20 Genius Ways to Eat Nutella (Without Ruining Your Diet)

Nutella has long enjoyed a massive cult following.

There’s even a World Nutella Day, believe it or not. The event was started by a blogger in 2007 and is still going strong, with people from all over the world joining the celebration.

If it sounds crazy to revere a snack food, then you’ve probably never tried Nutella.

For Nutella lovers, the only question is: How can we enjoy this delicious concoction without completely botching our meal plans?

The answer lies in these Nutella recipes, which combine Nutella with healthier, lighter takes on classic dessert, breakfast, and post-workout meals.

From protein-rich Nutella Protein Cake Bites and Nutella Strawberry Protein Cheesecake to No-Bake Nutella Energy Bars, Nutella Overnight Oats, and a Banana Nutella Protein Shake, these recipes will satisfy a sweet tooth without wrecking your diet.

If you find that you keep blowing your food budget on Nutella, you can even make your own homemade version—“No-tella”—from cocoa powder, hazelnuts, and ripe avocado.

Enjoy!

Nutella Stuffed Pancakes

Picture courtesy of Recipe Tin Eats

Want an extra-indulgent brunch? Upgrade from Nutella crepes to stuffed pancakes.

The trick is to freeze a thin disc of Nutella, so after you pour a pancake into the pan, you can lay the chilled chocolate hazelnut spread on top and cover it over with more batter.

Not only are these delicious, but they look awesome and will wow everyone at the table.

Serves 6

Ingredients

2/3 cup Nutella

1 1/2 cups flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

1 egg

1 cup + 2 Tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 361

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 54 grams

Fat: 13 grams

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Hazelnut Coffee Muffins with Nutella

Picture courtesy of Recipe Runner

How can coffee cake get even better? This one comes in muffin form, and as if that’s not enough, inside you’ll find a chocolaty Nutella center.

The batter is made with a blend of whole-wheat pastry flour and finely ground hazelnuts to boost the Nutella flavor. And if you don’t have time to sit down with a cup of coffee, this muffin has got your back – it’s mixed right in.

Serves 12

Ingredients

Muffins:

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup hazelnut flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. instant espresso powder

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup coffee, strongly brewed and cooled

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 Tbsp. grapeseed oil

1/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup Nutella

Streusel:

1/4 cup hazelnut flour

1/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

3 Tbsp. butter, cold and cubed

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 238

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 28 grams

Fat: 13 grams

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 Nutella Pancakes with Roasted Strawberries

Picture courtesy of Kim’s Cravings

Upgrade your two-ingredient pancakes with a swirl of Nutella. Mash up a couple bananas, beat in the eggs, and add sweetener like stevia if desired.

It might not be necessary, though, thanks to the natural sugar from the bananas. And if you have a few more minutes, you can roast some berries to go on top for more flavor without using much maple syrup.

Serves 4

Ingredients

12 strawberries, hulled and sliced

1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup

4 large eggs

2 bananas, mashed

2 packets stevia (or sweetener of choice)

1/2 tsp. baking powder (optional)

1/4 cup Nutella

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 249

Protein: 8 grams

Carbs: 32 grams

Fat: 11 grams

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No-Bake Nutella Energy Bars

Picture courtesy of All Day I Dream About Food

Can’t get enough Nutella? Give the flavor a boost with real hazelnuts and chocolate, like in these Nutella bars.

They’re a chocolate lovers’ dream with not only Nutella but also chopped chocolate and chocolate chips. For even richer cocoa flavor, add a scoop of chocolate whey protein powder.

Serves 16

Ingredients

Bars:

1/2 cup Nutella (homemade or store-bought)

1/2 cup butter

1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup powdered Swerve sweetener

1 cup hazelnut flour

1 scoop WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate

1/2 cup hazelnuts, roasted, husked and chopped

Topping:

1 Tbsp. butter (or oil)

3/4 cup sugar-free chocolate chips, chopped

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 224

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 21 grams

Fat: 19 grams

  Get the Recipe

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Flourless Peanut Butter & Nutella Cookies

Picture courtesy of Simply Scratch

Win over anyone who doesn’t love oatmeal cookies with this recipe. These have a soft texture because they’re flourless. In fact, they’re made from more nut better than anything else.

Aside from that, you’ll just need baking basics to finish the cookie dough: brown sugar, milk, baking soda, and salt.

If you’d rather avoid the egg for vegan cookies, use a tablespoon of chia seeds, and substitute your non-dairy milk of choice.

Serves 16

Ingredients

1 large egg

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp. whole milk

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup Nutella

3/4 cup rolled oats

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 126

Protein: 3 grams

Carbs: 12 grams

Fat: 8 grams

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Nutella Protein Brownies

Picture courtesy of MuscleFood

These whey protein brownies don’t use any flour at all. There are two things that keep the texture soft. First, the hazelnut oil helps to make the brownies moist.

The real secret, though, is mashed sweet potato. That and a little coconut flour make these the perfect fudgy brownies that are satisfying but also good for you.

