Thick, indulgent, moreish – chocolate spread is for more than just spreading…

At Hotel Chocolat, we see nothing wrong at all in slathering a thin piece of toast with lashings of chocolate spread. And, yes, we all happily go back for seconds. Our favourite spread is heavy on the cocoa, lightish on the sugar. 

We get that chocolate spread is a natural partner to bread or toast or croissant, but our chocolate spread deserves much more than that. We know there’s SO much more you can do with this tasty condinment. Here are our top five uses… 

What is chocolate spread?

Look, we know a spoonful of chocolate spread is the answer to many questions. It’s simple, uncomplicated and heavenly: nuts, cocoa, sugar and an emulsifier. What’s not to love?! Some cheap supermarket versions, though, are stacked with extra preservatives and ingredients you probably can’t spell … and they’re less lovely.

We keep all hidden nasties well away from our recipe. We use real hazelnuts for a mellow, delicate flavour unmatched by anything artificial. We’ve had a lot of fun tinkering with other nuts, too: pecans are stunning with salted caramel in our Pecan & Salted Caramel Chocolate Spread, which we accept we have to share with you.

Chocolate spread started life in Piedmont, Italy, in the post-WW2 years, when Italy faced a cocoa shortage. Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker, came up with an ingenious sweet paste made from hazelnuts that quelled the yearning for chocolate. Unlike the spread we know today, it was completely solid, closer to a marzipan bar.

In 1964, with more cocoa available, chocolate found its natural home alongside the hazelnut paste and the classic chocolate spread started life. There’s been no looking back, with tweaks, innovations and varieties galore stepping up, but the classic spread still holds its crown. 

Is chocolate spread vegan?

We make our chocolate spread with dark chocolate and it’s suitable for vegans. Other versions, though, add milk powder or cream to their spreads, which is very much a vegan no-no. 

Luckily, vegan chocolate spread is easy to find – the high-quality stuff doesn’t need much dairy to taste heavenly. 

Chocolate spread recipes

Let’s get into this. While the delicious cocoa paste tastes amazing smothered on a bagel, a piece of toast or a crumpet for a cheeky snack, we want it to stretch its wings and fly. It has so much to give. Here are five favourite ways to rethink the yummy condiment:

1. Bakes 

Chocolate spread is a great ingredient for bakes because it works whether you’re throwing together a super-schnell yummy or indulging in an afternoon of mindful baking.

You can pull together heavenly biscuits in less than 30 minutes by mixing chocolate spread with a biscuit dough. Or, you could dollop a spoonful on top of one piece of cookie dough and cover it with the remaining dough for a melty, gooey cookie. Chocolate spread brownies also work a treat: fold a few spoonfuls into your batter for an extra moreish bite. 

For something more glam, fold chocolate spread into a buttercream for an indulgent icing or switch out the solid chocolate and replace it with spread for a gloriously gooey cocoa-rich cake.

2. Desserts 

A chocolate spread cheesecake always raises a smile. You could smear it into a roulade or whip it into cream to fill a stack of profiteroles, too. 

But while chocolate spread has a natural home in puds and bakes, it can wow in other desserts, too. Layer it with caramel and salt for a chocolate salted caramel tart, or smudge it into a boozy trifle. You might even want to whisk a little into mascarpone cream for a tiramisu that offers something different.

Or keep it simple and dollop some on top of ice cream, swirl alongside strawberries or serve alongside chopped nuts and dried fruits for a dipping adventure.

3. Health(ier) snacks 

We know chocolate spread isn’t going to win any healthfood prizes, and that’s OK. There are  healthier ways to enjoy it, though: spread on rice cakes or dollop into Greek yoghurt. It also sits beautifully on chopped bananas, sliced apple and orange segments. 

4. Breakfasts

The delightful paste works well on toast, and you can drop a spoonful in your porridge. Take your breakfast game to the next level by adding red berries, sliced banana and a sprinkling of seeds. 

If you are after a carb and cocoa combo, make a chocolate spread sourdough or brioche sandwich, butter the outside and drop the sandwich on a toastie maker until the bread is golden, crisp and the chocolate spread is gloriously melty.

For an uber-indulgent breakfast, warm the paste and drizzle it on waffles, pancakes or French toast. 

5. Beauty

Stay with us! Chocolate spread is divine as a face mask – and no, this isn’t just from our overly enthusiastic chocolatiers. Kate Middleton’s beautician revealed the duchess hydrates and moisturises her face with it. Honestly, it sounds as good an excuse as any. 

We can’t guarantee our chocolate spread will work cosmetic marvels, but the science checks out. After all, dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and has a tonne of health benefits. If you’re prepared to spare a few spoonfuls to fashion your DIY face mask, we certainly won’t judge.