Tired of store-bought spreads? This Homemade Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Butter is a game-changer! Crafted with beautifully roasted hazelnuts and naturally sweetened with coconut sugar, this rich, creamy spread is completely dairy-free, making it a delicious and healthier vegan Nutella substitute. With only 4 ingredients and ready in less than 10 minutes, you’ll wonder why you ever bought it from the store!
Elevate Your Spread Game: Introducing Our Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
Prepare to be amazed! Move aside traditional Nutella, because there’s a new, healthier, and utterly delicious vegan chocolate hazelnut butter in town. Forget the long ingredient lists and unnecessary additives of commercial spreads. Our homemade version boasts a superior, intense hazelnut flavor that truly shines, complemented by the perfect balance of rich chocolate and natural sweetness.
Crafted to be completely **dairy-free** and **refined sugar-free**, this luscious spread requires just **four simple ingredients**. You’ll find yourself reaching for this delectable **homemade nut butter** constantly, whether it’s for a quick spoonful straight from the jar or as a star ingredient in your favorite desserts. The best part? If you start with pre-roasted hazelnuts, this velvety smooth spread can be ready to devour in approximately **10 minutes**. It’s an effortlessly gourmet addition to any kitchen.
Why Choose Homemade Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Butter?
Many commercial chocolate hazelnut spreads are loaded with dairy, palm oil, and an excessive amount of refined sugar. While undeniably tasty, they often lack the authentic, deep hazelnut flavor you crave and come with ingredients that don’t align with a health-conscious or vegan lifestyle. Making your own offers several compelling advantages:
- Ingredient Control: You decide exactly what goes into your spread, ensuring it’s free from unwanted preservatives, artificial flavors, and emulsifiers.
- Superior Flavor: Freshly roasted and processed hazelnuts yield a much more vibrant and intense flavor profile compared to mass-produced alternatives, where hazelnuts can often take a backseat to sugar.
- Healthier Choices: By opting for natural sweeteners like coconut sugar and keeping it dairy-free, you create a spread that’s kinder to your body without compromising on taste.
- Customizable Sweetness: Adjust the amount of sweetener to perfectly match your preference – something you can never do with a store-bought jar.
- Quick & Easy: Despite its gourmet taste, this recipe is surprisingly simple and fast, proving that homemade doesn’t have to mean time-consuming.
What’s in This Delicious Chocolate Hazelnut Butter? Essential Ingredients
Our recipe celebrates simplicity, using only four core ingredients to achieve a rich, complex flavor. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the perfect texture and taste profile for your homemade vegan Nutella substitute.
- Dry-Roasted Hazelnuts: These are the star of the show! Roasting hazelnuts intensifies their nutty flavor and makes them easier to process into a smooth butter. I prefer to buy mine pre-roasted for convenience, often found at stores like Trader Joe’s. If you only have raw hazelnuts, don’t worry – a simple roasting method is provided below to get them ready for blending. Hazelnuts are also packed with healthy fats, fiber, vitamin E, and antioxidants, making this spread a nutritious choice.
- Coconut Sugar: This unrefined sweetener gives our chocolate hazelnut butter a subtle caramel note and helps maintain its refined sugar-free status. Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular table sugar, offering a more stable energy release. For those seeking a completely sugar-free option, feel free to substitute with a Keto-friendly sweetener of your choice (e.g., erythritol or monk fruit blend). Remember to adjust the quantity based on your chosen sweetener’s potency.
- Cacao Powder (or Cocoa Powder): For that irresistible chocolatey goodness! Cacao powder is the less processed form of cocoa, retaining more antioxidants and a slightly more bitter, intense flavor. Regular unsweetened cocoa powder works just as beautifully, offering a classic chocolate taste. Choose a high-quality powder for the best depth of flavor.
- Salt: A tiny pinch of sea salt is a secret weapon in many dessert recipes, and this is no exception. Salt doesn’t just make the spread savory; it brilliantly amplifies and balances all the other flavors, making the hazelnut and chocolate notes pop and preventing the spread from tasting overly sweet.
Pro Tip: How to Roast Hazelnuts at Home: If your hazelnuts are raw, it’s easy to roast them yourself! Simply spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast in a preheated oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160°C) for about 10 minutes, or until they turn golden brown around the edges and release a fragrant, nutty aroma. Stir the nuts a few times during roasting to ensure even browning. Once roasted, slide the hot nuts onto a plate or clean kitchen towel to cool completely. It’s crucial they are cool before you start blending to ensure the best texture and prevent overheating your equipment!
How Do You Make This Creamy Chocolate Hazelnut Butter? Step-by-Step Guide
Creating your very own homemade chocolate hazelnut butter is a rewarding process, allowing you to customize the sweetness and texture to your exact preferences. The key to achieving that irresistibly smooth consistency lies in the right equipment and a little patience. You’ll need either a **food processor** (I personally love and recommend this 5-cup cordless food processor, which I used for the photos) or a high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix.
While both machines can get the job done, a high-powered blender typically yields the smoothest, most luxurious nut butter with less effort and in slightly less time. A food processor will produce a beautifully creamy, yet often slightly more textured, spread. Both results are absolutely delicious!
Let’s get started:
Step One: Process the Hazelnuts to Creamy Perfection
Begin by adding your roasted hazelnuts to the bowl of your food processor or the carafe of your high-powered blender. Process at a medium-high speed for approximately 5 to 8 minutes. The processing time can vary; high-powered blenders often achieve smoothness quicker. During this stage, you’ll witness a fascinating transformation:
- Initially, the hazelnuts will break down into a coarse, powdery meal.
