Homemade Nutella

For many years I enjoyed Nutella straight up as a snack, a couple of spoonfuls at a time. But a couple decades ago, I started getting a good idea about nutrition. Then I stopped eating it altogether despite Costco's efforts to sell it to me for a few pennies per spoonful!

Look at the label: Two tablespoonfuls is a small snack, but it's loaded in sugar and saturated fat. Bye!

As I started having more time in my hands (retirement, and winter in Reno, NV helps,) I found many recipes for homemade nutella. After a few tries, the one below is my favorite; healthy and easy to make.

The engineer in me would say that this recipe is 90% healthier than the real thing, and 90% as good as the real thing.

Go for it as follows:

• 1.5 cup hazelnuts (I get mine from Trader Joe's)
• 0.5 can (200 grams) cannellini beans, rinsed
• 5 tbs natural unsweetened cacao powder
• 4 stevia packets (optional for extra sweetness)
• 15 dates softened in warm water for about 15 minutes
• 1 cup warm oat milk (any milk)

1. Preheat oven to 375F or 190C
2. Bake hazelnuts for 10 minutes
3. Remove from over and let cool for 15 minutes
4. Use a small chopping blender to chop the nuts (do not beat them into butter)
5. Poor into a strong blender (such as a Ninja) the cannellini beans, followed by the diced dates, chopped hazelnuts, stevia powder, cacao and gently pour the warm milk over.
6. Blend for one minute each in speed 1, 2 and 3... slow, medium, fast. 
7. Between each blending, use a spatula to help the mixing.

Ninja does a good job, as shown in the picture, but a top-of-the-line Vitamix blender can make the mix smooth and glossy.