Nuts for Nutella

I'll be the first to admit that I'm nuts for Nutella, or rather, chocolate.  Growing up in a Dutch household, a typical meal consisted of homemade bread smothered in butter and topped with a hearty layer of chocolate sprinkles.  I realized my love for chocolate was legit when I flew back from Amsterdam with 40 pounds of dark chocolate. It was either go all in on the chocolate or wooden clogs - I had zero regrets about my decision.

Nowadays I enjoy making own Nutella with healthy ingredients I can pronounce in a simple and easy way. Below is a very simple recipe for you to get started on making and enjoying your very own Nutella. 

2 cups raw sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup raw cacao powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons organic coconut oil

1/2 cup organic raw milk (any milk will work, nut, dairy, non-dairy)

3 tablespoons of maple syrup (or your preferred sweetener) 

I begin by toasting the sunflower seeds. Heat up a pan and pour them. Stir them around until they are lightly toasted. 

Let the sunflower seeds cool a bit before tossing them into the food processor. Mix them until they are no longer in their natural form. 

Add the remaining ingredients into the food processor and mix until the taste and texture are to your liking. Adding more coconut oil will give it a smoother texture. I like it both ways - thick and/or creamy - and both ways are satisfying to my palate. This recipe will make a little less than 2 cups of Nutella and stay good in you refrigerator for up to two weeks. Enjoy it on a piece of toast, with fruit, or on your pancake. You'd be hard pressed to find something this would not taste good on! Feel free to leave a comment or share your likes or dislikes with Nutella!