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    Home » Recipes » Dips, Sauces & Spreads

    How to make Healthy Nutella [Oil + Sugar-Free]

    Published: Jan 18, 2023 by Rosa · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

    965 shares
    JUMP TO RECIPE

    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.

    Glass jar filled with homemade nutella.

    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. 😉

    Jump to:
    • Is Nutella healthy?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Storage
    • Equipment
    • How to use it
    • Expert Tips
    • More healthy vegan dessert recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Nutella FAQ

    Is Nutella healthy?

    Although it’s often marketed as a healthy breakfast item, I do NOT consider store-bought Nutella wholesome at all. The main ingredients in Nutella are sugar and palm oil with not nearly as many hazelnuts as you might expect.

    BUT – this healthy Nutella recipe, on the other hand, is made with MOSTLY hazelnuts, plus dates, raw cacao powder, PURE vanilla, and nut milk.

    That makes this Nutella, not only wholesome, but also vegan and dairy-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free, oil-free, gluten-free, and free from artificial flavours.

    PLUS: My homemade Nutella is HALF the calories of store-bought, with 70% less sugar and 70% less saturated fat.

    Healthy Nutella for the win! 💚

    Glass jar of chocolate spread behind toast on plate with chocolate spread.

    Ingredients

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

    Bowl of hazelnuts, dates, strawberries, cocoa powder and glass of milk.
    See recipe card for quantities.
    • 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.)

    Hazelnuts on baking tray.

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

    Dish towel being rubbed over tray of roasted hazelnuts.

    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.

    Roasted hazelnuts inside food processor.

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

    Hazelnut spread inside food processor bowl.

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

    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.

    Dates inside food processor.

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

    Pureed date paste inside food processor bowl.

    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.

    Date paste, hazelnut spread, and cocoa powder in bowl of food processor.

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

    Homemade nutella inside food processor.

    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. 😉
    Strawberry dipped in chocolate spread being held up above bowl of Nutella.

    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

    • Close up of vegan shortbread cookies on cooling rack.
      Healthier Shortbread Cookies
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      Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes with NO Dye!
    • Layered mini cheesecakes in small glasses.
      No Bake Vegan Cheesecake Minis
    • Almond flour cookies in a stack with top one cut in half.
      Vegan Almond Flour Cookies

    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

    Glass jar filled with homemade nutella.

    Healthy Nutella Recipe [Vegan+Oil Free]

    Healthy nutella that's chocolatey, rich and delicious, but naturally sweetened for a nutritious alternative to store bought.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Dip
    Cuisine: American, Canadian, Italian
    Servings: 16 Servings (makes approx. 2 cups)
    Calories: 100kcal
    Author: Rosa

    Equipment

    Picture of blender on white background.
    Vitamix Blender
    Food Processor

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 cups raw hazelnuts unsalted
    • 1 cup pitted dates packed
    • ½ cup + 2 tablespoon unsweetened cashew milk or almond milk divided
    • 3 tablespoons raw unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the raw hazelnuts in a single layer and bake for 15 minutes.
    • Remove from the oven and place a clean, dry dish towel over top the hazelnuts and rub your hands over the nuts to remove the skins. The rubbing back and forth will force most of the skins loose. Do this for about 30 seconds and remove the towel and continue with your bare hands when cool enough to do so. Don’t worry if there are few stubborn skins that wont come off, as long as you get most of them.
    • Place your skinned hazelnuts in a high-speed blender, like a Vitamix, or in a food processor and process until you get a smooth nut butter. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.
    • Now remove the nut butter and set aside in a bowl. To the same food processor, add the dates and begin processing. Then pour in ¼ cup of the plant milk while the machine is running and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides as needed.
    • Return hazelnut butter back to the processor, along with the remaining plant milk, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Pulse several times until blended. You may add an additional 2-3 tablespoons of milk if a thinner consistency is desired.
    • Store your healthy Nutella in a clean glass jar at room temperature for up to 1 week.

    Notes

    • 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.
    • While both a food processor and blender work well, a high-speed blender, like a Vitamix will yield smoother results. But in exchange, it’s easier to transfer the Nutella from a food processor bowl.
    • 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.
     
    Recipe yields approx. 2 cups of healthy Nutella. Store in a clean glass jar at room temperature for up to 1 week. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.
    The serving size is two tablespoons.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?Mention @this.healthy.kitchen on IG and tag #thishealthykitchen!
    *Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.

