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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Sauces

    Homemade Healthier Nutella

    Published: Aug 24, 2016 · Modified: Jul 23, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 81 Comments

    4286 shares
    • 1873
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb / Vegetarian
    Homemade healthier nutella with a text title overlay.

    This Homemade Nutella couldn't be easier to make! Just 7 ingredients, and lower in sugar than the regular kind, it's delicious for breakfast or a snack. A smooth, nutty, rich and creamy chocolate hazelnut spread that you will want to put on everything. Just grab a spoon! There is also a dairy free option too, so you can have delicious vegan Nutella.

    A jar of homemade nutella with some strawberries.

    Nutella is a popular brand of a chocolate-hazlenut spread and it is super addictive. It is seen as a breakfast choice in many countries across the world, but it isn't the healthiest breakfast choice and might leave you with a sugar crash a couple of hours later.

    We have lightened it up a bit, used less sugar (but it's still plenty sweet), which means you can still enjoy Nutella for breakfast (or any time of the day), but make sure it's a bit healthier too.

    Looking for some other sweet breakfasts? Why not try our Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, Banana Porridge and Healthy French Toast.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Why should you try it?
    • Health benefits
    • What to serve it with
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More chocolate recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Ingredients needed

    • Hazelnuts - This is the star of the Nutella and what gives it the incredible nutty flavour. We wanted to make this as quickly as possible, so we used hazelnuts straight from the packet, however you could roast the hazelnuts first which would really intensify their flavour. If you aren't roasting the hazelnuts, then use blanched hazelnuts
    • Vanilla - This adds a real warmth to the chocolate spread. Make sure to use extract, rather than essence, as you will get a more natural flavour.
    • Cocoa powder - We used unsweetened cocoa powder and it gives it a lovely intense chocolate flavour and richness. Use the best quality cocoa powder you can, as you will be able to taste the difference.
    • Milk - This helps to loosen the Nutella up. If you wanted to make this dairy free, then use a dairy free alternative. You could leave the milk out and use coconut oil instead, which would make it lovely silky smooth.
    • Dates - This adds some natural sweetness to the recipe, and a lovely flavour too.
    • Water - This is boiling water that is added to the dates to soak, making them easier to blend and make the healthier Nutella nice and sweet.
    • Maple syrups - Along with the dates, this is what we have used to sweeten the recipe. Just a little goes a long way. Try to use pure maple syrup.
    • Sea salt - We add a pinch of salt, because it balances out the sweetness and really enhances the chocolate flavor. You could leave this out though.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Put the hazelnuts in a food processor and process on the highest speed for 10-15 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl at regular intervals, until you have a smooth nut butter.

    Two: Meanwhile, place the dates in a bowl with the boiling water and leave to soak for 10 minutes.

    Three: Add the dates and water, along with the remaining ingredients to the food processor with the hazelnut butter. Process the mixture on high until it is smooth. Transfer to a jar and store for up to 1 week in the fridge.

    Why should you try it?

    • Healthier - We have sweetened our healthy Nutella with a few dates and a little maple syrup rather than it being loaded with sugar. This makes a portion lower in calories than traditional Nutella. It is just 63 calories a portion.
    • Dairy free option - We have added a splash of milk to loosen it up and make it creamier, however you could use a dairy free milk, or even coconut oil.
    • Easy to make - This couldn't be easier to make. Just put everything in the food processor and blend until you get the desired consistency.
    • Versatile - If you can manage to not just eat it all out of a jar with a spoon, then there are so many different ways that you can use this homemade healthy Nutella. Spread it on waffles or pancakes, make a sandwich with it or even use it as a dip for fruit kebabs.
    Two slices of bread covered in homemade nutella.

    Health benefits

    Healthy is such a subjective word and whilst portion control is always key with something like this, it is a lighter version that traditional Nutella. We have used a little maple syrup and some dates to sweeten this, to make it a much more natural version. You can adjust the sweetness to suit your own tastes.

