Healthy Nutella Recipe [No Oil or Sugar] -This Healthy Kitchen (2024)

Creamy, dreamy and healthy Nutella! It’s rich and chocolatey but naturally sweetened for a healthier alternative to store-bought Nutella. This chocolate hazelnut spread is PERFECT.

This recipe was originally published in February 2020. It has been updated for content and photos.

I had a reader request for a sugar-free Nutella alternative that’s also low in saturated fat, so I’m thrilled to share these results with you!

While there are a ton of homemade Nutella recipes on the world wide web, there are not many healthy Nutella alternatives.

Serve it with pancakes and waffles, or just grab a spoon. 😉

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this healthy Nutella recipe.

• Hazelnuts: Choose raw hazelnuts for roasting that have no added salt.
• Dates: You may use Medjool dates and remove their pits, or buy pitted dates for convenience.
• Cocoa powder: Use raw cocoa powder with no added sugar or other ingredients.
• Milk: An non-dairy milk works well, so you may use whatever milk you normally enjoy.
• Vanilla: Use PURE vanilla extract to avoid any artificial flavours in your food.

Instructions

(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Arrange the raw hazelnuts on a baking tray and roast them for 15 minutes and remove them from the oven. (photo 1)

Use a clean kitchen towel to rub them and remove the skins. Then use your hands once cool enough to touch. (photo 2)

NOTE: Work quickly to remove the skins as they come off easiest when the nuts are still warm. Most of the skins will come off easily, but don’t worry if there are a few stubborn ones. As long as you get most of them off, you’re good to go.

Transfer the hazelnuts to your food processor bowl. (photo 3)

Process until smooth and transfer to a bowl. (photo 4)

See Also

Limoncello Gelato with Vanilla Lemon Curd Swirl Recipe | Kita RobertsAmaretto Cherry Ice Cream (Dairy-Free Recipe)Homemade Olive Oil Almond Biscotti Recipe -Old Fashioned Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder - Grandma's Recipe

NOTES: The hazelnuts will go from whole to floury bits, to lumpy, and eventually smooth nut butter. Scrape down the sides as needed. If you’re using a food processor, be sure to give it small breaks to prevent overheating. Processing time takes me about 1 minute, but individual appliances will vary.

Add the dates to your food processor bowl. (photo 5)

Start blending, slowly pouring in the milk as it runs. (photo 6)

NOTES: Adding the milk as the food processor runs will produce smoother results. But, if using a blender, add both at the same time and process. If your blender or processor is not a powerful one, pre-soak your dates for 15-30 minutes and then drain for a smoother date paste.

Return the hazelnut butter to the processor along with the remaining ingredients. (photo 7)

Pulse to incorporate, adding 1-3 extra tablespoons of milk if a thinner Nutella is desired. (photo 8)

Transfer your healthy Nutella to a clean and dry glass jar or container and keep it at room temperature for daily use.

Storage

It was not easy to keep this delicious chocolate hazelnut spread very long. But I’ve gotten as far as 1 week at room temperature in a sealed glass jar with no spoilage.

Make sure to use a clean and dry glass jar or container.

You may refrigerate your homemade Nutella for up to 3 weeks. (I hid some in a small container in the back of the fridge so no one would find it, just to test and make sure!) 😆

Equipment

You may use a blender OR a food processor to make this healthy Nutella recipe.

If using a food processor, make sure to stop and scrape down the sides as needed. Then pause to give your processor a break, every 30 seconds or so to prevent overheating. Leave it off for at least 30 seconds and then resume.

If you don’t have a powerful appliance, make sure to soak your dates for 15-30 minutes and then drain them, before making your date paste. This will help make a smoother date paste.

How to use it

Oh, the glorious options!

• Spread it on toast or make it a PB&N sandwich.
• Top some on waffles or pancakes.
• Sneak some into your favourite smoothies.
• Add some to your favourite oatmeal.
• Dunk fresh fruit, like strawberries.
• Lather it on banana bread!!
• OR, grab a spoon. 😉

Expert Tips

• After roasting the hazelnuts, work quickly to remove the skins as they come off easiest when warm. Most of the skins will come off easily, but don’t worry if there are a few stubborn ones.
• The hazelnuts will take some time to go from whole nuts to nut butter. You will see the nuts go through stages of chunkier pieces, to flour, to lumps, and eventually smooth nut butter. Have patience. 🙂
• If you’re using a food processor, be sure to give it small breaks to prevent overheating. Processing time takes me about 1 minute, but individual appliances will vary.
• Adding the milk as the food processor runs will produce smoother results. But, if using a blender, add both at the same time and process. If your blender or processor is not a powerful one, pre-soak your dates for 15-30 minutes and then drain for a smoother date paste.
• I like the sweetness level of this Nutella as is. However, if you want a sweeter Nutella, you may add a liquid sweetener, to taste, such as maple syrup, date syrup, or agave at the end and pulse a few times to mix through.

More healthy vegan dessert recipes

If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.

Buon appetito

Rosa

📖 Recipe

Nutella FAQ