Super Spreader! A chocolate hazelnut one that is…

This is a spreader you want to be a part of and you will want to spread on everything – it is great on your toast in the morning with your coffee or in the afternoon for a snack. It is fairly easy to make and much more satisfying than what you buy in the store (and has much less oil). Chocolate hazelnut spread is magical...nutty, salty and sweet.

Place the final product in small mason jars and it makes for a very fun holiday gift - to spread the joy of the season. Not the COVID.

Ingredients:

makes 2 cups

• 1 cup hazelnuts

• 12 ounces milk chocolate, chopped

• 2 tablespoons mild vegetable oil, such as canola

• 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3/4 teaspoon salt, more or less depending upon your preference

Preparation:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F

• Spread the hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 12 minutes, until they’ve browned a little and the skins are blistered a little.

• While still warm, wrap the nuts in a tea towel (one that you don’t care about too much) and rub vigorously to remove as much loose skin as possible. Not all the skin will come off, so don’t fret it. Just get a majority off. Skinning the hazelnuts is important, as the skin is tart and will ruin your spread and will make it hard to get a smooth consistency. Let the nuts cool completely.

• Melt the chocolate - either in a saucepan over gently simmering water or in the microwave. Stir until smooth. Let cool completely.

• In a food processor, grind the hazelnuts until they form a paste. It will start to stick to the side so push down before the next step.

• Add the oil, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt and continue processing until the mixture is smooth.

• At this point, the spread will be a little thin and runny but it will thicken as it cools.

• Scrape your super spreader into a jar and let it cool to room temperature.

• Once cooled, cover the container.

• The hazelnut spread will keep on the counter for up to 2 weeks. That seems like a silly amount of time – mine will be consumed in two days! And I like to put mine in the fridge.

Adapted from The Splendid Table