Nutella VS. ZENutella
Guess what! Today is World Nutella Day 2008!
Meaning you are supposed to indulge, indulge and indulge again. World Nutella Day celebration was started by bloggers a few years ago and has been gaining momentum and quite a bit of buzz ever since. It is also quite boring. So i thought instead of following trends – which i don’t like to do – why don’t we try to end Nutella’s world domination instead? Yes, i mean starting a rebellion and taking over the hazelnut-cocoa world just for fun. A gluttony coup.
Don’t get me wrong, i love the stuff. I grew up on it. Nutella is so imprinted in my genes i suspect it is written on my medical record somewhere a Nutella intravenous would resurrect me. But Nutella ain’t the same it used to be, though. For obvious rea$on$ the corporate giant has changed the recipe over the years. Reading the ingredient list makes you wonder what happened to the hazelnut-cocoa spread – sugar, palm oil and artificial flavorings have taken the place of nuts and chocolate as prime ingredients. Yes, they do manage to make it taste ‘almost’ the same but they won’t fool the ‘old Zen’ discerning palate – Nutella ain’t the same it was 10 years ago.
The same thing happened with Coke. The American version is now sweetened with high fructose corn syrup because it’s cheaper. No need to wonder why everyone’s ass is becoming like hot air balloons (have you seen the Coke commercial during the Superbowl? It’s subliminal i’m telling you… hot air balloons! You can watch it here but you have to promise to come back) Have a sip of Mexican Coke instead – which is sweetened with pure sugar cane – and you’ll quickly realize: this is what Coca-Cola is supposed to taste like.
Therefore, i encourage you to join the Dark side and make your own Nutella at home. It’s easy as long as you own a food processor, the washing machine just doesn’t work as well. It takes about 10 minutes to make and it will keep for up to two months in the fridge. And the important part is: it does taste like a real hazelnut-cocoa spread! Try it and decide who wins the battle, Nutella VS. Zenutella.
ZENutella-
2 cups hazelnuts, skinned and toasted (don’t use the ones with the skin as they will give a bitter taste)
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1/3 cup cocoa powder
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3/4 cup powdered sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1/8 teaspoon salt
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2 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil
____________
- In the bowl of the mixer, place the hazelnuts and process until they release their oil and liquify. About 4 minutes.
- Add the cocoa powder, the powdered sugar, the vanilla extract and the salt and keep processing for another minute.
- Add the oil and mix until you obtain a smooth consistency. (Note that only a commercial food processor will achieve a perfectly smooth consistency. No big deal, it’s delicious either way!)
- Zenutella benefits from a night in the fridge. It will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to two months.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:13 am
oh holy jebus. YUM. Depending on my mood, I find Nutella a bit sweet. I like to whiz together hazelnuts and honey for a nice second.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:32 am
NOOOOO! Now you tell me! It’s after midnight…do you think I can still celebrate? I’m thinking of pouring (?) Nutella all over my body, and having someone lick it off.
Just kidding. And hey…YOU WROTE THAT ‘Zen’ with a pen, right on the label, didn’t you!!
xo
J.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:56 am
I do love Nutella. I’m sure it was better 10 years ago.
I would love to try making it at home, however, we don’t have hazelnuts here. Only at Christmas.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
That looks just like Nutella! You will not be able to convince me that you cheated and just spooned the usual hydrogenated palm oiltella onto the plate
kidding!
Man, I’d try to make it, too, if I had a food processor (and not just a blender) and if buying 2 cups of hazelnuts would end up costing a lot, lot more
February 6th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I LOVE nutella so much. On a lazy day I’ll usually just sit on the couch with a spoonful of the stuff licking it off while watching a movie. Sometimes I’ll get two spoons—one with peanut butter and one with nutella and alternate the licking. A perfect afternoon in my book…
I remember making a recipe like this when I was in school, although I never paid much attention in that class (artisan chocolate confections). I do remember that it got really hard if you didn’t eat it right away making it difficult to link off a spoon–but it was still delicious!
February 6th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Do you realize how dangerous it is to post something like this? Do you?
February 6th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I am nutella- holic!whih I usually spread on my brown bread .I love em so much and its the only reason why I am missing breads since now I can’t eat them.Thanks for this recipe.
)
BTW ,Nice pictures Zen , you are good at snapping photos + making us laugh
February 7th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Colleen! This one is not as sweet as the commercial version. That’s why it’s better!
Julie. hahahaha. I won’t comment on the ‘licking it off’ part. hahahaha. Yes the ZE was added by me!
Emiline. Check your supermarket. They often sell vacuum-packed hazelnuts. Ready to go!
Manggy. This recipe looks just like Nutella but only taste better. It’s the real deal! Better food cost more for sure.
Alejandra. Wait! I just had a visual! hahaha. This one doesn’t get so hard after being in the fridge. It’s just right!
Brilynn. You think i could be kidnapped by spies for opening my big mouth? …. Cool! hehe
Thank you Azazura! I’m trying! I think i broke a rib trying to get the perfect angle on a shot.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Are you secretly plotting to dominate the world by turning everybody into fatties? Are you?
February 7th, 2008 at 1:17 am
u should commercialize this zenutella…! u will become instant millionnaire!
February 7th, 2008 at 1:42 am
I’m one of the boring Nutella celebraters infiltrating your blog! Your homemade Nutella does look really good. But I was a Nutella virgin! I had to try it! ; )
February 7th, 2008 at 10:11 am
oh yay! Nutella day! Lovely home-made recipe of nutella.. looks slightly healthier than the store version.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Looks like you’re giving them a run for their money! It looks wonderful!!
