Vegan Nutella

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Creamy, rich, easy homemade vegan nutella is made with raw hazelnuts, dark chocolate, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. It is a decadent, healthy chocolate hazelnut spread for dipping fruit, or slathering over pancakes, toast, and more!

When I first discovered the original Nutella as a child I thought I’d found the best-kept secret! This chocolate hazelnut spread tasted amazing on just about anything, and quickly became my new favorite treat.

It wasn’t until I got older that I wondered, “Is Nutella Vegan?” turned the jar over to look at the nutrition facts to see that not only was my favorite chocolate treat not suitable for a vegan diet, it also wasn’t healthy!

With processed ingredients and added cane sugar, a 2 tablespoon serving of traditional Nutella comes in at 200 calories and 21 grams of sugar! That’s more sugar than a full-sized Snickers bar!

And I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to only enjoy 2 tablespoons – so I always end up eating more.

I figured, there had to be a better way right? So I set out to make my own quality healthy vegan Nutella recipe. With healthy, dairy-free ingredients, this low sugar easy healthy chocolate spread can be enjoyed by all with a lot less guilt!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

• Has all of the nutty flavor of hazelnut Nutella, but is much healthier for you!
• Vegan, dairy free hazelnut spread with deep hazelnut flavor
• Will satisfy your chocolate cravings
• Simple ingredients
• No added sugar, no artificial flavor
• Spreadable
• Super easy recipe, only 7 ingredients!
• Use as a dip
• Best homemade vegan nutella ever!

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🥘 Ingredients

This vegan nutella spread requires natural ingredients easily found at your local grocery store! Here’s what you need:

• Raw Hazelnuts: The main ingredient in this chocolate vegan spread is lots of hazelnuts! I like to use raw because it cuts down on prep time, but roasted hazelnuts would work fine too – just be sure to dry roast them to avoid extra oils. Raw hazelnuts include natural oils so there’s no need for extra.
• Dark Chocolate and Coconut Oil: Use good quality dark chocolate, 70% or higher. You can use either a chocolate bar or dark chocolate chips. Coconut oil, which is a better option than palm oil, helps the chocolate melt and creates a creamy texture when combined with hazelnuts. Some recipes call for cocoa powder, or cacao powder, however, I find quality dark chocolate bars yield a richer more decadent flavor in this dark chocolate nutella.
• Maple Syrup: Instead of cane sugar, maple syrup creates a natural refined sugar-free subtle sweet flavor. Alternatively, you could use agave syrup or coconut sugar. If you want to keep this healthy hazelnut spread completely sugar free, you can use monk fruit sweetener instead of maple syrup.
• Almond Milk: Regular Nutella uses dairy milk, this homemade Nutella recipe uses almond milk which is lower in fat and calories, and makes this recipe vegan-friendly. You can use any plant milk for this lactose free chocolate spread. For an extra decadent flavor use full fat coconut milk instead.
• Vanilla Extract and Sea Salt: Vanilla and and a pinch of salt bring out the natural flavors in chocolate and hazelnuts, and a little bit of salt helps bring out the sweetness in this vegan hazelnut chocolate spread recipe.

🔪 Instructions

It’s super easy to make your own dairy free Nutella alternative at home! Here’s how to make the best vegan nutella:

Roast Hazelnuts: Heat your oven to 350°F. Spread the hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet, and roast for 15 minutes.

Blend Into Hazelnut Butter: Remove from the oven, and place hazelnuts into a food processor or high speed blender. Blitz for a few minutes, until you have thick and creamy nut butter. (You’ll probably need to stop and scrape down the sides of the container a few times until you get a creamy consistency.)

Add Melted Chocolate: While the nuts are processing, break the chocolate into small pieces and melt with the coconut oil. You can do this in the microwave in 30-second intervals, or over the stovetop on low heat. Add to the smooth butter.

Add Rest Of Ingredients: Add the remaining ingredients including the coconut oil, maple syrup, almond milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Blend for another couple of minutes, until you have a creamy hazelnut butter – everything should be completely mixed together and smooth.

Blend & Finish: When finished, this hazelnut vegan chocolate spread recipe will have a thick, almond butter or peanut butter-like consistency. Transfer your low calorie nutella to an airtight jar or serve immediately.

💭 Expert Tips

• For the best flavor, use raw unsalted hazelnuts and use at least 70% dark chocolate to achieve a rich chocolatey flavor in this homemade hazelnut spread.
• Use a high-speed blender: You’ll need to allow the hazelnuts to process until they create a nut butter. This will ensure you have a creamy spread. You’ll want to use a high speed blender or a Vitamix to get the smoothest results.
• For best results, don’t skip the coconut oil. The coconut oil helps to give this vegan hazelnut spread recipe a luscious texture that isn’t grainy.
• Storage affects consistency: For a thinner consistency store at room temperature. For a thick consistency, refrigerate.
• For a dark chocolate flavor: Try adding a dash of instant coffee to the recipe to further enhance the chocolate flavor in this recipe for Nutella.

📖 Variations

• Mint Chocolate Nutella: Use vegan mint chocolate instead of regular dark chocolate for a minty flavor!
• White Chocolate Nutella: Use vegan white chocolate and follow this white chocolate hazelnut spread recipe.
• Add More Sweetness: You can add in a couple of dates for more natural sweetness! Be sure to soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes. Drain the water, then use in this vegan Nutella alternative. You’d add them at the same time you add the almond milk.
• Mix-Ins: If you don’t mind a chunkier texture, try adding in cacao nibs, coconut shreds, vegan chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or crushed vegan cookies.
• Extracts & Spices: Try adding in a dash of almond extract, maple extract, or coconut extract, or a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice to this homemade chocolate hazelnut spread.
• 3 Ingredient Nutella: You can make a diy Nutella recipe using just roasted hazelnuts, chocolate and vanilla extract (with a pinch of sea salt as optional!) Just blend all of the ingredients until smooth and serve immediately.

🍽 How To Serve

As A Spread

My favorite way to enjoy this healthy Nutella recipe is to spread it on basically anything and everything! Try it as a base for some of these breakfast toast ideas, or just on whole-grain toast, gluten free bread, buckwheat bread, brown rice cakes, vegan bagels, crackers or vegan graham crackers. You can also use it instead of peanut butter in a classic banana peanut butter sandwich.

As A Dip

Use this vegan chocolate hazelnut spread as a dip for fruit like strawberries, kiwi, or pear!

For Dessert

Spread this non dairy Nutella on top of cupcakes, brownies, or even these air fryer cinnamon rolls instead of frosting, mix into quick breads like banana bread without butter, drizzle on top of this caramel nice cream, or make a nutella pizza with flatbread, topped with chopped nuts, fruit, and vegan marshmallows! You can also just enjoy it all on its own!

For Breakfast

Spread in between crepes, or swirl inside these vegan zucchini muffins. You can also use it as a topping for a wide variety of breakfast recipes like:

• Breakfast fruit salad
• Vegan french toast casserole
• Banana porridge
• Healthy pancakes
• Croffles
• Baked oats without banana or chocolate chip baked oats
• Vegan protein waffles

❓Recipe FAQs

🍫 More Vegan Chocolate Recipes!

• Chocolate Ganache Tart
• Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Edible Brownie Batter
• Vegan Tahini Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Oatmeal

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