Indulge in the rich, creamy delight of homemade Paleo Nutella – a truly guilt-free hazelnut spread crafted with simple, wholesome ingredients. Forget store-bought versions laden with refined sugar and dairy; our recipe uses just hazelnuts, cocoa powder, and coconut sugar to create a healthier, paleo-friendly, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, gluten-free, grain-free, and clean eating alternative that’s utterly irresistible.
Homemade Paleo Nutella: Your Ultimate Guide to a Healthy Hazelnut Chocolate Spread
Prepare to get excited because this is big news for anyone who loves chocolate hazelnut spread but strives for a healthier lifestyle! Introducing your new favorite late-night snack, breakfast booster, or dessert topping: Homemade Paleo Nutella. It’s so good, you won’t believe it’s actually good for you, allowing you to enjoy this luscious spread without any of the guilt often associated with decadent treats. I confess, it’s become a nightly ritual for me, especially with fresh fruit, and I genuinely mean *every night*.
Why Choose Homemade Paleo Nutella? The Healthier Alternative You Deserve
Like many of you, I’ve always had a profound love affair with traditional Nutella hazelnut spread. It has this magical ability to elevate anything it touches, especially slices of crisp apple or a piece of ripe banana. However, my enthusiasm was always tempered by the ingredient list. The #1 ingredient in conventional Nutella is typically sugar, meaning there’s more refined sugar by weight than actual hazelnuts. This fact alone is quite astonishing and highlights a major health concern for those mindful of their sugar intake.
Beyond the excessive sugar, commercial Nutella also contains dairy and often palm oil, ingredients that many following a paleo, dairy-free, or clean eating diet prefer to avoid. Refined sugars contribute to energy crashes and offer little nutritional value, while dairy can be problematic for individuals with sensitivities or allergies. This is precisely why I embarked on a mission to create a paleo-friendly Nutella that maintained all the rich, nutty, chocolatey flavor without any of the undesirable ingredients. The result is a spread that is truly refined sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, and aligns perfectly with a clean eating philosophy.
The Magic Behind the Ingredients: Simple, Wholesome, Delicious
What makes this homemade Paleo Nutella so special is its incredibly simple and transparent ingredient list. There are no hidden nasties, no complicated additives – just pure, natural goodness. All you need are a handful of pantry staples:
- Hazelnuts: These form the creamy base, providing that distinctive nutty flavor that is the heart of any good Nutella. They’re also packed with healthy fats, fiber, and vitamin E.
- Cacao Powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder): The chocolatey star! Cacao is a superfood rich in antioxidants and mood-boosting compounds. Using unsweetened powder ensures you control the sweetness.
- Coconut Sugar: Our chosen natural sweetener. Coconut sugar is a healthier alternative to refined white sugar, boasting a lower glycemic index and containing trace minerals. It lends a subtle caramel note to the spread.
- A Pinch of Salt: Essential for enhancing all the flavors, balancing the sweetness, and bringing out the depth of the chocolate and hazelnuts.
- Water: Used to achieve that perfect, silky-smooth Nutella consistency.
That’s truly it! Five simple ingredients for a completely guilt-free, clean eating indulgence. Knowing exactly what goes into your food brings an unparalleled level of satisfaction and peace of mind.
Crafting Your Paleo Nutella: A Step-by-Step Guide
Making your own hazelnut chocolate spread might sound intimidating, but it’s surprisingly straightforward, especially with the right tools. Here’s how we transform these humble ingredients into a luxurious spread:
1. Roasting the Hazelnuts for Flavor Perfection
The first crucial step involves roasting the hazelnuts. This process isn’t just about cooking them; it’s about intensifying their natural, rich flavor. Spread your hazelnuts evenly on a rimmed baking sheet and roast them at 300ºF (150ºC) for about 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning, as burnt nuts can impart a bitter taste to your spread. The aroma filling your kitchen will be your first hint of the deliciousness to come.
2. Removing the Skins (Mostly)
Once roasted and cool enough to handle, the hazelnuts will have slightly loosened skins. While not strictly necessary to remove every single one (a few skins are fine and add to the rustic appeal), rubbing them gently with a clean kitchen towel between your hands helps to shed most of them. This step reduces any potential bitterness from the skins and contributes to a smoother final product.
3. The Magic of the Food Processor: From Nuts to Butter
This is where the real transformation happens. Transfer your warm (but not hot), skinned hazelnuts to a sturdy food processor fitted with an S-blade attachment. Begin processing. Initially, the hazelnuts will break down into coarse crumbs, then finer crumbs. Resist the urge to add any liquid yet! Keep processing, and after about 5-7 minutes (hazelnuts are relatively soft, so they break down quickly), the natural oils will release, and the crumbs will magically transform into a thick, creamy hazelnut butter. Be sure to scrape down the sides and lid of the bowl once or twice during this process to ensure even processing.
