Vegan Nutella with Cashews

Made with toasted cashews, cocoa powder, and dates, this delicious and easy homemade vegan Nutella is going to change your life! Spread over your toast, your muffins, on crackers, use it as a frosting for cakes or cookies - make it your way!

Why will you love this healthy vegan Nutella recipe?

• It is vegan, keto, paleo, low carb, free of artificial sweeteners, gluten free, and super easy to make
• Fast - it only takes 15 minutes to make
• Healthy - loaded with healthy fats, antioxidants, and fiber
• Customizable - you can use any plant-based milk, vanilla, or add melted vegan chocolate to make it creamier
• Satisfying - spread over toast, muffins, use as frosting for cakes and cookies, this vegan Nutella is loaded with fiber and healthy fats and will satisfy your chocolate cravings without food additives, gums and fillers of the store-bought chocolate spreads
• A family favorite - my kids loved this vegan Nutella, it was gone by the third day, the whole jar. I am sure your family, especially your kids, will be asking for it. You will be confident to give this to your kids without worries and knowing that you are giving your family something nutritious, fulfilling, and yummy.

Key ingredients and items you need for the vegan Nutella with cashews

Ingredients

• Raw whole unsalted cashews - the better the quality the better your spread will taste. Try to get organic and pitted ones, otherwise
• Medjool dates pitted - if your dates have seeds, make sure to take the seeds out
• Unsweetened cacao/cocoa powder - the better the quality the better the taste of your spread
• Vanilla extract - use a good quality vanilla extract or a vanilla bean. We used Pure Bourbon Vanilla Extract from Trader Joes and it is very tasty
• Water or almond milk - we used the water where the dates were soaked

Items

• Measuring spoons: 1 tsp, 1/4 tsp
• Measuring cups: 1 cup, and 1/2 cup
• Whisk or mixing spoon
• Food processor
• Baking tray to roast the cashews

What makes this vegan Nutella with cashews "healthy" and what are the nutritious benefits?

This healthy vegan Nutella is loaded with healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants. It is made with natural ingredients including cashews, cocoa powder, and dates. It is also plant based, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, keto, paleo, low carb, and naturally sweetened. Can this be possible? Yes, believe me, it is.

• Health benefits of cashews: cashews have been linked to health benefits such as weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and a healthier heart (1). They are particularly rich in unsaturated fats, low in sugar, a good source of fiber, and contain about the same amount of protein as an equivalent quantity of cooked meat (1, 2, 3, 4). They are also a good source of magnesium, copper, and manganese (1). Cashews are also rich in antioxidants, carotenoids and polyphenols, which help reduce inflammation and help prevent disease.
• Health benefits of unsweetened cocoa powder: cocoa has numerous health benefits including help with inflammation, heart, brain, blood sugar, weight control, teeth, and skin (5). It has high content of iron, fiber, copper, magnesium, manganese, and other minerals. It contains fatty acids that are good for the heart including oleic acid stearic acid, and palmitic acid (5). For maximum health benefits of cocoa, use non-alkalized cocoa powder or dark chocolate with more than 70% cocoa. Chocolate is combined with lots of sugar and fats, so limit store bought chocolate consumption and balance your meals toward the natural foods including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and seeds. A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70 to 85% of cocoa contains (6):
  • 11 grams of fiber
  • 67% of the DV for iron
  • 58% of the DV for magnesium
  • 89% of the DV for copper
  • 98% of the DV for manganese
• Health benefits of Medjool dates: Dates are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are also high in antioxidants, stimulate digestion, may help lower the risk of heart disease, and support heart health, among other benefits. Dates are versatile and you can easily make them part of your diet. You can have them raw, stuffed, in smoothies, or use as natural sweetener in desserts. One serving of dates (2 dates or 48 grams) has (7).
  • Calories: 133
  • Carbs: 36 grams
  • Fiber: 3.2 grams
  • Protein: 0.8 grams
  • Sugar: 32 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Calcium: 2% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Iron: 2% of the DV
  • Potassium: 7% of the DV
  • Copper: 19% of the DV
  • Vitamin B6: 7% of the DV
  • Magnesium: 6% of the DV

How to make vegan Nutella with cashews step by step

1. Cashews - Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Place the cashews in a baking sheet and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes just to warm the natural oils. Stir every 5 minutes. You will know when a bit of oil is visible coating the cashews. Your cashews will look shinier. This will make it easier to blend into butter. Take out of the oven and let them cool down.
2. Dates - Take the seed out of the dates and any hard parts, usually at one end of each date. In a small pan, bring 1 cup of water to boil and soak the dates for about 15 minutes.
3. Cashew butter - Add cashews to a food processor or a high-speed blender. Blend on low until a butter is formed scraping down as needed, about 8-10 minutes total.
4. Add the soaked dates and 1/2 cup of the water where you soaked the dates to the same food processor or strong blender where you have the cashew butter and puree until smooth, scraping down sides as needed.
5. Add cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt, and pulse to combine until smooth, Nutella-like consistency. Enjoy with your favorite snack or breakfast, or by itself with a spoon!
6. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It keeps for about 2 weeks, but I recommend discarding after 5 days.

Useful tips and tricks for a delicious vegan Nutella

• Optional Add-Ins and Variations: vegan chocolate melted would make this recipe a richer chocolate flavor. 1/2 cup of milk can substitute the water.
• Substitutions: The cocoa powder can be substituted by 1/2 to 2/3 cup dairy-free dark chocolate. The cashews can be substituted with hazelnuts, almonds, or any nut you like. Hazelnuts are the typical Italian choice. I will make this spread using hazelnuts soon - because I really want to try it. You can use any nut butter already made. I recommend checking that the ingredients do not have unwanted substances such as sugar, gums, preservatives, food coloring, etc.
• How to serve this vegan Nutella or what to serve it with?
  • Pancakes
  • Toast
  • Crackers
  • Banana bread
  • Waffles
  • On top of fruit
  • Serve with a spoon and enjoy by itself
  • Cupcakes
  • Frosting for cakes or cookies
• How to store this vegan Nutella with cashews? Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It keeps for about two weeks, but I recommend checking for freshness and discard after five days.

More recipes you may like

• Hot Cocoa Vegan Mix
• Healthy Vegan Lemon Curd
• Vegan Mexican Arroz con Leche
• Easy Vanilla Chia Pudding

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