
Are you a fan of Nutella? It is so easy to make! Here is a recipe for the yummy goodness. If desired try it in between the almond cookies!
2 cups raw hazelnuts
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup Swerve (or 1/2 cup erythritol and 1 tsp stevia glycerite)
1/2 teaspoon Pure vanilla
1/8 teaspoon iodized sea salt
3 tablespoons hazelnut oil (could use other oil like coconut)
Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Spread the hazelnuts evenly over a cookie sheet and roast until they darken and become aromatic, about 10 minutes. Transfer the hazelnuts to a damp towel and rub to remove the skins.
Pulsing the Swerve or Erythritol in a coffee blender and blending it until a fine powder is an optional step, but it makes a really smooth nutella. (Alternately, you can use Confectioners Swerve)
In a food processor, grind the hazelnuts to a smooth butter, scraping the sides as needed so they process evenly, about 5 minutes.
Add the cocoa, sweetener, vanilla, salt and oil to the food processor and continue to process until well blended, about 1 minute. The finished spread should have the consistency of creamy peanut butter; if it is too dry, process in a little extra hazelnut oil until the desired consistency is achieved. Remove to a container, cover and refrigerate until needed. Allow the spread to come to room temperature before using, as it thickens considerably when refrigerated. It will keep for at least a week.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (2 TBS per serving):
Traditional Nutella = 200 calories, 23 carbs, 2 fiber
“Healthified” Nutella = 110 calories, 3.4 carbs, 2 fiber
ALMOND COOKIES
1/2 cup vanilla whey (Jay Robb...no sugar)
3/4 cup almond flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/4 cup butter
2 TBS Swerve (or a few drops of stevia glycerite)
1-2 TBS vanilla almond milk OR water(just enough to hold dough together)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the whey, almond flour, baking soda and salt. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the butter lumps are smaller than peas. Stir in the almond milk and sweetener to form a stiff dough. On parchment paper (lightly sprayed with olive oil spray), roll the dough out to 1/8 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto cookie sheets. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges are lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
Nutritional Info for the WHOLE Batch of cookies: 995 calories, 19 carbs, 9 fiber
I have to share this one with my Mom, since Nutella is her biggest weakness in life.
ReplyDeleteQuestion. When you say it "helps" for the almond flour to be blanched, what do you mean? Does it bake better somehow, or does it just make things look prettier? I use Trader Joe's almond meal and can't find the blanched stuff anywhere. I also only have a mini food processor and can't feasibly make my own.
Thanks girl!
ReplyDeleteAs for the almond info... For cookies, crusts, or crisps, I used the almond meal that you can find at Trader Joes. If I make a cake, muffin or something where I can a smooth texture... Blanched almond flour is key. Check out Honeyville Farms online;)
Ah, texture. I get it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHow many cookies does this make?
ReplyDeleteIt made 12 sandwich cookies... 24 total;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Nutella recipe. The almonds cookies look great too. I'm going to give it a try.
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ReplyDeleteI just tried these. The cookies were so yummy but mine only made 12 2" diameter cookies. I put some orange zest in them which was nice. I tried the cookies with the nutella and they were very rich and delicious I could only eat 1 cookie with nutella on it. Thanks Maria!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kylee! You are too sweet!
DeleteI must have over-processed the nutella - the oil started to separate out, and it is the consistency of fudge now. Any way to salvage it?
ReplyDeleteBummer! I'm not sure how to save that...I'm sure it still tastes good. Maybe use it to fill my "healthified" crepes in the morning! lol
DeleteAny idea what I did wrong? The oil started to separate out and it started to harden more and more. It still tastes great, mind you, and I am eating it out of a jar, by my little girl wants the texture of real nutella. And the cookies above were superb. We filled them with ice cream.
ReplyDeleteYou might of processed it a little to much and then it started to separate. Maybe try processing less next time. :)
DeleteI think I figured it out. I used stevia glycerite, which is made with water. Water will make chocolate seize. I'll try this with the swerve and powdered stevia next time.
DeleteI made it again, this time with NuStevia No Carbs and it turned out great, no seizing, so it is definitely the NOW brand stevia glycerite that was making it seize. Also, I used cocoa butter instead of coconut oil. Not sure if cocoa butter is considered ok, I got mine from Sunfood, and it is raw and organic. In any case, the cocoa butter gave the nutella an extra layer of chocolate flavor that I love.
DeleteYay! Glad it worked.
DeleteIt more than worked, I am using all restraint to not polish it off. We spread it on the mint chocolate chip cookies (your recipe of course) today for a treat.
Delete:)
DeleteHave you tried the nutella with Just Like Sugar? I'm afraid it will make it freeze or gel up.
ReplyDeleteThat should work. You could try a quarter batch to test it out. :)
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