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How to make a healthy Nutella

To prepare this recipe you will need a food processor, but the instructions are very simple.

1. Blend the hazelnuts in the processor until they form a cream become creamy.
2. Add all the other ingredients and turn on the processor again until all the ingredients are well mixed in evenly.
3. Pour the cream into an airtight glass jar and store it in the fridge.

As you can see the process is very simple and only requires about 20 minutes of your time, from the moment you start measuring the ingredients until when you store the final product.

The result is a delicious healthy hazelnut cream prepared with natural ingredients.

This version consists of equal amounts of cocoa and carob because, personally, I like the sweet touch that the carob adds. If you don’t know what carob is, I have written about it in the Energy Balls recipe post.

Actually, it is not an essential ingredient for the recipe, and if you want, you can replace the carob with cocoa.

However, keep in mind that in that case, your hazelnut cream will have more cocoa flavor, and as a result, it will be more bitter.

WATCH HOW TO MAKE THIS HEALTHY NUTELLA (59 sec)

Why is this Nutella Healthy

CAROB POWDER
It’s a fruits that has been shown to have beneficial effects on human health (1) and in diseases like heart disease, colon cancer and diabetes (2). It’s rich in fiber and minerals (3)

RAW CACAO POWDER
Thanks to its high content in polyphenols, raw cacao has been shwon to have a beneficial impact on cardiovascular health. It helps to reduce blood pressure and improves vascular function (4) (5).

Its flavonoids content has been shown to be beneficial for the brain in many ways including changing neuron’s morphology, mainly in regions involved in learning and memory (6).

Additionally, their is data suggesting that its flavanol content can play an important role in treating cerebrovascular ischemic syndromes, including dementias and stroke (7).

RAW HONEY
According to a 2012 study, “the intake of honey as food and medicine resulted in high nutritional benefit and therapeutic promise” and its antioxidant activity has been shown to be present in honeys from seven floral sources (8).

Additionally, in this other study has been shown that “Honey reduces blood lipids, homocysteine, and CRP in normal and hyperlipidemic subjects. Honey compared with dextrose and sucrose caused lower elevation of PGL in diabetics” (9).

When to eat this homemade Nutella

I don’t know about you, but I was addicted to Nutella, literally! I always had a jar at my place, I used to start my day eating Nutella and I consumed it when I was stressed.

When I started to change my lifestyle to a healthier one, Nutella was one of the first foods that I decided to eliminate from my diet.

However, it is always useful to have something sweet in the fridge to be able to satisfy unexpected cravings, especially at snack time.

I often use it for breakfast too and add it to my bowl of oatmeal to add a sweet touch and some healthy fat from the nuts.

You can also serve it as a dessert, or even in a brunch buffet, in a cute mini cocotte accompanied with fruits.

The best way to store this hazelnut spread

Ideally, you should use a glass jar, possibly hermetic, and if you keep it in the fridge it will last about two or three weeks if you don’t finish it before then.

If you prefer to make larger quantities, but don’t want to keep it in the fridge too long, you can also freeze it. I did the experiment once when I went on a trip.

Upon my return, I took it out of the freezer and left it in the fridge. When it finished thawing it was as if it had been in the fridge just for a couple of days.

I also tried the opposite experiment and I kept it in the pantry. It was fall and it lasted about a week. It is clear that the time will vary according to the temperature in your kitchen.

If you would like to take it to work or a picnic, simply store a small amount in a smaller container that fits in your bag.

I did this several times when I was working from a coworking space, I would take a couple of teaspoons in a small container so that, in the middle of the afternoon, I could eat it with some fruit.

A vegan version of this healthy Nutella

The non-vegan ingredients of this recipe are butter and honey. You can substitute butter with coconut oil, in equal amounts, and honey with agave or maple syrup, also using equal amounts.

Personally, I have tried both versions and both are delicious although you can tell the difference between the taste of coconut oil and butter.

Recipes with this hazelnut cream

Healthy Nutella Filled Donuts

Easy Banana Snack

Let me know if you decide to try this recipe.

And if you fall in love with this hazelnut and cocoa spread, as I did, don’t hesitate to share it with your loved ones to convince them that eating healthy does not mean renouncing the pleasures of the palate.

Thank you for your visit!

Happy Healthy Eating,

A big hug,