    Hazelnuts are a good source of vitamin E, B6, Thiamin, folate, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Be aware that they also contain phytic acid, which has been shown to impair the absorption of some minerals, like iron and zinc.

    Hazelnuts are also a rich source of mono- and polyunsaturated fats and contain a good amount of omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids.

    What to serve it with

    To be honest, we are happy to just eat it out of a jar with a spoon. But that isn't the healthiest choice. Luckily, there are so many different ways to serve this and here are some of our favourites:

    • Dip apple slices in it
    • Put it on porridge
    • Make our Nutella Waffles
    • Use it to make hot chocolate
    • Spread on our Healthy Banana Bread
    • On toast
    • As a pancake topping
    • On waffles
    • To make our Nutella Smoothie
    • In a croissant
    • Melted and drizzled over ice cream
    • Dip strawberries in it
    • As a cake frosting
    Homemade nutella next to a blue towel and some strawberries.

    FAQs

    Do I need to toast the hazelnuts first?

    No, you don't have to and skipping this step will save a lot of time. However toasting them will help to break them down and realise oils, so you can remove the skins and make a really creamy chocolate spread. If you have the time, then it is worth it as it is next level flavour.

    Can I use a different nut?

    Yes, if you don't like the taste of hazelnuts, or you don't have any, then you can swap them for almonds or peanuts in this recipe. Have you tried our Honey and Vanilla Almond Butter?

    How to store healthy Nutella

    Because our recipe contains milk, it doesn't store as long as it would if you just used oil. You will need to keep it in an air tight container in the fridge and it will keep fresh for 4 days. If you want to keep it for longer, you will need to swap the milk for oil. If you use oil instead of milk, it will store in a jar in a cupboard for up to 2 weeks.

    Can you freeze homemade Nutella?

    No, you cannot freeze this. Once it is defrosted, it will not be smooth and creamy. Instead, it will be thick and crumbly and nobody wants that.

    What food processor is best to use?

    The more powerful your food processor, the quicker it will be to make homemade Nutella. We used a Morphy Richards PrepStar, which is great if you are making a large batch. However, the batch we made was quite small, so we used a NutriBullet instead.

    Why is my Nutella so thick?

    If you find that your homemade Nutella is too thick (this really is a preference thing), then you can add a teaspoon of melted coconut oil, until it is your preference consistency.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • If you are trying to convince your kids that this is the real thing, then after you have finished a jar of Nutella you can wash it out and fill it with this. They will never know!
    • You need a high powdered food processor to make this. You can use a blender, but you won't get a really creamy and smooth Nutella.
    • To make it thicker and more spreadable, use less milk in it.
    • Blending time will depend on the blender that you are using. Some will take longer than others.
    • To make this healthy Nutella really smooth, you could add a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil to it. This would change the flavour a little though.
    • The more full your food processor is, the easier it will be to blend the ingredients. So, if you doubled the batch of this, it would blend faster. But then you would have a lot of Nutella - not that that is a bad thing.
    • If you really wanted to, you could even make this recipe sugar free. It would taste very bitter though.
    • Make sure to sift your cocoa powder if it is clumpy.
    • You can add a pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness of the sugar and the nuttiness of the hazelnuts.
    • If you want to make it softer when it comes out of the fridge, spoon out your serving and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
    • To make this as budget friendly as possible, then buy your hazelnuts in bulk in whole food shops. This works out much more cost effective than buying smaller bags in the supermarket. You will usually find them loose, rather than buying them bagged.
    • To make this Nutella a little more indulgent, you could melt some dark or milk chocolate to mix in at the end. It would make it more sugary though.

    More chocolate recipes

    • Chocolate Flapjacks
    • Avocado Chocolate Pudding
    • Nutella Waffles
    • Easy Chocolate Sauce

    If you’ve tried this homemade Nutella recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Homemade healthier nutella in a jar.

