Hazelnut Chickpea Chocolate Spread Recipes

VITAMIX CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• 2. Place hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until the skins are almost black and the meat is dark brown, about 15 minutes. Stir the nuts halfway through baking to ensure an even color.
• 3. To remove skins, wrap cooled hazelnuts in a clean kitchen towel. Rub until most of the skins come off.
• 4. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• 5. Combine sugar and water in a 3 to 4 cup (720-960 ml) saucepan. Cover and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Remove the lid and wipe down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush or a scrunched-up paper towel dipped in water. Cover and cook for 2 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Uncover and cook until the syrup looks like pale amber maple syrup.
• 6. Immediately pour the caramel onto the lined baking sheet. Tilt the sheet to spread the caramel as thinly as possible. Let harden completely, about 15 minutes.
• 7. Break cooled caramel into small pieces and place into the Vitamix container and secure lid.
• 8. Select Variable 1.
• 9. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 5.
• 10. Blend for 15 seconds. Stop machine and remove lid.
• 11. Add the nuts to the Vitamix container and secure lid.
• 12. Select Variable 1.
• 13. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
• 14. Blend for 1 minute, using the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades. Stop machine and remove lid to scrape down the sides. Continue blending until nuts are free flowing.
• 15. Add remaining ingredients to the Vitamix container and secure lid.
• 16. Select Variable 1.
• 17. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
• 18. Blend for 2 minutes using the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades.

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• 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.

HAZELNUT-CHICKPEA-CHOCOLATE SPREAD

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the hazelnuts until they form a fine meal. Add the chickpeas and process until combined. Add the coconut sugar, cocoa powder, oil, vanilla and 1/4 cup water and process until smooth.
• Serve the spread with strawberries, pretzels and/or graham crackers.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SPREAD WITH CREPES

Steps:

• In a food processor, grind the hazelnuts into a paste. Add the oil, sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla and continue processing. Add the melted chocolate and blend well. Strain the mixture through a fine strainer to remove any large grains of nuts. The mixture will be thin and a little warm. Pour into a jar to let cool and thicken slightly. Keeps 1 month, covered, at room temperature.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Whisk in the salt, granulated sugar, and flour. Set aside for 30 minutes, if you have got the time. In a nonstick 8 to 10-inch omelet pan, melt about 1/2 teaspoon butter over medium heat. When it foams, pour or ladle in about 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) batter. Lift and swirl the pan so the batter coats the bottom. Replace the pan on the burner and cook just until set and the underside is lightly browned. Using a spatula or your fingers, flip the crepe, and cook until the other side is lightly browned. Transfer to a platter. Repeat until the batter is used up.
• One by one, spread each crepe with a thin layer of the chocolate hazelnut spread, then some banana slices, and roll up like a cigar or fold into quarters. Place 2 crepes on each of 4 serving plates. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.
• Notes about the recipe: While in Italy we discovered Nutella, a chocolate hazelnut spread that comes in a jar like peanut butter. We can't get enough of it but also have trouble finding it. So I figured out how to make my own! This recipe makes more hazelnut spread than you need but it keeps and is great to spread on toast, inside croissants or on brioche. I've even caught family members just spreading it on a banana as they peel it down, one schmear per bite.