Refined Sugar Free Nutella Spread

After a few experiments…and jars of home-made Nutella later (not that I’m complaining), I can’t believe it’s possible to make a refined sugar-free Nutella! And when your kids are eating it out of the jar? It’s good. It’s really good. You know what the most ironic part is? Well, you all know how much I’m a huge fan and Nutella lover with all the Nutella recipes I have on here already. After making this spread, tasting it, and then tasting a spoon of Nutella to try and match the sweetness and flavour…Nutella tasted so plastic, dull and lifeless I found myself sucking on the spoon to get any flavour out of it.

What?! I know! I thought I was going crazy! So I tried this experiment on my family…and the same happened to them. One spoon of this spread here followed by one spoon of Nutella; and they were all pulling faces after tasting the ‘real’ Nutella. It’s like, plastic on a spoon? (Don’t hate me.) I don’t understand it. But I do know that the jar of this home-made spread is going to fly out of the refrigerator in less than 2 days. Without any feelings of guilt sitting down with it and enjoying it by the spoonful. Its rich and creamy. Its full of so much chocolate and hazelnut flavour…you won’t want store bought Nutella ever again!

To make this Refined Sugar-Free, I substituted white sugar for Coconut sugar. Did we jump for joy? Hell yes! The taste compared with a white sugared version is only very very slight, without spiking insulin levels and a lower GI. Something we prefer for our kids. The best part of making your own spread? It’s easier than you think…and quicker than you’d assume…if you’re anything like me and picture a whole day lost roasting; peeling and processing. Not True. However, there are two ways to start the whole Nutella loving process. One: Buy blanched or already-peeled-and-ready-for-roasting-hazelnuts and skip the whole peeling process. Two: Buy organic hazelnuts and take out all of your frustrations out on each one when peeling them. And they’re not hard to peel. Just rub them on an old tea towel with the palm of your hand, and the peels crack and fall away on their own.

The choice is yours. Personally, I chose the peeling option. There was something so gratifying seeing bald hazelnuts at the end of the process. No, it’s true, and I could be crowned one of the laziest people on planet Earth, but still I loved this process.

From here, throw your nuts into a food processor (make sure it’s a good quality processor); and once it becomes a beautiful, warm and creamy paste, throw the rest of your ingredients in until you want to face plant the processor bowl.

Or…avoid the face planting, because we are adults after all , and pour your spread into a jar, while dipping your fingers into it every 2 seconds, you know, just to make sure it tastes like heaven.

The best ‘Nutella’ that’s not really Nutella, that we will be diving into from now on. This is perfect for spreading on EVERYTHING, but especially for making my son’s favourite snack, Simple Nutella Quesadillas!