    Homemade Healthier Nutella

    Whilst I still don’t recommend eating all of this in one sitting, we have come up with a Homemade Healthier Nutella, which is just as delicious.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    5 from 41 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Sauce/Spread
    Cuisine: British, Italian
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of four different nuts.
    Nuts
    Servings: 25 servings
    Calories: 63kcal
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    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 200 g hazelnuts
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • 80 g Cocoa powder
    • 130 ml Whole milk
    • 8 pitted dates
    • 50 ml Water
    • 2 tablespoon Maple syrup

    Instructions

    • Put the hazelnuts in a food processor and process on the highest speed for 10-15 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl at regular intervals, until you have a smooth nut butter.
      200 g hazelnuts
    • Meanwhile, place the dates in a bowl with the boiling water and leave to soak for 10 minutes.
      8 pitted dates, 50 ml Water
    • Add the dates and water, along with the remaining ingredients to the food processor with the hazelnut butter. Process the mixture on high until it is smooth. Transfer to a jar and store for up to 1 week in the fridge.
      1 teaspoon Vanilla extract, 80 g Cocoa powder, 130 ml Whole milk, 2 tablespoon Maple syrup

    Notes

    • If you are trying to convince your kids that this is the real thing, then after you have finished a jar of Nutella you can wash it out and fill it with this. They will never know!
    • You need a high powdered food processor to make this. You can use a blender, but you won't get a really creamy and smooth Nutella.
    • To make it thicker and more spreadable, use less milk in it.
    • Blending time will depend on the blender that you are using. Some will take longer than others.
    • To make this healthy Nutella really smooth, you could add a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil to it. This would change the flavour a little though.
    • The more full your food processor is, the easier it will be to blend the ingredients. So, if you doubled the batch of this, it would blend faster. But then you would have a lot of Nutella - not that that is a bad thing.
    • If you really wanted to, you could even make this recipe sugar free. It would taste very bitter though.
    • Make sure to sift your cocoa powder if it is clumpy.
    • You can add a pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness of the sugar and the nuttiness of the hazelnuts.
    • If you want to make it softer when it comes out of the fridge, spoon out your serving and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
    • To make this as budget friendly as possible, then buy your hazelnuts in bulk in whole food shops. This works out much more cost effective than buying smaller bags in the supermarket. You will usually find them loose, rather than buying them bagged.
    • To make this Nutella a little more indulgent, you could melt some dark or milk chocolate to mix in at the end. It would make it more sugary though.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katerina

      May 23, 2021 at 1:00 pm

      Do you use raw hazelnuts or roasted?

      Reply
      • Dannii

        May 23, 2021 at 9:36 pm

        You can use either.

        Reply
    2. leah

      February 06, 2018 at 3:44 am

      hi danni, just wondering with the nutritional information.. is that per teaspoon or..?
      definitely going to make this in time for pancake tuesday next week , sounds great :)

      Reply
      • Dannii

        February 12, 2019 at 9:16 pm

        It's per serving, and this is 25 servings. It is about a tsp, yes :)

        Reply
    3. Luci's Morsels

      May 31, 2017 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      I am in love with this recipe! What a fantastic idea! Thank you for sharing this! Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.

      Reply
    4. nadia

      September 04, 2016 at 8:36 pm

      5 stars
      Mmm I love making homemade Nutella! Although I can never get it as smooth as Nutella without my blender heating up!

      Reply
    5. Petra / Be Healthy Now

      September 01, 2016 at 5:10 pm

      5 stars
      Yum, so delicious! Once I buy a new blender this is definitely something I need to try making.

      Reply
    6. Life as Mum

      August 30, 2016 at 10:28 pm

      Oh this is good to know! Looks so tasty

      Reply
    7. Julie @ Running in a Skirt

      August 29, 2016 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness! This is genius! What a great recipe! I've never heard of A2 milk either, pretty cool for those with digestive issues.

      Reply
    8. Cecilia Keinapel

      August 27, 2016 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      This looks amazing like all of your recipes. I have saved this one for a cheating day, might try it tomorrow. Love the idea of that milk, I will look into it.

      Celia x

      Reply
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