Serves 9

Ingredients

2 scoops WHEY+ chocolate protein isolate

1 large egg

1 egg white

2 1/2 Tbsp. hazelnut butter (or almond butter)

3/4 cup mashed sweet potato

3 Tbsp. nonfat plain Greek yogurt

2 Tbsp. coconut flour

2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup unsweetened chocolate chips

1/3 cup hazelnuts

2 Tbsp. granulated stevia

1/2 bar (1.75 oz.) dark chocolate, melted

1 Tbsp. coconut oil

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 157

Protein: 9 grams

Carbs: 15 grams

Fat: 9 grams

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Chocolate Hazelnut Protein Bites

Picture courtesy of The Little Green Spoon

Instead of reaching for Nutella to slather on everything in your pantry, grab this chocolate hazelnut snack.

And since the protein bites only require four ingredients to make, you can easily keep what you need on hand for when a craving hits.

These chocolate hazelnut bites can be made with any kind of protein powder, like whey, but you may need to adjust the mixture a little bit.

Some coconut oil or almond butter can add moisture and bring the ingredients together if it’s looking too dry.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 cup hazelnuts

1 cup dates, pitted

1 scoop SunWarrior vanilla protein powder

1 Tbsp. raw cacao powder (or more to taste)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 134

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 19 grams

Fat: 6 grams

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Chickpea Nutella Cookies

Picture courtesy of My Fussy Eater

If you want cookies but would rather avoid wheat flour, there are plenty of alternatives. One of the most creative is to mash up a can of chickpeas.

Garbanzo beans rank low on the glycemic index – even below whole-wheat flour – which means you’re snacking on complex carbs that help regulate blood sugar levels.

So you can enjoy the natural sweetness of honey and a few chocolate chips without worrying that you’re wolfing down empty calories.

Serves 12

Ingredients

1 can (14.5 oz.) chickpeas, drained and patted dry

1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter

3 Tbsp. pure honey

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 Tbsp. Nutella

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 132

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 15 grams

Fat: 7 grams

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Strawberry PB2 Protein Fluff with Granola & Nutella

Picture courtesy of Simply Ripping

Enjoy this berry bowl as a tasty breakfast or sweet post-workout snack. Whip up a light, fluffy mixture of strawberry puree, coconut milk, and peanut flour.

While you’re at it, add a scoop of fruity or vanilla-flavored protein powder. The result might seem like the kind of mixture to drink like a smoothie, but when you spoon it instead, you can add toppings like granola, Nutella, and Greek yogurt.

Serves 1

Ingredients

3/4 cup frozen strawberries

1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp. coconut milk beverage

1 scoop WHEY+ strawberry banana protein isolate (or other berry protein powder)

2 Tbsp. PB2

1/2 cup reduced-fat honey and almond granola

1 Tbsp. Nutella

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 464

Protein: 31 grams

Carbs: 60 grams

Fat: 11 grams

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Nutella Overnight Oats

Picture courtesy of Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen

Skip the sugary cereal, and make this Nutella breakfast instead.

Overnight oats have a well-balanced mix of complex carbs and protein, especially if you add Greek yogurt and chia seeds. From there, mix in other flavors depending on what you’re craving and the nutrition you need.

Nutella is a comparable mix-in to peanut butter, except it has less protein and about 10 grams of added sugar per tablespoon.

That’s not going to wreck your healthy oatmeal breakfast, but if it’s a concern for you, make a homemade chocolate hazelnut butter so you can control the macros.

Serves 1

Ingredients

1/3 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/3 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/2 Tbsp. chia seeds

1 Tbsp. Nutella

1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. date syrup (or sweetener of choice to taste)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 321

Protein: 16 grams

Carbs: 44 grams

Fat: 11 grams

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Nutella Frozen Yogurt

Picture courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie

This recipe for Nutella frozen yogurt will work whether you have an ice cream maker or not.

So everyone can give it a try as long as you have chocolate hazelnut butter, cocoa powder, and yogurt. Even non-dairy yogurt like almond or coconut would work too.

If you don’t have any fancy equipment, blend everything together until well mixed, and freeze in an airtight container.

Stir once every hour for three hours to keep it soft and creamy, and if you want to save it to enjoy another day, let the frozen yogurt defrost for a half hour before digging in.

Serves 7

Ingredients

2 cups plain yogurt

2/3 cup Nutella

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup granulated sugar (or stevia to taste)

2/3 cup milk

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 108

Protein: 5 grams

Carbs: 11 grams

Fat: 6 grams

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Banana Nutella Protein Waffle Sandwich

Picture courtesy of Macro Chef

A Nutella sandwich probably doesn’t seem like a healthy breakfast, especially not when you replace the bread with waffles.

However, this protein waffle batter is made with powdered whey and ground oats, so it’ll satisfy your sweet tooth without wrecking your meal plan.

Each serving – that’s two waffles, half a banana, and Nutella – has over 30 grams of protein.

