Only two ingredients and 5 minutes are needed to make this creamy and chocolatey Homemade Nutella recipe. This chocolate hazelnut spread tastes so much better than the store-bought kind and has quite a bit less sugar, too. You’ll even learn a few substitutions to make an alternative version that is healthier, Paleo and dairy-free.
Homemade Nutella Recipe
After one year of being married to my husband we decided to take a 25-day backpacking trip through Europe. (Which we later deemed our “second honeymoon.”)
Most mornings were spent traveling to the next city by train as we chowed down on bananas and a big ole’ tub of Nutella.
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 we 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.
WHAT?! That’s all it takes to make a simple homemade Nutella recipe. Just two ingredients?!
Creamy Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
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 grinded together.
Well I’ll tell you what – you CAN mess it up, and I did.
The first batch came out WAY too chunky and I just couldn’t seem to turn those hazelnuts into a creamy spread.
The second batch was loaded with sugar because of the chocolate chips that were used.
But third time’s the charm. After learning from mistakes, this recipe you see here was born. And ya’ll – it’s gonna change your Nutella game!
You’ll never want to buy the store bought kind again. Promise.
Ingredients
I’ve already filled you in on the two ingredients you’ll need, but I want to go in a little more detail:
Hazelnuts – Roasted hazelnuts, and not raw, are used in this recipe. You can normally 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 either choose to use semi-sweet, dark, 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.
Pre-Chopping Hazelnuts
The reason my first batch came out too chunky is because I tossed in the 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.
So instead, 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.
Chocolate Chip Alternative
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.
- Coconut oil – Make sure you melt this before using.
Whisk all of these ingredients together before adding into the processor or blender.
How to Make Nutella
Now that you’ve got your roasted hazelnuts and either the chocolate chips or the Paleo chocolate, it’s time to get to Nutella-making.
To do this you can either use a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix, or a large food processor.
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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.
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Add chopped hazelnuts, melted chocolate chips, and salt to a high-speed blender or a food processor.
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Pulse to begin incorporating the ingredients and then turn on medium-low speed. (step 1 above)
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Blend or process for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl every 20-30 seconds. (step 2 above)
Storing and Serving
You can store homemade Nutella at room temperature for up to 3 months or in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
It also makes super cute gifts when package up in a mason jar with a ribbon or a bow.
Add it into 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!
Homemade Nutella Recipe
Only two ingredients and 5 minutes are needed to make this creamy and chocolatey Homemade Nutella recipe. This chocolate hazelnut spread tastes so much better than the store-bought kind and has quite a bit less sugar, too. You'll even learn a few substitutions to make an alternative version that is healthier, Paleo and dairy-free.
Ingredients
- 3 cups roasted hazelnuts coarsely chopped
- ¾ cup chocolate chips semi-sweet or dark*
- ¼ tsp. salt optional
Instructions
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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.
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Add chopped hazelnuts, melted chocolate chips, and salt to a large high-speed blender, such as a Nutribullet, or a food processor.
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Pulse to begin incorporating the ingredients and then turn on medium-low speed.
-
Blend or process for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl every 20-30 seconds.
Recipe Notes
- You can also substitute the chocolate chips for ⅓ cup regular cocoa powder, ⅓ cup pure maple syrup, and ¼ cup melted coconut oil. Whisk ingredients until well combined before adding in with the hazelnuts.
- This recipe makes roughly 1-½ cups of Nutella, or 24 tablespoons.
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