Another Healthy Sweet?
If you checked our last week’s recipe and post you know that we are a huge fan of Nutella. And with no oil and no sugar, our homemade version keeps that delicious chocolate hazelnut flavor but with much better nutritional content. Win.
So with all the leftover hazelnuts, we thought we’d make a healthier version of another of our guilty pleasures – Ferrero Rocher. There’s just something about roasted hazelnuts that makes those treats that much better than the rest. And knowing that hazelnuts are actually good for you due to their fat profile and vitamin E content you can see why we love them so much.
Healthy Ferrero Treats Nutritional Stuff
The ingredients for this recipe are obviously similar to the Healthy Nutella, however without any milk as we are trying to achieve a more solid consistency.
Hazelnuts are filled with good fats and are also a source of copper, manganese, and the antioxidant, vitamin E.
Raw cocoa contains powerful antioxidants (catechins) and is also a great source of magnesium and more copper.
As a sweetener, use either honey, agave, or maple syrup (no honey for under 1-year-olds though). These are all much better than sugar, containing significantly lower glucose content, meaning they don’t spike your blood sugar nearly as much. Honey also has antimicrobial effects as well as containing antioxidants.
Healthy Ferrero Treats Preparation tips
Roasting the hazelnuts in advance makes a big difference to this recipe, as does peeling the skins off – if left on, they can add a slightly bitter taste that you’d rather avoid.
The trick for this recipe, however, is not to over-process the hazelnuts. You want to stop before they release all their fats as this will otherwise result in a final product that’s a little too oily. If they are, try putting them in the fridge for 5-10 mins before rolling so they can firm up.
As a sweetener, feel free to use whatever you prefer between agave syrup, honey, maple syrup, or even dates.
Finally, to finish them off, you can use ground hazelnuts, cocoa powder, poppy seeds, coconut or whatever you prefer! This is also a good way to get your children (who are old enough) to enjoy making them with you, and to choose their own toppings.
We hope you enjoyed this recipe and tag us on Instagram at @creative_nourish. Let us know what you think worked the best!
Healthy Ferrero Treats
Ingredients
- 5 oz hazelnuts (roasted)
- 2.5 tbsp raw cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp sweetener (honey, agava syrup, maple syrup, dates)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- additional ground hazelnuts, cocoa powder, poppy seeds, or coconut to roll the balls in
Instructions
- Roast the hazelnuts for 15 mins at 180°C / 360°F
- Once roasted, allow to cool and peel off the skin by rubbing them between your palms or in a towel
- Blend into hazelnut meal
- Add the cocoa, sweetener, and vanilla and mix until smooth
- Shape the balls and roll in topping of choice
Video
Nutrition
Healthy Nutella