Cocoa Almond "Nutella" - Nicole Gibbons Style

If you’re a Nutella lover, you’ll probably know that love for the chocolaty hazlenut spread can sometimes borderline on obsession and once upon a time I was utterly obsessed with Nutella … Until I discovered Trader Joe’s Cocoa Almond Spread which made for an equally delicious and healthier alternative since almonds have less calories, less fat, more protein, more fiber and more calcium than Hazlenuts. Recently I tried my hand at a homemade version of almond “Nutella” and it turned out so delicious so I thought I’d share the recipe here.

I started with 2 cups of raw almonds which I dry roasted in the oven for about 8 minutes at 350°. Roasting your almonds gives them a much richer, nuttier taste.

You’re also going to need some good chocolate…I used 1/2 cup of semisweet chunks that i picked up from the Whole Foods bakery section.

(1.) Next, place your almonds in the bowl of a high speed blender or food processor. I used my trusty vitamix which does a great job pulverizing the almonds. (2.) Pulse and blend the almonds until you have a gritty almond meal and at that point, add in a tablespoon of coconut oil. Then blend again and you’ll be left with a creamy roasted almond butter. You’ll want to start off at a slow speed and gradually increase. If using a blender you may need to use a tamper to keep the nuts moving around. If using a food processor, you may need to stop down to scrape the sides with a spatula at times. (3.) Next, melt your chocolate using a double boiler method. (I use this double boiler pot which produces a perfect result every time and never burns the chocolate) (4.) Finally, pour the melted chocolate into the almond butter and blend with 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of agave or sugar until combined. You’ll be left with a creamy, nutty spread that you can devour on anything you’d like. I eat it on apples, rice cakes and here, adorable little waffle bites topped with strawberries! I made the waffles using a gluten free mix and this mini waffle pan that makes the most perfect tiny waffles. Enjoy!