- As the oils release, they will begin to clump together, forming a ball or paste.
- Finally, with continued processing, this ball will magically break down further, transforming into a glorious, smooth, and creamy nut butter.
Remember to scrape down the sides of the container as necessary, especially during the initial clumping stages, to ensure all the nuts are evenly processed. If your food processor seems to be struggling to achieve a smooth consistency, adding a teaspoon of a neutral oil (like coconut oil or a high-quality vegetable oil) can help facilitate the breakdown and create a silkier texture.
Step Two: Infuse with Chocolate and Sweetness
Once your hazelnuts have achieved that beautiful, smooth, and fluid nut butter consistency, it’s time for the magic! Add in the coconut sugar (starting with 3 tablespoons and adjusting later), the cacao or cocoa powder, and the pinch of salt. These ingredients will transform your plain hazelnut butter into a rich, decadent chocolate spread.
Process the mixture again for another 30 seconds to ensure all the new ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. The coconut sugar should break down completely, and the chocolate powder will evenly distribute, giving the butter its signature color and flavor. Now comes the best part: taste it! This is your opportunity to truly customize your spread. If you prefer it sweeter, add the remaining tablespoon of coconut sugar. If you feel it needs a little more zing, another tiny pinch of salt can make all the difference. Blend briefly after each adjustment to integrate the flavors.
Step Three: Store and Savor
Once you’re satisfied with your masterpiece, carefully pour the fresh homemade vegan chocolate hazelnut butter into a clean glass jar or airtight container of your choice. For short-term storage, it can be kept in your cupboard for up to one month. It’s natural for some oil separation to occur over time; simply give it a good stir before each use to reincorporate the oils and restore its creamy texture. For longer-term storage and to maintain its freshness, store your hazelnut butter in the refrigerator for up to a month. Then, the only thing left to do is enjoy it on everything!
How to Use Chocolate Hazelnut Butter: Endless Culinary Possibilities
The versatility of this homemade vegan chocolate hazelnut butter is truly boundless. Once you’ve made a batch, you’ll find countless ways to incorporate its rich, nutty, and chocolatey goodness into your daily meals and special treats:
- Perfect Pairing with Fruits: Use it as a delightful dip for your favorite fresh fruits like crisp apple slices, sweet banana rounds, or juicy strawberries.
- Enhance Your Baking: Incorporate it into your favorite chocolate hazelnut recipes, adding an extra layer of depth and moisture.
- Morning Oatmeal Boost: Swirl a generous spoonful into your creamy vegan oatmeal recipes for a decadent breakfast that keeps you full and happy.
- Gourmet Toast Topping: Spread it lavishly onto warm toast, bagels, or even rice cakes for a quick, satisfying, and sweet spread. Top with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt or some fresh berries for an extra touch.
- Elegant Crepe Filling: Elevate your breakfast or dessert crepes by using it as a rich and flavorful filling. Pair it with sliced bananas or a dollop of coconut whipped cream for a truly indulgent treat.
- Brownie Transformation: Swirl this exquisite spread into your favorite brownie recipe batter before baking for pockets of gooey chocolate hazelnut deliciousness.
- Smoothie Sensation: Add a tablespoon or two to your morning smoothie for a creamy, chocolatey, and nutty protein boost.
- Energy Bites Base: Mix it with oats, dates, and other nuts to create no-bake energy balls or bars.
- Dairy-Free Frosting: Whip it into a simple vegan buttercream frosting for cakes, cupcakes, or cookies.
The options are truly endless! Let your creativity flow and discover new, delicious ways to enjoy your homemade chocolate hazelnut goodness.
Time to Go Make These Chocolate Hazelnut Treats: More Inspiration
If you’ve fallen in love with the flavor of chocolate and hazelnut, you’re in for a treat! This homemade butter is just the beginning. Explore these other fantastic recipes that celebrate this incredible flavor combination:
- Easy Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles
- Chocolate Hazelnut Magic Bars
- Double Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies
- Gluten-Free Fudgy Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
Homemade Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
Pin Recipe
10 minutes
10 minutes
1 ½ cups
Ingredients
-
2
cups
(226g) dry-roasted hazelnuts, see Notes -
3 to 4
tablespoons
coconut sugar, to taste -
3
tablespoons
(16g) cocoa powder -
¼
teaspoon
sea salt
Equipment
-
Food Processor or High-Powered Blender
Instructions
-
Put the roasted hazelnuts in a high-powered blender (like a Vitamix) or the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process at medium-high speed for five to eight minutes, scraping down the sides of the container as necessary until smooth and fluid. Your processing time might be shorter if you’re using a high-powered blender, and could take a little longer and require more scraping in the food processor.2 cups (226g) dry-roasted hazelnuts
-
Once the hazelnuts have broken down completely and formed a smooth, fluid nut butter, add three tablespoons of the coconut sugar, the cacao powder, and salt.3 to 4 tablespoons coconut sugar,
3 tablespoons (16g) cocoa powder,
¼ teaspoon sea salt -
Process again for another 30 seconds to break down the coconut sugar and make sure everything is well incorporated. Taste and add the extra sugar, if desired. You can also add more salt, to taste.
-
Transfer the nut butter to a 12-ounce glass jar with a tightfitting lid. Store in the pantry for up to one week or in the fridge for about one month.
Notes
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