Nutella, the magic cocoa and hazelnut spread that can put a smile on the face of any children and adults alike. Who would have thought that it is so easy to make at home!
Today has been exactly one year from our wedding day. Nutella is my anniversary gift as Riccardo eats it every single day. So I thought why not attempting to recreating it at home and make a healthier version? Even better if vegan?
We got married in the full swing of the pandemic. At the end of the day, we were not sure whether we were happier that we got married or that we didn’t have to replan a wedding anymore.
The stress and worries of covid have been so tough. We were not sure we would get married till the very same day.
It has been nerve racking. Guests dropping at the last minute, changing dates constantly, adapting to the new restrictions, making sure everyone was safe, throwing everything away, planning from scratch again and again.
Still, it has also been one of the happiest days of our life.
We must admit that we also got so lucky: wedding celebrations with guests were banned and restrictions skyrocketed just seven days after we got married! Our wedding could go ahead just about in time, a real miracle.
We were so incredibly lucky to celebrate with our loved ones.
Also, you might think I am crazy, but I truly believe our day was even more special because of these extraordinary circumstances.
As I woke up on the wedding day, after many weeks of sleepless nights, I felt so relaxed.
No matter what, today was the day. No matter what, today we were going to get married. Finally.
Both Riccardo and I didn’t forget for a second how blessed we were and how precious every moment of the day was. We lived every minute of it.
I saw most of my family and friends for the first time after a long year at the wedding. The most joyful reunion.
The hug of my brother, my nieces dancing with flower crowns, my dearest friends coming over from everywhere, my little grandma smiling from ear to ear.
Love, everywhere.
I don’t regret a thing, except not wearing my glassing while walking down the aisle. People thought I was emotional. Truth is I could barely see a thing.
On our wedding day, there was also a red flag storm. Streets were flooded and electricity went out three times at the venue. But I’ll leave that story to another time.
It feels surreal a year has passed by. So much and so little have changed since. I still feel the luckiest person.
To eleven years together, to one year married, to you eating Nutella every day.
I am sharing my recipe for homemade vegan nutella with you. I hope you’ll make good use of it, gift it in a special occasion or eat it all on your own on any other day. Enjoy!
Homemade vegan nutella for our first anniversary
Course: Something SweetDifficulty: Easy8
servings30
minutesNutella, the magic cocoa and hazelnut spread that can put a smile on the face of any children and adults alike. Who would have thought that it is so easy to make at home!
Ingredients
300 g hazelnuts
50 g coconut sugar*
30 g cocoa powder
a pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
50 ml nut milk*
- Equipment
A powerful 1 l (at least) food processor
Method
- Roast the hazelnuts in the oven at 180 C for 15 minutes
- Transfer them while still hot (watch out!) in a glass jar, close it, and shake it shake it. This is an easy way to peel them as the skin will feel off automatically. Of course skip this step if you bought fancy blanched hazelnuts.
- Transfer the ingredients except for the milk into a food processor. Blitz the nuts. Slowly add the milk in. Use the pulse function to avoid overheating. It took me 20 minutes to have a Nutella paste – this time might vary depending on the power of your food processor.
Notes
- *Alternative ingredients: I’ve used coconut sugar as I had it at home but any sugar except muscovado sugar will do. You can also use any other type of plant-based milk you like.
- Important disclaimer: This recipe is easy if you have a powerful and big food processor. I do not recommend it otherwise.
- The texture of this homemade paste is slightly different from Nutella, it is less smooth and the flavour is richer. In my humble opinion, is Nutella on steroid. You can taste the toasted hazelnuts much more and the deep chocolate notes. Enjoy!
So lovely to read about your wedding and the first anniversary as you now reflect back on it! It was truly the most special day <3 and what a thoughtful and tasty gift for your anniversary. I have attempted it once at home as well and it was delicious. Question for a discussion – have you tried doing it with other nuts? Do you think that would work?