This recipe creates a rich delicious hazelnut spread that is similar to Nutella but much, much healthier! Raw cacao provides natural antioxidants, coconut oil provides important long chain fatty acids, and hazelnuts provide plenty of healthy fat, vegetarian protein and fiber.

Ingredients:
2 cups Whole Raw Hazelnuts
1 batch of Healthy Powdered ‘Sugar’
1/4 cup Raw Cacao Powder
1/4 cup Perfect Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

How to Make Healthy Powdered ‘Sugar’: In a food processor, combine 2 packets of Stevia with 1 cup of arrowroot powder. Process until finely ground. If you’d like to make your spread with traditional sugar, you can use 1 cup of store bought powdered sugar or process 1 cup of raw cane sugar to create your own.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spread hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Toast the hazelnuts until the skin darkens to nearly black and the meat becomes dark brown. This step varies from oven to oven but usually takes about 15 minutes, stirring every five.

2. Wait for hazelnuts to cool. Using a clean kitchen towel, rub the hazelnuts until as much of the bitter skin comes off as possible.

3. Process the nuts in a food processor for about five minutes, or until they have liquefied. Be patient, this step takes a while.

4. When the nuts have reached a liquid/buttery consistency, add the sugar of your choice, raw cacao and vanilla extract and process for about 1 minute. Add the coconut oil and process until completely smooth.

Homemade Healthy Nutella can store in a refrigerated air tight container for 1-2 months. Photo by David Lebovitz.