Generally I prefer savoury breakfast, but time to time I can’t resist a slice of fresh bread with Nutella. This has changed a few years ago, when palm oil appeared on the Nutella label. Since then I have been avoiding it. Why a product categorised as “hazelNUT spread” should be made with palm oil?

The taste of Nutella has changed as well. Nutella always tasted differently in different countries, same ingredients, different measures. But now, whether it’s from a German, Czech or English shop, it no longer tastes as it used to.

I searched the internet to find out, if Nutella was always made using palm oil. Apparently it has changed 5 years ago, when “peanuts” were replaced with “palms”. Of course, it’s all about costs. But believe me, I would rather pay £5 for a jar of traditional Nutella than £1 for a palm-oil loaded jar of something that just calls itself Nutella.

I’m sure there are loads of alternatives on the market without palm oil, but last week I came across a recipe for home-made chocolate spread and was tempted to try it. There were some additional fats in many recipes I found, so I thought I will try just 3 ingredients I think should be in a nut-based chocolate spread – nuts, cocoa and sugar.

The taste really surprised me! It tastes amazing! And next time? Next time, I will to try the same purely with hazelnuts!

RECIPE: 3 Ingredient Chocolate Spread

For a 350ml jar

Ingredients:

• 300g raw peanuts (peeled)
• 5 tbsp of dark cocoa powder
• 5 tbsp of caster sugar
• 5 tbsp of boiling water

Method:

1. Heat the oven to 180C and put all peanuts onto a baking tray in a single layer.
2. Place the tray in the oven a roast for 10 minutes.
3. Leave to cool, then put all peanuts in a blender and start blending….be patient 🙂 It took me 15 minutes to make peanut butter! Peanuts will stick to the sides, especially at the beginning before they get buttery/creamy. Use a teaspoon to move them away from the sides and blend. The longer you blend, the smoother the spread will be, it’s up to everyone’s taste when to stop.
4. Mix cocoa and sugar in a mug or bowl, with a little drop of hot water, to create a runny cocoa/chocolate paste.
5. Add the paste to the peanut butter and blend until smooth and mixed together.
6. Tastes if it’s chocolaty or sweet enough, if not make add more cocoa paste.
7. Transfer the spread into a clean jar and store in a cool place.