Homemade (Healthier) Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Growing up in an Italian household, from time to time my parents would pick up a jar of Nutella.  We would eat it with hard bread, or dry Italian biscuits.  Now years later, as it turns out, it is a favorite of my husbands and my children.  Try making this healthier version at home.  It takes only minutes to make and is the perfect gift idea.  You can fill small vintage glass jars with this chocolate-nutty goodness, adorn them with ribbon and a hand crafted gift tag.  Just please be sure that there are no nut allergies in the family.  Chocolate hazelnut spread is delicious on toast, pancakes, french-toast, apples, bananas, pears, berries, smores, crepes…etc…

• Ingredients (please try to use all organic):
• 2 cups hazelnuts, roasted at about 375 for 10-12 minutes
• 1/2 cup pecans, roasted at about 375 for 10 minutes
• 1/2 cup cacao powder (unsweetened)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract or the whole bean scraped
• 3/4 cup maple syrup (or more if you like it sweeter)
• 4 prunes
• 1/8 tsp of sea salt
• 5 tbs grape seed oil
• 1/2 cup almond milk (might need a little more to thin it to the correct consistency… so add slowly and add more if needed)

Add all ingredients to vitamix blender in the order that they are listed.  First get nuts completely ground, then add everything but the milk… add milk last. Blend and scrape down sides until creamy and smooth.. taste for sweetness, saltiness, and smoothness.  You can adjust maple syrup, salt, oil according… and almond milk will help thin it out.  Enjoy!!