Nuts for Nutella Cheesecake

Our answer

Nigella's Nutella Cheesecake (from Nigellissima) is based on Nutella, a chocolate and hazelnut spread. if you are allergic to hazelnuts then unfortunately there isn't an alternative ingredient. If you can't find chopped toasted hazelnuts then it is relatively easy to make your own.

Toast whole hazelnuts in an oven preheated to 180c/350F for 8 to 10 minutes, until the nuts are starting to turn golden brown. If the nuts still have their skins on then you can remove the skins by rubbing the warm toasted nuts in a damp tea towel. Chop the nuts either in a food processor, but do this carefully in pulses so that the nuts don't get oily, or put the nuts in clean, dry tea towel and tap with a mallet or rolling pin to break them into small pieces.

If whole hazelnuts aren't available then you could probably use chopped, toasted (but unsalted) peanuts, though the flavour won't be quite the same.