A Better Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
If you love chocolate hazelnut spread but want something that actually works with your body, this is the recipe for you.
At BNP, we’re not here to take foods away — we’re here to make them work better for you. This “Better Not Perfect” chocolate hazelnut spread delivers the rich, creamy chocolate flavor you love while using real-food ingredients that provide healthy fats, antioxidants, and a more balanced nutrition profile.
Think of this as a smarter “pit stop” snack—one that satisfies your sweet tooth while offering nutrients your body can actually use.
Why This Chocolate Hazelnut Spread Is Better for You
This isn’t just a homemade version of Nutella—it’s a simple way to enjoy a favorite treat with more nourishing ingredients and less reliance on highly processed oils and sugars.
The Power of Healthy Fats + Antioxidants
By combining hazelnuts, dark chocolate, and cocoa powder, you’re creating a spread that helps:
- Keep you fuller, longer
- Provide heart-healthy unsaturated fats
- Deliver antioxidants from cocoa and hazelnuts
- Create longer-lasting satiety than sugar-based spreads
- Enjoy a favorite treat with more nutrient density
Ingredient Spotlight: What Each Piece Does
Hazelnuts
The star of this recipe! Hazelnuts are packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, fiber, and minerals that support brain, heart, and metabolic health.
Dark Chocolate + Cocoa Powder
Rich in flavanols and antioxidants that help support a healthy inflammatory response while providing deep chocolate flavor with less added sugar than traditional chocolate spreads.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Provides healthy monounsaturated fats that support heart health while creating a smooth, creamy texture.
Vanilla + Coffee
Vanilla naturally enhances sweetness, while a touch of coffee deepens the chocolate flavor without making the spread taste like coffee.
Why Healthy Fats Matter
Unlike many store-bought chocolate spreads that rely heavily on added sugar and palm oil, this recipe gets much of its richness from nuts and olive oil.
Healthy fats help:
- Increase satiety
- Slow digestion
- Support brain and heart health
- Help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins
This is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a favorite indulgence while giving your body more of what it needs.
Love Nutella, Love this Better Chocolate Nutrition Spread
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 cups shelled and skinned hazelnuts see notes below
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 oz dark chocolate 66% cacao chips, discs or drops (about ⅓ cup)
- 7 Tbsp hazelnut milk or another non-dairy milk
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp instant coffee powder or granules
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Roast hazelnuts for 9-11 minutes, shaking the pan once or twice during roasting, or until fragrant.
- Once cool, place nuts in the food processor, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides.
- Put olive oil and chocolate in a small bowl and microwave 15 seconds at a time until melted, stirring in between, for about a minute altogether. Add this to hazelnuts and pulse a couple of times.
- Add remaining ingredients (milk through salt) and pulse until incorporated and spreadable.
- Spread and scoop to your heart's delight. Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
How this recipe fits into your nutrition goals
At BNP, we often aim for meals that fall within a general range of:
15–30g protein | 15–30g carbohydrates
to support balanced blood sugar, energy, and satiety.
Because this recipe is designed as a spread or topping, it isn’t intended to meet those targets on its own.
This recipe (1 tablespoon):
- Protein: ~2g
- Carbohydrates: ~7g
How to make it more balanced:
- Spread on whole grain or sourdough toast and pair with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
- Enjoy with apple slices and a handful of nuts
- Add to oatmeal with a scoop of protein powder
- Use as part of a balanced breakfast or snack rather than eating it by itself
Estimated Macros
Will vary slightly based on exact ingredients and portions.
- Calories: ~110–120
- Protein: ~2g
- Carbohydrates: ~7g
- Fat: ~9g
- Fiber: ~1–2g
Recipe Inspiration
A special thank you to Kristine Duncan, MS, RDN, CDCES from www.veggirlrd.com for inspiring this “Better Not Perfect” recipe to help make nutritious eating simple, delicious, and personalized.
Want to Know What’s Better for YOU?
Here’s the truth—even the “healthiest” recipe isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Your body has its own needs, patterns, and signals… and when you understand those, everything (including recipes like this) starts to work better.
At BNP, we help you:
- Understand how your body is actually functioning
- Identify what’s working (and what’s not)
- Build a personalized plan that fits your life
Start your personalized Weight Health Plan today!
Because it’s not about eating “perfect”… it’s about finding what works for you.