4. Infusing with Chocolate and Sweetness
Once you have a smooth hazelnut butter, it’s time to add the flavor powerhouses. Incorporate the cacao powder, coconut sugar, and that crucial pinch of salt. Process for another 2-3 minutes, allowing all the ingredients to combine thoroughly and the sugar to dissolve slightly into the warm nut butter. The mixture will start to look like a rich, dark chocolate paste.
5. Achieving the Perfect Nutella Consistency
Now, for the final touch: achieving that signature spreadable Nutella texture. With the food processor blade running, slowly pour in 6 tablespoons of room temperature water through the pour spout. Continue processing for another 5 minutes until the spread is incredibly creamy and smooth. If you prefer a thinner consistency, perhaps for drizzling, add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of water, one at a time, until you reach your desired texture. Taste and adjust sweetness or salt if needed.
Storage and Serving Ideas for Your Paleo Nutella
This recipe yields approximately 2 cups of delicious homemade Paleo Nutella. I find it convenient to store them in two half-pint mason jars. These jars are not only practical for storage but many are also freezer-safe, offering incredible flexibility. You can keep one jar in the fridge for everyday enjoyment, where it will stay fresh for at least a month. The other can be stored in the freezer for up to a year, perfect for ensuring you always have a stash on hand. Although, in my experience, it’s rare for a batch to last longer than a week in our house – it’s just too tempting!
The versatility of this homemade Paleo Nutella is truly astounding. It’s absolutely divine spread on a myriad of things:
- Fresh Fruit: My personal favorite pairing, especially with cold, crisp Honeycrisp apples, bananas, or berries.
- Paleo Pancakes & Waffles: Drizzle over a stack of fluffy banana bread pancakes for a decadent breakfast.
- Cookies & Muffins: Use it as a filling or topping for paleo almond butter cookies or spread it into almond flour banana muffins for extra flavor.
- Smoothies: Add a spoonful to your morning smoothie for a rich, chocolate-hazelnut boost.
- Oatmeal or Chia Pudding: Stir it into your favorite warm breakfast bowl for added creaminess and flavor.
- Dairy-Free Yogurt: Swirl into coconut or almond yogurt for a delightful snack.
- By the Spoonful: Let’s be honest, sometimes you just need a direct scoop!
It has become my cherished late-night treat after putting my baby to bed – a perfectly delicious and healthy indulgence that I can enjoy completely guilt-free, knowing it supports my clean eating and paleo lifestyle.
Homemade Paleo Nutella (Refined Sugar Free, Dairy Free)
2 cups (1 pint)
20 mins
10 mins
30 mins
5 out of 5 stars from 7 ratings
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Ingredients
- 1-½ cups hazelnuts
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder/cacao powder
- 6-8 tablespoons room temperature water
- pinch of salt
Instructions
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On a rimmed baking sheet, roast the hazelnuts at 300ºF (150ºC) for 20 minutes.
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Once the hazelnuts are cool enough to touch, rub them with a kitchen towel between your hands to rub off any excess hazelnut skin. You don’t need to get all of it, some skins are ok.
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In a food processor with the S Blade attachment, process the hazelnuts until creamy. About 5-7 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and lid once or twice.
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Add the coconut sugar, cacao powder and pinch of salt. Process another 2-3 minutes.
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With the blade running, remove to top pour spout and slowly pour in 6 tablespoons water. Process another 5 minutes until very creamy. Add in another 1-2 tablespoons of water if a thinner consistency is desired.
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Store in an airtight container. I store mine in 2 wide mouth ½ pint size mason jars, which are also freezer friendly mason jars. Will keep refrigerated for 1 month, and frozen for 1 year.
Total Carbs: 23.6g,
Protein: 1.6g,
Fat: 9.1g,
Fiber: 1g,
Net Carbs: 23g
Did you make this recipe? Please Leave a comment and give this recipe a rating!
We hope you love this wholesome and delicious homemade Paleo Nutella as much as we do. It’s a game-changer for satisfying those chocolate cravings while staying true to your health goals.
More Delicious Paleo Dessert Recipes
If you’re looking for more delightful treats that fit into your paleo lifestyle, be sure to check out these other fantastic recipes:
Paleo Coconut Whipped Cream
Paleo Chocolate Tart
Paleo Almond Butter Cookies
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