Homemade Goodness

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Try this homemade version of a family favorite.  Control the quality of chocolate and the sweetness of the spread.  Best of all -- you can actually see and taste bits of hazelnut.

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup semisweet chocolate
1 cup skinned hazelnuts, toasted
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon honey
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Toasted baguette slices
Sliced fruit, such as apples, pears, pineapple and/or bananas

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl and place over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Cool to room temperature.

Grind the nuts in a food processor until pasty (the nuts will be stuck to the sides of work bowl), 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the condensed milk, honey and salt. Blend well, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the cooled chocolate and pulse until combined. Transfer the spread to a small bowl.

Serve with the toasts and sliced fruit.



Cook's Note: 

-The chocolate can also be melted in a microwave. Microwave the chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl in 15-second intervals until the chocolate is very soft. Stir until melted and smooth.

-To toast the hazelnuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 15 to 18 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool completely before using.

Adapted from Giada de Laurentiis