A jar of Nutella sitting in your pantry is basically a promise of good things to come. That glossy chocolate-hazelnut spread turns plain pancakes into something worth getting out of bed for, and it can just as easily become the heart of a fudgy brownie or a silky no-bake cheesecake. For home bakers, Nutella works as both a shortcut and a flavor booster, smoothing out texture while adding that deep roasted-hazelnut richness you can’t get from cocoa powder alone.
This collection pulls together the recipes worth keeping on repeat, from breakfast staples like crepes and French toast to showstopper desserts like hazelnut tart and tiramisu cups. Some take ten minutes and a microwave. Others ask for a little patience and a rolling pin. Either way, you’re covered for weeknight cravings and weekend baking projects alike.
Quick picks:
- Best for beginners: Nutella Mug Cake, ready in about five minutes
- Best for a crowd: Nutella Brownies, easy to slice and share
- Best make-ahead dessert: No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake, needs chill time but no oven
- Best breakfast upgrade: Nutella-Stuffed French Toast, turns basic bread into a weekend treat
1. Nutella Brownies
Fudgy Nutella brownies need just a handful of ingredients and bake up dense and glossy on top. Whisk 1 cup Nutella with 2 eggs, fold in ½ cup flour and a pinch of salt, then pour into a greased 8×8 pan. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. The batter is thick, almost like fudge, so don’t worry if it looks heavier than a normal brownie mix. For a chocolate-forward spin, check the decadent 3 ingredient Nutella brownies for a stripped-down version that proves simple can still taste rich.
2. Nutella-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies hide a spoonful of Nutella inside a classic chocolate chip dough for a molten center. Make your favorite cookie dough (about 2 tablespoons per cookie), flatten it, add ½ teaspoon Nutella, then seal the dough around it. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. The edges turn golden while the middle stays gooey and warm. Let them cool for a few minutes before biting in, since the filling holds heat.
3. Nutella Crepes
Thin, delicate crepes filled with Nutella make a cafe-style breakfast you can pull off at home. Blend 1 cup flour, 1½ cups milk, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Cook each crepe in a lightly buttered skillet over medium heat for about 1 minute per side. Spread warm crepes with Nutella, fold into quarters, and add sliced strawberries or bananas on top.
4. Nutella Mug Cake
A Nutella mug cake is the fastest way to satisfy a chocolate craving without turning on the oven. Stir 4 tablespoons Nutella, 1 egg, and 3 tablespoons flour in a mug until smooth. Microwave for 60-90 seconds, checking at 60 to avoid overcooking. The center stays soft and pudding-like, almost like a lava cake. Eat it straight from the mug with a spoon while it’s still warm.
5. No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake
This chilled cheesecake gets its richness from Nutella folded right into the cream cheese filling. Beat 16 oz cream cheese with 1 cup Nutella and 1 cup whipped cream until smooth, then spread over a graham cracker crust. Chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight for cleaner slices. The texture turns dense and velvety, closer to mousse than traditional baked cheesecake. For more cold, creamy inspiration, browse our best cream cheese desserts.
6. Nutella-Stuffed French Toast
Thick bread slices stuffed with Nutella turn ordinary French toast into a bakery-worthy breakfast. Spread Nutella between two slices of brioche or challah, dip the sandwich in a mix of 2 eggs, ¼ cup milk, and a dash of cinnamon, then pan-fry in butter over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side. The outside crisps up golden while the inside stays warm and gooey. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
7. Nutella Banana Bread
Swirling Nutella through banana bread batter adds pockets of melty chocolate in every slice. Mix 3 mashed bananas, 1 egg, ⅓ cup melted butter, and 1½ cups flour into a standard banana bread batter, then pour half into a loaf pan. Dollop ½ cup Nutella over the top, add the rest of the batter, and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350°F for 50-55 minutes. For more ways to use ripe bananas, see our best banana desserts.
8. Nutella Puff Pastry Twists
Store-bought puff pastry makes these Nutella twists nearly effortless and ready in under 20 minutes. Roll out a sheet of puff pastry, spread a thin layer of Nutella across half, fold over, and cut into strips. Twist each strip and bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes until puffed and golden. They come out flaky and crisp on the edges with a warm chocolate center.
9. Nutella Pancakes
Adding Nutella straight into pancake batter gives every bite a built-in chocolate-hazelnut flavor. Whisk 1 cup flour, 1 egg, ¾ cup milk, and 3 tablespoons melted Nutella into a smooth batter. Cook on a griddle over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side, flipping once bubbles form. Stack them tall and finish with an extra drizzle of Nutella on top for good measure.
10. Nutella Cinnamon Rolls
Nutella swapped in for the usual brown sugar filling gives cinnamon rolls a deeper, chocolatey twist. Roll out an enriched dough, spread 1 cup Nutella across the surface, then roll tightly and slice into 12 pieces. Let rise for 30 minutes, then bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. The filling turns molten and sticky, almost like a chocolate babka. For another spin on rolled breakfast pastry, the cinnamon roll French toast roll ups recipe is worth a look too.