    Nutella FAQ

    Is Nutella vegan?

    No, Nutella is not vegan since it contains milk products. Most store-bought hazelnut spreads are not vegan. However, this homemade version is not only vegan, but far more wholesome, naturally sweetened, and much lower in fat.

    What is a healthier Nutella?

    While Nutella isn’t a nutritious choice, making your own is a fantastic alternative. When you control the ingredients you can reduce the sugar, and saturated fat, plus remove the artificial “vanillin” flavouring.

    965 shares

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Henrieta

      March 23, 2023 at 12:54 pm

      5 stars
      I like Nutella, but because of the unhealthy ingredients I stopped buying it.
      But when I saw your recipe, I thought I will give it a try…and I’m glad I did;) That taste, smell omg sooo flavorful, tasty and not to sweet<3 Kids definitely love it;)

      Reply
      • Rosa

        March 23, 2023 at 5:51 pm

        Yay! Thrilled you enjoyed it, and thanks very much for the review. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Sue

      February 16, 2023 at 9:07 pm

      5 stars
      quick, easy and absolutely delicious! Thanks Rosa!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        February 17, 2023 at 9:30 am

        My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Neva Beierle

      March 13, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      5 stars
      It was wonderful! I’m trying to cut down on sugar but I have an incredible sweet tooth. Artificial sweeteners make me a little nervous so sweetening with dates was perfect!

      Unfortunately, it was a great big pain in the neck to make.

      Maybe I’ll save it for special occasions.

      I’m curious why you didn’t use a plastic storage container.

      Thanks for the recipe!

      (P.S. I’ve never written a review before.)

      Reply
      • Rosa

        March 14, 2022 at 9:38 am

        So glad you enjoyed Neva! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Sandy Walker

      October 24, 2021 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      This tastes BETTER than Nutella! You can taste the freshly roasted hazelnuts – perfect mixture with the dates and cocoa. Great job, Rosa! The only problem I had was getting the skins off the nuts. The skins on about 1/3 of the pound I bought (from Whole Foods bulk bin) would not come off – they tasted less fresh than the ones that skins came off easily. Thankfully I got 1.5 cups of cleaned ones from that pound – it was a lot of work, but the taste is worth it!! Thank you for sharing your gift with the world, Rosa! We are thankful. 😃

      Reply
      • Rosa

        October 25, 2021 at 8:42 am

        Wow, thank you so much Sandy! I’m so flattered and thrilled you loved this healthy Nutella twist. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Jessica

      April 11, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      Made it today w/my 14yo son. He liked it, 16yo liked it, and my mom liked it! We dont have a blender, so made w/NutrilBullet-made it a little tough to get everything mixed together at first. Buying a blender for next batch. Thanks! Love no extra sugar added!!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        April 13, 2021 at 9:22 am

        Great news! So glad everyone enjoyed. Thanks for the review Jessica. 🙂

        Reply
    6. [email protected]

      December 10, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      This stuff is magic

      Reply
      • Rosa

        December 10, 2020 at 2:59 pm

        Aww thanks so much! Thrilled you’re enjoying it. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Marie

      November 12, 2020 at 6:07 pm

      5 stars
      Wow this is amazing!! I’ve been missing nutella because it always upsets my stomach so I never eat it:(. Decided to give the a try and so easy and delicious!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        November 13, 2020 at 8:25 am

        Aww thanks so much Marie. Thrilled you found a way to enjoy Nutella again! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Andrea

      July 17, 2020 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      I made this for my kids to spread on toast but I confess, I can’t stop eating it by the spoonful!! Delicious!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        July 17, 2020 at 1:01 pm

        Amazing, so glad to hear it Andrea!

        Reply
    9. Beth S

      February 07, 2020 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      I made this a few days ago and decided I don’t care for hazelnuts. Lol. I’m going to try using blanched almonds or maybe just cheat and use almond butter. Thanks for the inspirational recipe. I gave it five stars because for people who do like hazelnuts, they will LOVE IT!

      Reply
      • rosa

        February 08, 2020 at 7:56 am

        Thanks for the stars Beth! I’d love to hear how it turns out with the almonds.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Rosa! Welcome to This Healthy Kitchen where you'll find tasty and nutritious, plant-based recipes. I'm an avid home cook who believes food is medicine. Each recipe is made using wholesome ingredients, and under 400 calories per serving with several gluten-free and oil-free options! Occasional cheat days included. 😉

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    965 shares