Homemade Nutella

I will never buy Nutella from a store again. I mean it. We keep this tasty spread on hand quite regularly - it makes for a great dessert or snack (on toast, with fruit, on top of Baked Oatmeal, etc.) I have been meaning to make my own for a while now and finally did it. Wow. Easy...delicious...so worth it! There were several recipes that I looked at online, from so many different people that I can't really give credit and then I added my own twists to it to create my own version. It filled about 5 small jars - perfect for gifts too! But please take note: it is not as smooth and velvety as the store-bought kind. You could strain it if you really want, but I actually don't mind the teeny-tiny grains of nut incorporated throughout. It reminds you that it is homemade and better :)

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups whole hazelnuts (I bought a big bag from Trader Joe's)
• 1 bag bittersweet chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli's with 60% cacao)
• 1 bag milk chocolate chips
• 5 TBSP coconut oil (my new favorite ingredient) OR similar oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 TBSP cocoa powder
• 4 TBSP powdered sugar
• 1 tsp salt

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the 2 1/4 cups of hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 13 minutes.

• During the baking time, pour both of the bags of chocolate into a microwaveable bowl and heat for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir the chocolate and microwave for another 1 1/2 minutes (it should be melted but if not, continue heating at intervals of 30 seconds - checking each time). Set this bowl aside.

• Remove the nuts from the oven and pour them onto a dry towel. Use the towel to rub off as much of the flaky skins as possible...don't attempt to get every single bit, just the majority of it off.

• Pour the nuts into a food processor and process for about 3 minutes (or until the nuts have become a paste). You might need to stop halfway and scrape the sides a bit and then continue processing.

• Measure the remainder of the ingredients (except the melted chocolate) into a bowl and then add to the nut paste. Process until combined.

• Lastly, add the melted chocolate and process until well combined.

• Pour into containers that can be sealed. It will be very runny at first - but it will firm up.

• If you are not going to consume this tasty treat for a while, you could freeze it. I usually give away a couple of jars, freeze one and keep the last two in our cupboard for immediate use :) Take NOTE: to make it softer for spreading, place the microwaveable (glass) jar in the microwave for 15 seconds...that should soften it up a bit for spreading.