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Homemade Chocolate Nut Butter (move over Nutella)

I've been meaning to make some homemade chocolate nut butter in my power blender for a while. We all love Nutella, but it's not suitable for vegans so Graham's been missing out.

My first batch was a complete disaster! I blended if for too long and it ended up cooking it. Oh it was nasty!

I also nearly killed my blender. I didn't realise I should hold it in place. I wasn't paying attention and I may have knocked the jug as there was a terrifying grinding noise. My first batch was not a great experience at all. Still my blender is easy to clean, so I cleaned it up and got ready to try again. I was determined to get it right.

I was more careful with the second batch. I blended it on slow, held on to the blender and used the tamper to help it along. Thank goodness it worked  this time and turned out rather darn well.




I really don't know what I did before I had my blender. I think it's the only gadget apart from my toaster that has stayed out on my counter top and is used every day.

I use an Optimum 9200 Next Generation (which is the fastest and most powerful blender available commercially and £80 off at the moment). I joked in my latest giveaway away that it could blend a house, but actually it could, brick by brick. In a video on the website they blend stones to powder in seconds.

It's so versatile too, I use it for daily smoothies, pesto, hummus, soup, pasta sauce, pizza sauce, nut butter, shakes, cocktails, falafel, burgers, chocolate mousse and lemon or lime curd.

Now to the ingredients. I had a big bag of roasted blanched hazelnuts from Gresado with no skins, but I notice they aren't doing these at the moment. You can buy fresh hazelnuts, roast them and rub of the skin (you don't want the skin in your chocolate spread), but it's much easier and quicker if you can buy them already roasted and skinned.

I also used coconut oil and maple syrup from Holland and Barrett's new Free From range.

I'm rather impressed with their new Free From website, it has a really extensive range and covers everything you can think of. It makes life much easier, you just choose what you want to avoid (as many things as you want to avoid) and then have a good browse. It's been great for easily finding vegan products for my recipes, much, much quicker and I love their money off deals.

Anyway, back to the chocolate nut butter. You'll be wanting the recipe now.




print recipe

Homemade Chocolate Nut Butter
A homemade Nutella style chocolate nut butter made in a power blender.
Ingredients
  • 300g roasted blanched hazelnuts (or fresh hazelnuts roasted and skins removed)
  • 200g dark chocolate (melted)
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 3 tsp flax seeds (linseeds)
  • a good pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Make this in a power blender. Do be careful if you have a less powerful blender as you may burn out the motor.2. Blend the nuts and seeds on slow for up to 5 minutes to make a nut butter. Hold down the jug firmly while it blends and use the tamper to help it along.3. Stop half way through, take of the base and give it a mix.4. Add the other ingredients and blend briefly. Keep an eye on it, you don't want the chocolate to scorch. I like to have a bit of texture in the mixture, so didn't blend it for too long.4. Spoon at the ready! 5. Enjoy!
Details
Total time:
Yield: Makes 2 small jars of chocolate nut butter



Disclosure: 

I'm working with Holland and Barrett at the moment to promote their Free From range. I've always used their products, but now the website is much easier to use for those with intolerances or dietary requirements. 

I've been promoting the Optimum range since I got my blender just over a year ago and now work for the company. Any opinions expressed are my own. I hope you enjoy the recipe.

23 comments

  1. Oh my! I'm on my bikini diet and now I am going to have to make this, it looks gorgeous x

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    1. I know what you mean, I am trying to be good, so this will stay in the fridge for Graham and Cooper to enjoy.

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  2. Ooooooh this looks delicious! I have made peanut butter quite successfully for the last few years now but hazelnut butter still evades me! I don't know where I go wrong. Will have to give this a try :-)

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    1. Just go slowly Emmy. I don't think you will ever get the same consistency as Nutella without adding tons of coconut oil. Also I tried it with cocoa and the texture wasn't good. Melted chocolate is definitely the way to go.

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  3. What a great sounding recipe Jac, even if the first attempt was a horror show, it was clearly worth it to end up with a jar of that! The ingredients sound so pure and wholesome compared to the palm oil and additive nasties of Nutella... i'm going to have a stab at this in my froothie... and will remember to hold onto the jug!

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    1. Yes, hold onto it very firmly Katie lol! It's well worth making even if it does take 2 or three tries to get it right and as you say much healthier.

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  4. How vexing! I had no idea that Nutella contained skimmed milk and whey. How is that even necessary!?
    This looks lovely - we are now finding hazelnut flours here, and it's lovely for baking tart crusts -- I daresay it hadn't even occurred to me to do something like this; normally I just wait for chestnuts and delight in their sweetness (but they're a little gummy - I'll try the coconut oil). This looks great.

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    1. Thanks Tanita. Yes I bet the hazelnut flour makes really tasty tart crusts. I'll look out for that.

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  5. Amazing and something I've been longing to tackle, but it will have to wait until we get back from our summer holidays........if I make it, I will eat it :o No willpower here lol

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    1. Haha, well there is that Sarah. It's pretty hard to resist :)

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  6. Ooh, this sounds wonderful! Can't wait to make it... Diet? What diet?

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  7. Ohhhhh I really need some of this in my life Jac.

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  8. Ooh what a gorgeous sounding recipe! I tried making home made nutella in my blender once, but I used almonds and it just didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. I will have to give yours a go! I bet I'd not be able to stop at one spoonful!

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    1. I've not tried almonds yet Elizabeth and this way my third try of a chocolate nut butter, you do have to try and tweak until you get it right, but it's worth it. Keep trying E :)

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  9. I love this recipe. I'm making my own chocolate spread with avocado, sweet potatoes (is a British wartime recipe), with protein powder, I'll have to try this one too.

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    1. Oh that does sound interesting Anca, do let me know how it turns out :)

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  10. Ooh, you used real chocolate in yours Jac. I used raw cacao powder as I was trying to keep it as a healthy raw spread, but I might have to try your rather more luxurious version.

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    1. Well I tried it with cocoa powder Choclette, but I didn't like the result at all.

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  11. This sounds like I absolutely must try this recipe - no nasty additives are the best!
    I'm curious to try more of the H&B Free From range - I know I survive Christmas Mince Pies but forget to pop in during the rest of the year!

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    1. Have a look at the new site, either use my link above or google Holland and Barrett free from. It is really well laid out and every possibility has been catered for. It's excellent.

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  12. Looks delicious - I always wonder if I should try home made nutella with cocoa or melted chocolate - tried it years ago when I didn't have a froothie so now I must try it again with froothie. I have occasionally roasted and skinned hazelnuts and it takes ages so buying them already skinned sounds wise.

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x