Creamy, chocolatey and naturally sweet, this homemade chocolate hazelnut spread is made with four main ingredients: roasted hazelnuts, soft dates, unsweetened cacao powder and your preferred milk.

It contains no added or refined sugar, but it still tastes like a real treat. Serve it on toast, pancakes or fruit—or enjoy a little directly from the spoon.

Unlike many packaged chocolate spreads, this homemade version lets you control exactly what goes inside. It is rich, nutty and naturally sweetened with dates.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Made with four simple ingredients

• No added or refined sugar

• Rich and naturally chocolatey

• Easy to prepare in a blender or food processor

• Delicious with toast, pancakes, waffles and fruit

• Easy to adjust to your preferred consistency

• Works with different types of milk

Recipe Card

Makes: Approximately 12 servings
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Blending time: Approximately 10 minutes
Total time: Approximately 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1⅓ cups chopped, soft pitted dates (200 g)

• Hot water, enough to cover the dates

• 1½ cups roasted hazelnuts (200 g)

• ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened natural cacao powder (25 g)

• ¼ cup milk of choice (60 ml), plus more as needed

Choosing Your Milk

You can prepare this recipe with whichever milk works best for your family.

Unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk or regular dairy milk can all work. I personally use A2 milk that has been pasteurized at a low temperature.

I generally avoid oat milk because many varieties contain more carbohydrates than unsweetened almond or coconut milk and may produce a faster rise in blood glucose. Ingredients and nutritional values vary between brands, so always check the label and choose what works for your family.

For a dairy-free version, use unsweetened almond or coconut milk.

Substitutions & Allergy Notes

This recipe contains hazelnuts and is not suitable for anyone with a tree-nut allergy. If your child has a diagnosed food allergy, use only ingredients that are safe for them and take appropriate steps to avoid cross-contact in the kitchen.

You can use unsweetened cocoa powder instead of cacao powder. Check the label to make sure it does not contain added sugar.

For a thinner spread, add additional milk one tablespoon at a time. Use less milk if you prefer a thicker texture.

Instructions

1. Place the pitted dates in a bowl and cover them with hot water. Allow them to soak for 10–15 minutes, until they become soft and tender. This makes them easier to blend and helps create a smoother spread.

2. Add the roasted hazelnuts to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until they break down into a thick paste. The hazelnuts may look crumbly at first, so continue blending and scrape down the sides when necessary.

3. Drain the softened dates and add them to the hazelnut paste.

4. Add the cacao powder and ¼ cup of your chosen milk.

5. Blend until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides.

6. If the spread is too thick, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your preferred consistency.

7. Transfer the finished spread to a clean, airtight glass jar and refrigerate.

Tips for the Creamiest Texture

Use hazelnuts that are already roasted. I use roasted hazelnuts from Trader Joe’s, so they do not need to be roasted again.

Soft dates blend more easily than dry or firm dates. If your dates feel dry, soak them for a few extra minutes.

Be patient while blending the hazelnuts. They will move from crumbs to a thick paste as their natural oils are released. Pause the machine if it becomes too hot.

The spread will become slightly thicker after refrigeration. Add a little more milk during blending if you prefer a softer consistency.

How to Serve It

Try this chocolate hazelnut spread:

• On toast or sourdough bread

• With apple or banana slices

• On pancakes or waffles

• Stirred into warm oatmeal

• Spread onto rice cakes

• As a filling for homemade crêpes

• As a dip for strawberries

• Added to a smoothie for a chocolate-hazelnut flavor