2 Nut Recipes: Almond Butter and Chocolate Hazelnut Nutella Spread

In the last post I discussed the technique for soaking and dehydrating nuts, seeds, and grains to increase the nutritional value and help with digestion.

Today I wanted to introduce you to two more great recipes that you can make using those soaked and dehydrated nuts you have made.  Of course you can also substitute regular store bought raw nuts if you prefer and just toast them in a dry pan for a couple of minutes.

I have become a huge fan of Almond Butter over the last couple of years.  I grew up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches daily and even remember always eating them on the same Sesame Street plate while watching Sesame Street before pre-school.  I still love the taste of peanut butter but almonds have a better fatty acid profile than peanuts so I have made the switch.  Making your own nut butter is great because you can use whatever nuts you like or add any spices to switch it up.  I love adding cinnamon, cardamom, or even cacao powder for a chocolate nut butter.  If you read the ingredient list on store bought peanut butter you can find added oils and sugar.  Here are the ingredients for Jif Natural Peanut Butter…which includes two types of added sugar.

MADE FROM PEANUTS, SUGAR, PALM OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, MOLASSES.

Do you remember the Nutella commercials promoting it as a great way to get your kids to eat breakfast?  The mom in the senario spreads Nutella on whole wheat toast and says that Nutella is made from hazelnuts, skim milk, and cocoa.  It is true that store bought Nutella does contains those ingredients, but what it doesn’t tell you is that it also contains some not so great ones.  Here are the ingredients for Nutella…which includes sugars, oils, artificial flavor.

Sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, skim milk, reduced minerals whey (milk), lecithin as emulsifier (soy), and vanillin: artificial flavor.

 Here is how to make these nut butters…a food processor is essential and if you do not have one it is definately worth the investment.

Print

Course Condiments and Spreads

Cuisine American

Author Sara

Ingredients

• 2 Cups raw Hazelnuts soaked and dehydrated or you can just toast the raw nuts
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Vanilla
• 1/4 Cup raw Cacao or unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp raw honey
• 1/4 tsp gray sea salt
• 1/2 cup milk of choice I used coconut milk
• 1 tsp instant espresso powder optional

Instructions

1. Add the nuts to a food processor and process until smooth (This may take 5-10 minutes. Once the nuts get stuck on the sides turn off the motor and scrape down the sides. You may have to do this a few times).
2. Once you have hazelnut butter all the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.
3. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Print

Course Condiments

Cuisine American

Author Sara

Ingredients

• 2 cups Almonds soaked and dehydrated or toast in a pan if not using the technique

Instructions

1. Add the nuts to a food processor and blend until smooth. (This process takes 5-10 minutes. Once the nuts get stuck to the sides I stop the processor and scrape down the sides. You may have to do this a few times until the nuts are the right consistancy. Trust me it will work.)