning.  Or, use a double boiler technique to melt chocolate chips on the stovetop. (You can skip this step if you’re using the vegan or Paleo version of this recipe.)

Add Everything to a Blender

Add chopped hazelnuts, melted chocolate chips, and salt to a high-speed blender or a food processor, such as a Vitamix, or a large food processor.

Pulse to begin incorporating the ingredients and then turn on medium-low speed. 

Blend or process the hazelnut mixture for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl every 20-30 seconds for a smoother texture.

Meal Prep and Storage

• How to prep ahead of time: This recipe is perfect to whip up a few days before you need it.
• How to store: You can store your own homemade Nutella in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 months or in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. It also makes super cute gifts when packaged up in a mason jar with a ribbon or a bow.
• How to freeze: Freezing is not recommended.

Where is Nutella from?

Nutella is originally from Italy. A family from Alba, a region known for growing hazelnuts, invented this chocolatey and creamy spread with rich flavor.

What to eat with Nutella?

Add this made-from-scratch rendition to your favorite recipes that call for Nutella, spread it on toast, bananas, or apples, or just eat it by the spoonful. <– Totally what I do!

Does Nutella have nuts?

Nutella is made from hazelnuts, so it definitely contains nuts. If you have a sensitivity or an allergy to nuts, please be careful.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Chop first. Be sure to roughly cut up the hazelnuts before adding to the blender.
• Pay attention. The proportions are important, so don’t forget to measure.
• Make extra. Homemade Nutella will last for 3 months at room temperature or 6 months in the fridge.
• Scrape down. Continue incorporating the mix as it’s blending so it gets fully combined.
• Use it up. This healthier version is good on SO many things, like crepes, toast, and fresh fruit when you’re craving a sweet treat.

More Chocolate Dessert Recipes

Who doesn’t love something sweet and chocolatey after dinner? After this nutty homemade Nutella, try any of these chocolate recipes next.

Get in your veggies with Zucchini Brownies and Chocolate Zucchini Bread.

Whip up a Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie or some Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars.

Or, try some Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.