Description

This Hazelnut Chocolate Date Spread is a luscious, naturally sweetened spread made from roasted hazelnuts, dates, cocoa powder, and a hint of vanilla. Perfect as a nutritious alternative to traditional chocolate spreads, it combines creamy hazelnut butter with rich cocoa and the natural sweetness of dates, creating an irresistible treat that’s great on toast, pancakes, or even as a dip.

Ingredients

Scale

Nut Base

1 cup Hazelnuts

Sweetener and Liquid

1 cup Dates
2 tablespoons Water
1/2 cup Almond Milk
1 tablespoon Oil

Flavorings

2 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1/4 tablespoon Salt

Instructions

Roast the Hazelnuts: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Spread the hazelnuts on a baking tray and roast them for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking. Once roasted, transfer the hazelnuts onto a clean kitchen towel and rub them with your hands to remove the skins.
Make Hazelnut Butter: Place the skinned hazelnuts into a food processor and puree for 8 to 15 minutes. Scrape the sides as needed until the nuts break down completely and form a smooth, creamy butter.
Prepare Date Paste: Remove the hazelnut butter from the food processor, rinse it out, then add the dates and water. Puree until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy, forming a thick date paste.
Combine Ingredients: Add the hazelnut butter back into the food processor with the date paste and pulse a few times to combine them evenly.
Add Flavorings and Blend: Add the unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract, oil, and salt to the mixture. Blend while slowly pouring in the almond milk until the spread is smooth, creamy, and well incorporated.

Notes

Ensure the hazelnuts are fully roasted to maximize flavor and ease of skin removal.
Use soft, fresh dates for the best sweetness and texture.
Adjust the amount of almond milk to reach your desired spread consistency.
Store the spread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
This spread is naturally gluten-free and can be made vegan by using plant-based oil and non-dairy milk.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Spread
Method: Roasting and Blending
Cuisine: International

Keywords: hazelnut spread, chocolate date spread, healthy chocolate spread, natural chocolate spread, homemade nut butter