Homemade "Nutella" Chocolate Hazelnut Spread - Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar & Palm Oil Free

I'm a big Nutella fan, so making my own chocolate hazelnut spread was always going to happen eventually! I've already got a few Nutella-inspired recipes on the site, so if you're a fellow Nutella lover, you might also want to try my Gluten Free Nutella Brownies or these addictive Gluten Free Nutella Biscuits.

But this time I wanted to make something a little different, a simple homemade chocolate hazelnut spread that you can keep in the fridge for spreading on toast, pancakes, waffles or just eating by the spoonful! Unfortunately it wouldn't work as well in the brownies and biscuits linked above, but perfect as a simple spread.

What I really love about this homemade version is just how simple the ingredients are. There's no long list of ingredients or anything complicated, just hazelnuts, cocoa powder, dairy-free milk, honey and a little vanilla. It's gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free and palm oil free, making it a great alternative to traditional Nutella if you're looking to avoid any of those ingredients.

It can easily be made vegan too. Simply swap the honey for maple syrup or agave syrup and make sure you're using a vegan, gluten free dairy-free milk. So with one simple swap, this homemade chocolate hazelnut spread can work for even more dietary requirements.

It does take a little patience, though! You'll need to give your food processor plenty of time to break down the hazelnuts and get the spread as smooth as possible. I find around 10 minutes gives a fairly smooth consistency, although it does still have a little more texture than shop-bought Nutella. Personally, I like the slight grittiness it gives it more personality, it still has that lovely combination of rich cocoa and hazelnut flavour.

A note about the hazelnuts: don't forget to check the packet rather than assuming all nuts are suitable for gluten free diets. I used Tesco blanched hazelnuts, and the packet I bought didn't have a "may contain" warning for gluten-containing cereals. I've found that Grape Tree and Holland & Barrett blanched hazelnuts carry may-contain warnings, so these may not be suitable for everyone with coeliac disease. Allergen information can change, so always check the packaging before buying.