If you’re going to have a treat, why not make it one that’s a little healthier than most saturated fat-based, sugar-filled puds? Nutella® is abounding with healthy fats, heart-healthy antioxidants and even a bit more protein than the average bear, and whilst it’s still catastrophically calorific, it remains my weapon of choice when it comes to satisfying my sweet tooth.
However, as my dietary habits have tightened and I’m moving ever closer towards eating only whole foods, hazelnut spread as manufactured by Mr Ferrero’s minions is most definitely off the menu. If anything’s got ingredients listed on its packaging that I’m not familiar with, or that I feel are superfluous or artificial, then I’m not touching it.
Fortunately, this little concoction is even better than the real thing. Light on – if not free from, depending on what brand of dark chocolate you use – refined sugars and other artificial nasties, this deliciously dark and nutty spread is a much more natural way of sating your pudding stomach’s hunger.
150g whole hazelnuts [£1.79 for 200g, so £1.34 for 150g]
205g evaporated milk [49p for 410g, so £25p for 205g. Aldi’s “Cowbelle” is not only the cheapest that I’ve come across, but also the most straightforward, containing only whole milk, stabiliser, and sodium phosphates. It’s also fortified with vitamin-D]
200g dark chocolate [At Aldi you can get a 200g bar of “Dairyfine” dark chocolate for just 85p. Like Cowbelle, it’s not only cheap but also simple, containing only cocoa butter, soya lecithin (presumably as an emulsifier) and sugar in addition to its 47% cocoa solids]
60g clear honey [99p for 340g, so 17p]
TOTAL COST TO MAKE ONE BATCH (515G):
£1.34 + £0.25 + £0.85 + £0.17 = £2.61
£1.34 + £0.25 + £0.85 + £0.17 = £2.61
TOTAL COST PER 100g: £0.51
Pre-heat the oven to
180°c.
TWO
Weigh out 150g of
hazelnuts onto a baking tray and roast in the oven for 10-12 minutes.
THREE
(OPTIONAL)
I can’t say that this
makes any difference myself, but my wife insists that the product tastes better
if the hazelnuts have their (now flaky) skin removed prior to the next step. Peel by hand and discard the skin.
FOUR
Place the hazelnuts
into the blender and blend – for ages –
until you have as fine a substance as your blender will produce.
FIVE
Melt the chocolate
and stir in the honey and condensed milk.
SIX
Pour the warm, milky
chocolate honey into the blender, where your nuts await.
SEVEN
Blend until the
spread is as thick as you like it. The longer you blend the mixture, the more
paste-like it will become. I find that it reaches the consistency of Nutella® within about a minute.
EIGHT
Prepare to increase
your body fat – massively.
