Do you Love Nutella? Eat Rawtella instead!

Laura's Notes: It's always easier and cheaper to make your own
"A raw version of Nutella, a delicious European chocolate-hazelnut spread.
Nutella®, in its original form, was first created in the 1940s by Mr. Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker and founder of the Ferrero company. At the time, cocoa was in short supply because of rationing due to World War II, so chocolate was very limited. So Mr. Ferrero used hazelnuts, which are plentiful in the Piedmont region of Italy (northwest), to extend the chocolate supply.
Very yummy spread on a banana!

Ingredients: 

1 cup raw hazelnuts
2 tablespoon raw cocoa or carob powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
1 tablespoon coconut oil
flax or nut oil

Preparation: 

Food process raw hazelnuts for several minutes until clumpy and oily. Add cocoa/carob, vanilla, salt, coconut oil and honey/agave, and process until smooth. Stir in flax or nut oil until you reach desired consistency.
Quantities of cocoa/carob, vanilla, salt, sweetener, and oil may be adjusted to taste. This would undoubtedly work at least as well, and be a touch healthier, with nuts soaked overnight, but I was looking for instant gratification. (Having now tried it with soaked nuts – it works, but use it up fast, because it doesn’t hold the hazelnut flavor very long.)" (Gone Raw Recipe Archive)

Click here for Gone Raw Website

I am talking about Raw Chocolate Truffles!

These are the most amazing treats and so good to have on hand. I keep them in the freezer when I get a hankering for something sweet. I rolled my first batch in almonds and cacao powder. Next time I'll try the mesquite, pistachio's and godji berries. Speaking of sweets, it's probably a good idea to keep chia seeds as a staple item. These are great for making pudding. Although there are some really good chocolate pudding recipes out there using avocado as its' base, chia pudding has a nice neutral flavor and an excellent choice when paired with fruit.