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This recipe is simple to make in a high-speed blender or a food processor and it’s the perfect nut-free Nutella substitute. Whether you have nut allergies or your school requires nut-free lunches, this recipe is one that won’t last long.
Nut-Free Chocolate Spread
Let’s get to today’s sunflower chocolate spread. This recipe is sure to be an instant hit with your kids. Just a few simple ingredients but it makes a delicious, spreadable treat!
Similar to the chocolate spread we all know and love, but made instead with sunflower seeds instead of hazelnuts and no refined sugar. It can be used in many ways, but is especially good spread on a slice of toasted whole wheat bread and topped with fresh fruit.
Thanks to the sunflower seeds this chocolate spread has protein, vitamin E, selenium, and magnesium and don’t get me started on the health benefits of unsweetened cocoa powder!
While we’re talking about going nut-free, you have to check out this video and blog post I did, comparing the top 5 peanut butter substitutes.
See which one is the best, and which ones don’t spread quite as easy, plus tips on where to buy them if you don’t want to make your own. Those can be so hard to find!
Ingredients
This Nut-Free Nutella Recipe is made with sunflower seeds and everyday staples. You’ll find the amounts are in the printable recipe card, but first, check what you’ll need:
- Raw sunflower seeds: toast them in a pan for a few minutes.
- Vanilla extract: super delicious when you combine it with cocoa!
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: it must have some chocolate!
- Maple syrup or honey: the sweetness this nut-free butter needs.
- Salt: to enhance the flavors.
- Coconut oil: makes the spread smoother.
- Milk: any dairy or non-dairy milk.
How to Make Chocolate Sunflower Butter
You will need a food processor to cream the sunflower seeds into a buttery texture. If you don’t have one, this recipe alone will be the excuse you’ll need to buy yourself one!
- Process the sunflower seeds
After a few minutes of processing the sunflower seeds they will turn into a thick creamy sunflower butter. - Add the remaining ingredients
Once the sunflower seeds are processed add the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, maple syrup or honey, salt, coconut oil, and nut-free milk. - Blend until smooth
Blend the mixture until it reaches a smooth and creamy texture. - Time to eat!
Now we are ready to use this sunflower Nutella with our favorite foods! Spread it over toast, in a sandwich, with fresh fruit or on this incredible grilled nutella sandwich. Transfer the extra from the food processor bowl into an airtight container or jar.
How to Use Nut-Free Nutella
You can use this sunflower seed Nutella in so many ways and all of them are delicious! From an irresistible strawberry Nutella sandwich to my homemade S’mores poptarts, it’s hard to decide! Well, you don’t have to!
My kids also love spreading this nut-free Nutella over toast, making apple sandwiches, and often asking me to use it to fill my homemade uncrustables.
Nut-Free Nutella
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw sunflower seeds, toasted
- 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons coconut oil
- ½ cup milk, dairy or non-dairy
Instructions
Toast the seeds:
- In a medium non-stick pan, over medium-high heat, toast sunflower seeds, while stirring frequently to avoid burning. Remove from heat and allow sunflower seeds to cool to room temperature before the next step.
Make the spread:
- In the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender, process toasted sunflower seeds, stopping intermittently to scrape down the sides of the bowl, for 3 to 5 minutes, until the seeds have turned into a thick, creamy butter.
- Add in remaining ingredients and blend for an additional 4-5 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides from time to time, until smooth and creamy.
Store:
- Store in an airtight container up to two weeks in the fridge.
Jack says
is there any way to make these without hazelnuts or sunflower seeds?
MOMables says
you can use peanuts instead.
Gabrielle says
Hi, I make this all the time and love it. I’ve just made some more but it went grainy, could it be the milk powder I added instead of milk? Do u think it can be rescued? Thank you
Gabrielle
MOMables says
yes, definitely the milk powder. it needs a little extra liquid. did you add water to save it?
Brooke says
Planning to make this today, but my sunflower seeds are roasted. Do I need to toast them at all?
MOMables says
They should be fine.
Nat says
This is a favourite in our house! I’ve made it several times now, and it never lasts long enough to go bad.
I try to avoid processed foods, additives, preservatives and excess sugar/ salt, so knowing what exactly is in this spread appeals.
My four kids (aged from 5 to 9) and my hubby all like this, and for me it is chocolatey enough to satisfy my chocolate “needs”!!
Of course it doesn’t taste just like Nutella, because it isn’t. But, like anything, your taste buds adjust. My family call it Chocolate Spread, so that is what it is :-)
Thanks so much for a great recipe!
Elizabeth says
FINALLY made this today (I bought the sunflower seeds about 6 months ago!) Although I didn’t get quite the smooth texture I was looking for, I would attribute this either to my toasting time or my processor. It certainly was smooth enough for my texture driven son to proclaim he liked it :) Also, my first impression was that it wasn’t sweet enough (of course, it isn’t loaded with sweeteners) but I’m holding off before adding anything unless someone actually complains. I think my taste buds will quickly adjust. All in all, I’m really happy I tried this, and I’m sure I’ll be making it again! My son is thrilled because he loves graham crackers with Sun Butter and Nutella and now he can finally take some to school. Thanks for another winning recipe.
MOMables says
I’m so glad this was a winning recipe!!
Mary says
i tried this yesterday and it wasn’t a big success. It’s thick and dull (not glossy like the photo) and doesn’t taste chocolatey at all, it just tastes like sunflower seeds.
MOMables says
Mary, did you toast your sunflower seeds? Also, you might have to add a little additional oil to make it smoother. nut butters are not an exact science since the age of the seeds/nuts can alter the amount of natural oils.
Mary says
I toasted them but maybe not enough? I’m going to give it another try as it would be good to have an alternative to the nut-free butter I send to school. It also has lot of quick snack possibilities.
MOMables says
if it’s not smooth enough, add a little coconut oil to smooth it out. enjoy!
Georgina says
I know I’m a bit late coming to this party but my son was just diagnosed with a hazelnut allergy on top of his peanut allergy… Bye bye Nutella
May says
Hello dear, Im planning to try this recipe… but maple syrup is really expensive here in our place… can i use corn syrup instead? :)
MOMables says
could you use honey instead? it’s cheaper. I am not a fan of corn syrup.
May says
thanks thanks! is it also possible if i’ll substitute melted butter to your veg oil? wondering if the spread will last as long yours…. :)
MOMables says
I’ve never tried it with butter.
Petra says
Thank you so much for this recipe. I made it tonight and it is so delicious! My 4 y/o is allergic to nuts and his sisters love nutella so I figured this would be perfect. The girls love this nut free version, so do I. The boy, who is the main reason we tried this, said: That is gross, Mom.
:(
Me and the girls will still enjoy our chocolatey treat
Rachel says
I ordered the Bob’s Red Mill sunflower seeds but the label says they are processed on machines that also process tree nuts. :-( so we will have to sub Sunbutter I guess.
KeeleyMcGuire says
Hi Rachel, Bob’s has tree nut, wheat, soy, & dairy warnings – try GERBS for allergy free seeds.