If you're looking for a homemade Nutella recipe that's rich, creamy, and made with simple ingredients, this is the one to try. With food prices rising and supply chain issues affecting availability, we decided to try making our own homemade Nutella, and I'm so glad we did.
Making Nutella at home is a great way to control sugar and ingredient quality. At the same time, you'll have this favorite spread stocked in your pantry.
How to Make Homemade Nutella
This creamy chocolate hazelnut spread is made by roasting hazelnuts, blending them into a creamy hazelnut butter, and combining them with melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and natural sweeteners. The best part is that you can adjust the level of sweetness and texture to suit your taste.
Ingredients
Luckily, the ingredient list is pretty short. In fact, there are only five ingredients required.
- 1 cup whole hazelnuts
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar (or substitute coconut sugar for a less refined option)
- ⅓ cup coconut cream (can substitute heavy cream or unsweetened almond milk for a different texture)
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup (or substitute honey or another liquid sweetener)
- 5 squares dark chocolate (or use semi-sweet chocolate or milk chocolate for a milder taste)
Note that the flavor of your chocolate hazelnut spread will change slightly depending on the sweetener you choose. And not everyone loves the coconut flavor. I like the almond milk version, although I did find it a bit runnier than when I used coconut cream.
Directions
This homemade version of Nutella takes about 30 minutes to make. Even better, it requires minimal equipment.
- Roast the hazelnuts: Preheat your oven to 325°F. Spread the whole hazelnuts on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 10-15 minutes until fragrant. This helps soften them and release their natural oils.
- Remove hazelnut skins: Let the warm hazelnuts cool for a couple of minutes, then rub them with a clean tea towel or kitchen towel to remove the skins. If some skins remain, that's fine.
- Blend into a hazelnut butter: Add the roasted hazelnuts to a high-speed blender or high-speed food processor and blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides as needed.
- Add sweeteners and cream: Add brown sugar, coconut cream, and maple syrup to the hazelnut mixture, then pulse for a minute until combined.
- Melt the chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring in between to prevent burning.
- Mix everything together: Pour the melted chocolate into the blender along with the cocoa powder. Blend until fully combined and smooth. The better results come from blending for longer if you prefer a silkier texture.
- Store properly: Transfer to a mason jar or airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For long-term storage, freeze for up to 30 days.
This healthy homemade Nutella is free from palm oil, soy lecithin, and unnecessary additives found in the store-bought version. Plus, it's easy to make with just a handful of ingredients and can be customized for different dietary needs.
A Brief History of Nutella
As a good homeschool mom, I had to find an opportunity to turn this into a homeschool lesson! So we did a bit of research.
Nutella, as we know it today, originated in Italy in the mid-20th century. During World War II, cocoa was in short supply, so Italian pastry maker Pietro Ferrero developed a spread using hazelnuts, which were more abundant in the Piedmont region, mixed with a small amount of cocoa.
This creation evolved into what would later become Nutella, officially introduced in 1964. Since then, the store-bought version has gained global popularity.
However, many home cooks prefer making their own homemade Nutella to control the amount of sugar and eliminate unnecessary additives like palm oil and soy lecithin.
I decided to try making our own because my girls love it. They'll slather it on homemade bread for breakfast. Or use it to top sourdough crackers for a quick snack.
But more than once, we've found it hard to get to the grocery store in town. And as we work to stock our pantry, it's another nice-to-have addition.
We've also made our own marshmallows. And, of course, sourdough tortillas because we love them. We've even made pancake syrup at home, although I much prefer getting real maple syrup whenever possible.
Why Use Maple Syrup and Coconut Cream
Using maple syrup when you make Nutella at home adds a subtle depth of flavor and natural sweetness without the refined sugar found in store-bought Nutella. If you prefer, you can use coconut sugar or even icing sugar for a more traditional sweetness.
Coconut cream contributes to the creamy consistency while keeping this vegan Nutella dairy-free. If you're not avoiding dairy, heavy cream or skim milk powder can be used instead.
Nutritional Benefits of Homemade Nutella
When making your own homemade Nutella, you can opt for healthier ingredients that provide nutritional benefits. Hazelnuts are rich in healthy fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants, which support heart health and reduce inflammation.
Cocoa powder contains flavonoids, which can improve brain function and cardiovascular health. Using maple syrup instead of refined sugar adds minerals like manganese and zinc, while coconut cream offers healthy fats without the dairy.
Compared to the store-bought version, this homemade Nutella recipe is lower in palm oil and artificial additives, making it a better option if you want a more natural, healthier homemade Nutella.
How to Use Homemade Nutella in Recipes
I've found so many good uses for homemade Nutella, whether baking, drizzling, or spreading it on favorite treats. This creamy chocolate hazelnut spread works well in both desserts and breakfast recipes so that it might turn into a regular pantry staple for our family.
Baking with Nutella
Try using your own homemade Nutella in baked goods like Nutella bars and Nutella cookies. The spread's natural oils help keep cookies soft and chewy while adding a rich, chocolatey taste. For brownies and cakes, swirl Nutella into the batter for an extra layer of flavor.
Spreading and Drizzling
One of the best ways to enjoy homemade Nutella is by spreading it on warm toast, pancakes, or waffles. It also makes a delicious topping for ice cream, fresh fruit, and crepes. Try drizzling it over yogurt or mixing it into oatmeal for a decadent but healthy twist.
Filling and Dipping
Use creamy hazelnut butter as a filling for pastries, croissants, or sandwich cookies. It also makes a great dip for pretzels, apple slices, or crackers. If you want a thinner consistency for dipping, mix it with a little unsweetened almond milk or heavy cream until smooth.
Make Your Own Homemade Nutella
Making your own homemade Nutella is an easy and good thing to do, especially with the rising cost of food and increasing concerns over store-bought stuff containing palm oil and excessive sugar. It's a great family activity, too, and a way to show kids that it's not so hard to make their own favorite foods.
This healthy homemade Nutella is made with high-quality ingredients and allows you to control the amount of sugar and natural oils used. Whether spread on fresh fruit, added to favorite desserts or stirred into ice cream, this creamy chocolate hazelnut spread is a delicious and wholesome alternative to the store-bought version.
Recipe
Easy Homemade Nutella Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup blanched hazelnuts
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- ⅓ cup coconut cream
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 5 squares dark chocolate
Instructions
- 1.Preheat the oven to 325F and roast hazelnuts for about 10-15 minutes. It helps soften them and release the juices.
- In a blender mix hazelnuts until fully smooth, add brown sugar and cream milk, maple syrup and pulse for one minute.
- Melt dark chocolate in a microwave. Heat it up for up to 30 seconds. Once chocolate is melted add it to a blender with cocoa powder. Mix everything until fully combined. Transfer the mixture into an airtight container.
- Store in a freezer for up to 30 days