Nutella is one of those spreads that vegans and non-vegans dream about. There’s something about that nutty, sweet and chocolatey flavor that makes whatever you put it on spectacular. However, as you probably know already…Nutella is neither vegan nor healthy. BUT I stumbled upon this alternative at Expo West that tastes exactly like the infamous treat. Read on to find out what it is and how to make this delicious shake with Coconut and Vegan Nutella plus some protein for good measure.

GoLo Foods makes this incredible Dark Hazelnut Spread and not only is it vegan, but it’s also gluten-free, paleo and sugar free so anyone can enjoy it! In this shake I also used my favorite chocolate coconut milk lately from Rebel Kitchen, which is making its way to the United States! If for whatever reason you don’t have chocolate non-dairy milk on hand, you can also use your favorite milk alternative and add some cacao powder. If you’re going for a completely sugar-free recipe here, that’s totally do-able. All you need is an unsweetened non-dairy milk, because the protein and cacao powder will be naturally lower in sugar. Oh, and don’t forget the GoLo Dark Hazelnut Spread because that’s the star of the shake!

Also in this shake, I used one of my go-to proteins, the Chocolate Power from Growing Naturals. This protein is awesome because it boosts 24g of plant-based protein per scoop and it gives the drink a milkshake-like consistency. To give it a true milkshake flavor, I also added some maca and mesquite powder from Sunfood. The powders have become a staple for me, because they turn any smoothie into a sweet dessert (especially if you’re using cacao in there too). As an added benefit, the products from Sunfood help with regulating hormones, balancing energy, and providing nutrients like fiber, iron, potassium and other vitamins.

So, if this shake sounds amazing to you (which is should), get yourself some Dark Hazelnut Spread from GoLo foods. It only takes a little in this recipe to add a lot of flavor, and besides…who doesn’t want to have vegan (and diet-friendly) Nutella in their cupboards?

A big thanks to GoLo Foods, Growing Naturals, Rebel Kitchen and Sunfood for these samples that I was provided over time (and have been stockpiling for special recipes like this). Let me know if you get to try this shake or these products on their own and what you think!