11. No-Churn Nutella Ice Cream
This ice cream needs no machine, just whipped cream and Nutella folded together and frozen. Whip 2 cups heavy cream to soft peaks, then fold in 1 cup Nutella and 1 can sweetened condensed milk. Pour into a loaf pan and freeze for at least 6 hours. The texture comes out creamy and scoopable, with ribbons of hazelnut flavor running through it.
12. Nutella Cupcakes
Nutella frosting turns a basic chocolate cupcake into something that tastes bakery-made. Bake your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe, then beat 1 cup Nutella with ½ cup softened butter and 1 cup powdered sugar for the frosting. Pipe generously onto cooled cupcakes. The frosting holds its shape well and tastes less sweet than classic buttercream, with a nutty depth underneath.
13. Nutella Tiramisu Cups
Layering Nutella into tiramisu adds a chocolate-hazelnut edge to the classic coffee-soaked dessert. Dip ladyfingers in cooled espresso, layer in cups with a mixture of 1 cup mascarpone, ½ cup Nutella, and ¼ cup whipped cream. Repeat layers, then chill for 2 hours. Dust with cocoa powder before serving. The cold espresso keeps the sweetness in check.
14. Nutella-Filled Doughnuts
Yeasted doughnuts filled with Nutella after frying stay soft, pillowy, and packed with warm filling. Fry rounds of enriched dough at 350°F for about 2 minutes per side until deep golden. Once cooled slightly, use a piping bag to inject 1-2 teaspoons Nutella into the center of each. Roll in sugar while still warm for a sparkly, crisp coating.
15. Nutella Fudge
This fudge sets up smooth and rich using just Nutella, chocolate chips, and condensed milk. Melt 2 cups chocolate chips with 1 can sweetened condensed milk, then stir in 1 cup Nutella until glossy. Pour into a lined 8×8 pan and chill for 2 hours. Cut into small squares, since this fudge is dense and a little goes a long way. The simple 3 ingredient chocolate fudge recipe follows a similar no-fuss method.
16. Nutella Truffles
Rolling Nutella into truffles gives you a bite-sized treat with barely any hands-on work. Chill 1 cup Nutella mixed with ½ cup crushed graham crackers for 1 hour, then roll into 1-inch balls. Coat in cocoa powder, chopped hazelnuts, or melted chocolate. Keep them chilled until serving, since the filling softens quickly at room temperature. For more bite-sized sweets, the 30 homemade candy recipes collection has plenty of options.
17. Nutella Milkshake
Blending Nutella into a milkshake makes a thick, chocolatey drink that tastes like dessert in a glass. Blend 2 cups vanilla ice cream, ¾ cup milk, and ¼ cup Nutella until smooth. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream. The hazelnut flavor comes through stronger than a standard chocolate shake, with a slightly nutty finish.
18. Nutella S’mores
Swapping Nutella in for the usual chocolate bar gives campfire s’mores a creamier, nuttier bite. Toast a marshmallow over a flame or stove burner until golden, then sandwich it between two graham crackers with a spoonful of Nutella. The warm marshmallow melts the spread instantly, creating a gooey, drippy center that holds together just long enough to eat.
19. Nutella Hazelnut Tart
This tart layers a buttery shortbread crust with a silky Nutella filling for a dinner-party-worthy dessert. Press shortbread dough into a tart pan and bake at 350°F for 12 minutes. Warm 1½ cups Nutella with ¼ cup heavy cream until pourable, then pour into the cooled crust. Chill for 2 hours and top with chopped hazelnuts before slicing.
Tips for Baking and Filling with Nutella
Warm Nutella slightly before spreading or piping. A few seconds in the microwave loosens it up so it spreads evenly instead of tearing dough or bread.
Chill Nutella before using it as a filling for cookies or doughnuts. Cold Nutella holds its shape better and is less likely to leak out during baking or frying.
Measure Nutella by weight when precision matters, especially in brownies or fudge. A packed tablespoon can vary quite a bit from a loosely scooped one.
Don’t overmix batters once Nutella is added. Overmixing can make cakes and cookies turn out dense instead of light.
Use a piping bag with a round tip for stuffing doughnuts or cupcakes. It gives you more control than a spoon and keeps the filling centered.
For more baking fundamentals that apply across recipes like these, our best baking recipes for home bakers covers helpful techniques.
How to Store Nutella Desserts
Most Nutella desserts keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This applies to brownies, cookies, and fudge, since the Nutella keeps them moist.
Refrigerate anything with cream cheese, mascarpone, or whipped cream, including the no-bake cheesecake and tiramisu cups. These keep for about 4 days chilled.
Freeze baked goods like banana bread or cupcakes for up to 2 months. Wrap tightly in plastic, then foil, to prevent freezer burn.
Let frozen treats like no-churn ice cream sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping. Nutella-based ice cream freezes harder than traditional recipes because of its density.
