hazelnut chocolate spread

Hazelnut-Chocolate Spread
(adapted from Su Good Sweets)

2 cups of raw hazelnut
1 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of water

Toast the hazelnuts at 350F for about 15 minutes until the skins are dark and the flesh of the nut is light brown. Remove as much of the skin off the hazelnuts as they have a slightly bitter taste.

Melt the sugar in as little water as possible. Use less water if possible.

Pour the hazelnuts into a food processor and grind until you have a thick paste (the makings of hazelnut butter). Add the cocoa powder, sugar syrup, and vanilla. Continue processing until all is blended.

*For a smoother consistency, slowly add oil (walnut oil) or melted butter to the mixture in the food processor.

Makes about 1 1/2 cup of spread.

[I did not melt the sugar and make the syrup originally, so my spread ended up having the grains of sugar in them. I added water and heated up the spread to get rid of the grains after mixing everything and then poured out the water. My spread may have been less sweet because of this, so use less sugar and taste accordingly.]