Usually when we think of nutella, we think of chocolate spread made from hazelnuts, right?  

Well, I made this recipe when I made my pumpkin cinnamon cashew butter and what I was going for was a restorative gut-health chocolate cashew butter.  However, the end result consistency and surprising flavor turned out to be very similar to Nutella. 

So this recipe was indeed created on accident, and from it came an alternative nutella spread made with raw cashews (even though you could probably substitute hazelnuts for cashews at same ingredient proportions).

Compared to regular Nutella, this version has no added processed sugars, artificial flavors, genetically modified ingredients, or other highly processed ingredients.  I discuss some of those here.

There are two versions to this recipe.

Version 1:  the regular recipe

Version 2:  regular recipe + immune and gastrointestinal support ingredients.

I’ve been experimenting with different adaptogenic herbs and other nutraceuticals from my clinical supplement line so that I can create and take recipes to another level not only with healthy alternative ingredient options and taste, but also amazing added health benefits on a cellular level.  A lot of the people I work with have a wide-range of chronic conditions and are, for lack of a better word, “starving” on a cellular level.  So there is a necessity for the added beneficial nutrients to help rehabilitate their body internally. 

Also, I have found that in order to maximize motivation for anyone on a specific protocol I may give them, foods need to taste GOOD so they complete protocol and ultimately adhere to a healthy, sustainable lifestyle long term.  Food shouldn’t be bland and boring for a healthy sustainable lifestyle…I’m a foodie, so I get the importance of taste & flavor.

The regular recipe is paleo and vegan-friendly, gluten-free and dairy free. 

The restorative recipe contains glycomacropeptide whey, so it’s not vegan or dairy-free, and technically it’s not paleo.

You can try either one.  Both are delicious!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups raw cashews (soaked)

1 tablespoon coconut milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon pink salt (also great for gut health*)

2 tablespoons raw cacao powder

Optional:  1 tablespoon coconut nectar or maple butter if you want more sweet (I recommend doing at the end after you’ve tasted final product)

Restorative Immune & Gut-Health Ingredients:

2 tablespoons low heat/processed, glycomacropeptide grass-fed whey (immune boosting properties**)

2 tablespoons galactan (gastrointestinal and immune boosting properties…think of this like the “food” for your healthy gut bacteria)

Note: links above are to products and brands I approve and personally use

Directions:

1. Soak your raw cashews for 3-4 hours in clean water. Remove from water and dry (I use a colander)

2. Add cashews to blender with your coconut milk and blend.  I stop and start it a few times using a spatula each time to scrape down the sides.  Blend until cashews start to become smooth (it may take a few minutes).

3. Add your other ingredients, including restorative ingredients if you use them.  Note: the combination of the whey and galactan gave it more of that nutella texture and taste. Blend until all ingredients mixed in, again using spatula for the sides if necessary.  Once done give it a taste..if it needs more sweet, blend in the optional 1 tablespoon coconut nectar or maple butter (you can even do 1/2 tablespoon first to see if that does the trick).

4. Simple as that. I store mine in a glass jar, refrigerated.

I made version 2 of the recipe and surprisingly, tastes pretty darn close to nutella for me.  The added whey and galactan I believe is what did it.  Worst case if you do version 1 and it doesn’t taste like nutella, you’ve got yourself some amazing raw chocolate cashew butter spread made with real food ingredients to nourish your cells.

Enjoy!

*pink salt aids in HCL (hydrochloric acid) production in the gut, the acid we need to break down foods like proteins and fats for digestion.  I use pink salt daily for salting any foods that need it.

**Glycomacropeptides, or GMPs, are peptides that occur in the whey which are high in BCAAs (branched chain amino acids).  Whey protein with high GMPs have been shown to be beneficial for weight loss, improved digestion, intestinal flora, and reducing allergies and hypersensitivities.  Also, higher quality glycomacropeptide whey protein is good source for people who can’t metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine.  High quality whey proteins have a higher percentage of GMPs so that’s one way to tell if your protein is quality.  Much more of the research can be found on GMPs here.