February 7th, 2008 at 11:55 am
oh geeezzz…god bless you, man!! (Now I understand why i like the cokes in Mexico…it alllll makes sense now….)
February 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I gotta try this, Zen!!!!!
My jeans will never fit me again, I can tell.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
So when should I expect to see zentella in my supermarket?
February 7th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Nutella? Serious? That’s like European Cheez Whiz.
All due respect.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
The bottle label is cleverly nuts- hahaha- it really got me reading. I love it! The Coca Cola story is so true. Hands down on those home- made spreads, tastes a lot better, I agree
ZENutella + bananas + crepe… why didn’t I think of this before? Thanks for the idea!
February 8th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
We have two big jars of Nutella in our pantry that we recently purchased at Costco.
Strange side note, I HATE hazelnuts and yet, I like Nutella. Go figure!
February 8th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
hey!nutella with crepe and banana is my favourite.
February 8th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Emril has nothing on you on kicking it up a notch.
The coke here in Barbados tastes different than the coke in Guyana too. The one in Guyana tastes better.
February 9th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Gosh yet a creativer hazelnut paste that myself cant resist thank you for the recipe!
February 9th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I have never made any food with Nutella…sad.
February 9th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Man, I know exactly what you’re talking about with Coke.
The bottled Coke I drank in Iraq blows its American counterpart away.
Conversely, the bottle of Coke I drank in Ireland on the way to Iraq tasted like carbonated piss.
Was it a bad bottle? Maybe, but developing nations know how to make an f’ing soft drink.
In other news, have you ever tried Moxey? It makes Mainers mighty. I’m a Mainer by birth and blood, Moxey tastes like crap. I recommend trying it, but get some friends to try it with you, otherwise you’ll waste the rest of the bottle. One sip is all it takes.
I realize I didn’t dig into the meat of this post. Nutella is awesome.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Oh man that looks goood. I want some all melty in a crepe for brekkie. Since I live in Oregon I can get hazelnuts anywhere.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Cynthia. I taught Emeril everything he knows. Just kidding!
Big boys oven. Thanks. Let me know what you think.
Rasa Malaysia. It’s never too late!
Ryan. Yup the big corporation have been feeding us crap for a long time. Whatever cost less they’ll give you. Sad!
Heather. Crepes and Nutella sound like a nice brekkie! Oregon has lots of hazelnuts? Cool. I’m learning something new everyday with this blogging thing!
February 15th, 2008 at 2:13 am
I hear ya on how commercialization has degraded the quality of certain products overall. I always think Coke in India tasted better than Coke in US. And, yes we just got our hands on Mexican Coke last month & could not believe the taste. I can just tell from this combination that ZENuttella is so much better (esp. without all the artificial crapp!)…no more Nutella buying for me…am using your recipe!
February 18th, 2008 at 6:47 am
J’opte pour le ZEN !
February 18th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Heheheh! Made my own once, kinda fun but I just love tearing that gold seal to shreds! Nutella and brioche is my favorite treat!
February 29th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Oh my! It’s like you read my mind; I was looking for my old recipe book just few days ago, for a similar recipe that I used to make, and couldn’t find it
I will try this soon, thank you!
February 29th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Great post! Love the idea. It’s such a no brainer…why aren’t we all making out own Nutella at home?!
February 29th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
This is soooooo great! I love Nutella, but don’t buy it because of all the junk they put in it now. You’ve solved a great dilemma in life! Thanks for recipe. I’ll be making it soon.
BTW, Mexican coke often has aspartame and other artificial sweeteners now, not just sugar. It might depend on fountain, vs. bottle, vs. can, but I know I’ve seen the junk on the regular coke label, not just diet. Boohoo…
February 29th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
This is amazing!
February 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
hi there! what a tasty-looking recipe i will have to try it! i wanted to also share this hazelnut spread i get at whole foods that’s free of hydrogenated oil and other nasty things and extremely yummy! its by Loacker. http://www.loacker.com/1293d1308.html
February 29th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
yyyyyyyyyuuuuuuuuummmmmmmm
cant wait to try it….
February 29th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Making your own nutella sounds like great fun!
February 29th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Holy hazelnuts! This is gonna be dangerous. But in a very nice way. Thanks for sharing this!
March 1st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I SO agree with you that Nutella tastes different now. It used to taste like baby chocolate cream, now it tastes like ass out of a jar. Hmph. Well you’ve saved my life by posting this recipe. I love you. How ever can I repay you???
March 9th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
ummm i tried this, it came out so lumpy, what did i do wrong?
can i just put it back in the food processor for a while or something
April 20th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I was SO happy to come across this recipe — I love Nutella but hate that they put all that junk in it. I will definitely be making this — thanks!!
May 30th, 2008 at 3:57 am
Yum – Nutella
Double yum – Zenutella!
I’m tempted to freak my local supermarket out tomorrow and ask them why they don’t stock Zenutella…
September 27th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Zen, I more or less made this. Kind of… I’ve used peanuts and brown sugar, and more coco and… now that I think of it it has not much to do with it, lol… Anyway… I’ve called it Peanutella! And man that was good! Thanks for the inspiration!
October 8th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Question: what if i don’t have a food processor? Any way a blender could work?!?!
April 11th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
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