DIY Copycat Nutella Recipe (Featuring Real Vanilla!)

If you've ever dreamed of upgrading your pantry staples with a homemade, truly artisan twist—this is your chance! Today, we're pulling back the curtain on how to craft a lush, chocolatey spread that rivals any store-bought Nutella, but does so much more: it's a celebration of ethical sourcing, Indonesian vanilla, and the farmers who make it all possible. We’ll share the step-by-step process, plus give you the story behind our favorite ingredient—vanilla beans direct from smallholder farms in Karo, Nias, and Aceh, Indonesia.

Why Homemade Nutella with Real Vanilla Beans?

Nutella is delicious, but when made the traditional way, it’s loaded with refined sugar and palm oil, with only a whiff of real vanilla. At Cool Beans Vanilla, we believe the best food is both deeply flavorful and deeply ethical. Our recipe uses organic vanilla beans—not generic "vanilla flavor"—to craft a spread that’s intensely aromatic and layered with complexity. It’s a taste journey that starts on Indonesian family farms and arrives on your breakfast table.

The Story Behind Our Vanilla

Before we get to the mixing, let’s talk about the soul of this spread: vanilla. Through direct relationships, we ensure every bean is grown using sustainable practices with fair compensation for the extraordinary, meticulous work that goes into harvesting, curing, and drying. This isn’t just "fair trade"—it’s Beyond Fair Trade: radically transparent sourcing, small batch production, and a real connection to the land. It’s the only way we’d want you to taste vanilla.

What makes Indonesian vanilla special?

• Bourbon Vanilla Beans from Aceh and Karo: Creamy, sweet, classic flavor, prized by pastry chefs worldwide.
• Tahitian Vanilla Beans (grown in Nias): Florals and fruit—notes of cherry, anise, and tropical flowers.
• Crystallized Vanilla (Vanilla Givre): A rare, intense treat—flavor crystals formed naturally within the bean.

This recipe shines with either Organic Gourmet Bourbon Vanilla Beans or Organic Gourmet Tahitian Vanilla Beans. Each brings a subtle dimension that elevates the chocolate and nuts in a way that only real vanilla can.

DIY Homemade Nutella Recipe: Ethical, Luxurious, Easy

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw hazelnuts (about 240g)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened fair-trade cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or organic cane sugar for a lighter taste)
• 1 whole organic vanilla bean (or 2 tsp vanilla bean paste)
• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
• 2 tbsp hazelnut oil (or coconut oil)
• Optional: 1-2 tbsp oat milk for thinning

Equipment

• Food processor or high-powered blender
• Small sharp knife for splitting the vanilla bean
• Baking sheet, kitchen towel

Step-by-Step: From Bean to Bliss

1. Roast Your Hazelnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Spread hazelnuts on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 12 minutes, shaking once, until skins blister and nuts are golden-brown.

2. Skin the Hazelnuts

Wrap the hot hazelnuts in a clean kitchen towel and rub vigorously—most skins will come off (perfection isn’t essential, but the more skins you remove, the silkier your spread).

3. Infuse with Real Vanilla

1. Use a small, sharp knife to split the vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape out the tiny black seeds—the delicious, aromatic heart of the bean. Save the pod for making vanilla sugar or steeping in tea later (zero waste, full flavor!).
2. Set seeds aside.

4. Make Hazelnut Butter

1. Add skinned hazelnuts to your food processor. Blend for 2 minutes. Scrape down sides.
2. Continue processing until the nuts form a smooth, creamy butter—about 6-8 minutes total. Be patient; it'll turn from gritty paste to nut butter, promise!
3. Add hazelnut oil slowly as you blend; it helps create an ultra-luscious texture.

5. Blend in Chocolate, Sweetener & Vanilla

• Once you’ve got your nut butter, add cocoa powder, coconut sugar, salt, and those precious vanilla seeds.
• Blend for another 2-3 minutes, scraping sides as needed, until everything's silky and unified.
• If the spread’s too thick, add oat milk—a tablespoon at a time—blending after each addition.

Why Quality Vanilla Matters (and How We Source)

We’ve tested this recipe dozens of times, and the difference between real, ethically sourced vanilla and "vanilla extract" is night and day. Our vanilla beans spend months developing their flavor—first under the Indonesian sun, cured by skilled hands in small batches, and finally dried and packed fresh. Using our Organic Gourmet Tahitian Vanilla Beans, you’ll notice intoxicating fruit and floral notes, while our Bourbon beans give a buttery softness that makes your chocolate spread taste like a true confection.

Tips for the Silk-Smooth, Balanced Spread

• Use fresh, high-oil-content hazelnuts. As farmers in Nias taught us, fresher nuts = more flavor and better texture.
• Grind your sugar first if it’s coarse – this helps your spread become silkier.
• Keep your vanilla pod – drop it in a jar with extra sugar to make homemade vanilla sugar for future baking!
• Customize sweetness or chocolate intensity – add more cocoa or sugar after tasting if you want a deep chocolate punch or a lighter dessert.

Storage & Unique Ways to Enjoy

• Store in a clean glass jar—refrigerate for up to 3 weeks, or keep at room temp for softer spread (consume within a few days at room temp).
• Spread on sourdough, swirl into oatmeal, dip fresh strawberries, or pipe into filled pastries.
• Try baking a vanilla-hazelnut babka, using your homemade spread as the filling—you’ll never go back!

Beyond the Recipe: What Makes This Chocolate Spread Ethical?

Every ingredient matters—not just for your taste buds, but for a better world. Our farmers in Indonesia do more than just grow vanilla; they regenerate their communities, protect rainforests, and build a legacy. We pay a premium above fair-trade, making sure every dollar goes toward education, training, and clean water. You’re making an impact with every spoonful.

• No palm oil—just pure hazelnuts, chocolate, and real vanilla.
• Direct-sourced vanilla—traceable from Indonesian farm to your kitchen.
• Support for small growers—helping families remain on their land and sustain local economies.

FAQs: Making Your Spread Truly Your Own

• Can I use other nuts? Absolutely! Almonds and cashews work well (or try a blend for depth).
• How do I make this sugar-free? Swap coconut sugar for a natural, zero-calorie sweetener (like monk fruit) in equal measure.
• Can I use Cool Beans Vanilla Paste instead of a bean? Yes! Our Organic Tahitian Vanilla Paste or Organic Bourbon Vanilla Paste deliver full flavor with zero fuss.

  

• Is it vegan/gluten free? Yes, this recipe is naturally vegan and gluten free (just check your cocoa powder source).

A Note From Our Founders: Why We Love Sharing Recipes Like This

We built Cool Beans Vanilla on the belief that food is more than nourishment. It’s a connection—to our families, to the farmers we've come to know by name, to the land itself. When we share a recipe, we’re opening up the journey—from Indonesia’s volcano-lined hills to your breakfast table. Thank you for cooking—and caring—with us.

Ready to Try (and Share) This Recipe?

We hope you’ll fall in love with this ethical, homemade Nutella as much as we have. If you’re ready to try the ultimate kitchen upgrade—make sure to check out our Organic Bourbon Vanilla Beans or Tahitian Vanilla Beans for that real, direct-from-Indonesia magic.

Got a question, a twist on the recipe, or just a photo of your chocolatey masterpiece? Leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram—your stories inspire us as much as the growers in Karo or the sunsets over Aceh. And if you want to explore more on the true art (and ethics) of vanilla, visit our store for recipes, sourcing stories, and the full range of single-origin vanilla products. Let's keep spreading real joy—one jar at a time.