Quick Chickpea Nutella Recipe

If you ask me, chickpea nutella is a game-changing discovery.

This homemade spread brings together the goodness of chickpeas with the chocolate-hazelnut flavor we all know and love. It’s creamy, rich, and surprisingly good for you – perfect for anyone looking to satisfy their sweet tooth with a healthier twist.

The best part? It’s super simple to make with just a few ingredients you might already have in your pantry. A quick whirl in the food processor, and you’ve got a smooth, spreadable treat that tastes just like the real thing.

It’s a family-friendly recipe that makes snack time a little more nutritious without sacrificing any of the fun.

What Kind of Chickpeas Should I Use?

For this chocolate spread, both canned and home-cooked chickpeas will work perfectly fine. If you’re using canned chickpeas, look for low-sodium or no-salt-added varieties so you can better control the saltiness of your final spread. Make sure to drain and rinse the chickpeas well to remove any excess sodium and that slightly metallic taste that can come from the can. If you prefer to cook your own, dried chickpeas need to be soaked overnight and then simmered until they’re very tender – you want them to be soft enough to blend into a creamy consistency. Just remember that 1 cup of dried chickpeas will roughly double in size when cooked.

Options for Substitutions

This healthy chocolate spread can be customized with several ingredient swaps:

• Chickpeas: While chickpeas are the base of this recipe and give it its unique texture, you could use white beans (like cannellini) for an equally creamy result.
• Peanut butter: Not a fan of peanut butter or have allergies? Try almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or cashew butter instead. Each will give a slightly different but equally good flavor.
• Coconut sugar: Regular brown sugar works perfectly here, or try maple syrup or honey (use about 1/3 cup as they’re sweeter). Just note that liquid sweeteners might make the spread slightly thinner.
• Dutch-processed cocoa: Regular unsweetened cocoa powder works too, though the spread might be slightly less rich in color and taste. You’ll want to reduce the salt slightly if using regular cocoa.
• Instant coffee: This ingredient deepens the chocolate flavor, but you can skip it or use 1 tablespoon of strong brewed coffee instead of water in the recipe.
• Olive oil: Any neutral oil like canola or melted coconut oil will work. If using coconut oil, the spread might firm up more when refrigerated.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making chickpea Nutella is achieving that perfectly smooth texture – be sure to blend the chickpeas thoroughly first before adding other ingredients, and scrape down the sides of your food processor several times during blending to avoid grainy chunks.

Adding too much liquid too quickly can make your spread runny, so start with just 2 tablespoons of water and add more only if needed, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.

Temperature matters when working with cocoa powder – if your chickpeas are still warm from cooking, the spread might become too thick, so let them cool completely before blending to prevent this issue.

For the best flavor development, let your finished spread rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours before eating – this allows the coffee and cocoa flavors to fully bloom and creates a thicker, more spreadable consistency.

What to Serve With Chickpea Nutella?

This homemade chocolate spread is super flexible and works great as a healthier alternative to regular chocolate spreads! Spread it thick on warm toast or English muffins for breakfast, or use it as a dip for fresh fruit slices like strawberries, bananas, or apple wedges. It’s also really good sandwiched between graham crackers for a quick snack, or you can stir a spoonful into your morning oatmeal or yogurt bowl. If you’re feeling creative, try using it as a filling for crepes or as a spread for your favorite breakfast pastries.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This homemade chickpea nutella spread stays good in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 7 days. I like to give it a quick stir before each use since the natural oils might separate a bit – totally normal!

Room Temperature: While you can keep it at room temperature for a day or two, I recommend refrigerating it since it contains no preservatives. The spread might thicken up a bit in the fridge, but that’s no problem at all.

Consistency Tips: If your spread becomes too thick after refrigeration, just let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes and give it a good stir. You can also add a splash of plant milk or water (about 1 teaspoon at a time) and mix until you reach your desired consistency.

Preparation Time	5-10 minutes
Cooking Time	0-5 minutes
Total Time	5-15 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 25-30 g
• Fat: 45-50 g
• Carbohydrates: 80-90 g

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil (or any neutral oil like canola oil or avocado oil)
• 1 tsp instant coffee granules
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp smooth peanut butter (I recommend Jif Creamy Peanut Butter)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed very well)
• 2 to 4 tbsp water (adjust to desired consistency)

Step 1: Combine Ingredients

In your food processor or blender, add all the ingredients for the hummus except for the water.

Ensure that everything is in the bowl to make the blending process smooth.

Step 2: Puree the Mixture

Thoroughly puree the ingredients until the mixture is smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

This ensures all the ingredients are fully incorporated and no chunks remain.

Step 3: Adjust Consistency

With the motor running, slowly drizzle in water.

Continue to add water gradually until you reach your desired consistency, ensuring the hummus is creamy and easy to spread.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once your hummus reaches the perfect consistency, it’s ready to use.

Spread it on your favorite bread, use as a dip, or incorporate into other dishes as desired.

Enjoy your homemade, creamy hummus spread!