Serves 1

Ingredients

6 Tbsp. oat flour

2/3 scoop (22 grams) WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate

1/4 tsp. baking powder

Stevia to taste

1 large egg

1/4 cup pumpkin puree (or applesauce)

3 Tbsp. milk

2 Tbsp. Nutella

1/2 banana

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 577

Protein: 30 grams

Carbs: 70 grams

Fat: 20 grams

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Nutella Strawberry Protein Cheesecake

Picture courtesy of The Coconut Diaries

Blending Nutella into creamy cheesecake filling can make it heavy in terms of flavor and texture.

In this recipe, the chocolate is all in the almond crust, so you can enjoy the best of both a classic cheesecake plus the Nutella flavor you love.

These are also perfectly portioned in a muffin tin, and extras can be frozen in an airtight container.

Serves 9

Ingredients

Crust:

1 cup almond meal

1/4 cup Nutella

2 Tbsp. unsweetened almond milk

Filling:

1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup nonfat cottage cheese

1 large egg

1 scoop WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

3/4 cup frozen strawberries

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 151

Protein: 9 grams

Carbs: 10 grams

Fat: 9 grams

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Banana Nutella Pops

Picture courtesy of Amazing Paleo

Some recipes are so simple it’s unbelievable that there are written instructions.

Yet the result is so awesome and surprising, like these two-ingredient fudgsicles, that it’s a public good that the person who thought it up took time to share.

For these homemade popsicles, just blend fruit and Nutella together, pour into molds, and patiently wait for them to freeze.

Serves 6

Ingredients

4 large ripe bananas

1 cup Nutella (homemade or store-bought)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 171

Protein: 3 grams

Carbs: 21 grams

Fat: 10 grams

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Banana Nutella Protein Shake

Picture courtesy of Get Sweet Smart

Even though there’s nutritional content in almost everything you could eat, a Nutella milkshake is usually far from healthy with a base of ice cream, hazelnuts, and chocolate.

This satisfying alternative starts with a banana, preferably frozen, which will blend up to be creamy and thick like a shake. Then add a scoop of protein powder, a splash of milk, and a spoonful of Nutella to turn it into a sippable chocolate treat.

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 ripe banana

1 Tbsp. skim milk

1 Tbsp. Nutella

1 scoop WHEY+ protein isolate (vanilla or chocolate)

1 cup ice

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 321

Protein: 25 grams

Carbs: 41 grams

Fat: 7 grams

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Protein Nutella Bread

Picture courtesy of Purely Twins

Looking for a nutritious alternative to banana bread? Believe it or not, you can start with Nutella.

This banana bread is made from a chocolate whey protein powder instead of whole-wheat flour, eggs to act as a binder, and Nutella in place of butter or oil.

This flourless banana bread recipe also includes instructions to make a version of homemade Nutella, which is made from roasted hazelnuts and liquid stevia. If you pick up a brand-name jar at the store, it’ll add more calories, mostly in the form of sugar.

Serves 12

Ingredients

1 cup Nutella

4 large eggs

2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup

1 scoop WHEY+ chocolate protein isolate (or 1/4 scoop hemp protein)

2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 178

Protein: 6 grams

Carbs: 17 grams

Fat: 10 grams

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Slow Cooker Nutella Banana Protein Cake

Picture courtesy of Miss K’s Kitchen Creations

Can’t bake? This is the cake for you. It’s high in protein, tastes like magic, and can be made in the Crock Pot of all places.

Mix together the dry ingredients in one bowl, then the liquid in another. Stir them together, and transfer to a slow cooker to bake on low temp for 4 hours.

Serves 10

Ingredients

3/4 cup spelt flour

1 cup (about 4 scoops) WHEY+ chocolate protein isolate

1 cup bananas, overly ripe and mashed

1/3 cup raw cacao powder

1/2 cup sugar-free maple syrup

2 egg whites

1/2 cup Nutella (homemade or store-bought)

1 Tbsp. pure honey (or sweetener of choice)

2 Tbsp. nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp. baking powder

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 196

Protein: 13 grams

Carbs: 27 grams

Fat: 6 grams

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No-tella

Picture courtesy of Babble

This homemade Nutella isn’t just a combo of chocolate and hazelnuts. Instead of using oil to make it more spreadable, this version uses a surprising ingredient.

Ripe avocado is blended with nuts and cocoa powder, plus your favorite sweetener to taste. Once finished, stash it in your fridge or freezer to use the rest for healthy desserts and protein shakes.

Serves 12

Ingredients

2 avocados, ripe

2 Tbsp. unsweetened cacao powder

6 drops liquid vanilla stevia (or sweetener to taste)

1/2 cup hazelnuts, halved

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 76

Protein: 1 gram

Carbs: 3 grams

Fat: 7 grams

  Get the Recipe

Protein Nutella

Picture courtesy of Protein Pow

If you’re going to feed your Nutella craving, you may as well get some protein from more than the hazelnuts.

This homemade chocolate hazelnut spread has a scoop of whey protein, and it’s sweetened with stevia to avoid added sugar. Use it as a fruit dip or to top off a dessert with Nutella frosting.

Get The Ultimate Protein Powder Cookbook: Think Outside the Shake by Anna Sward for more recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth without ignoring your protein macro targets. You’ll find instructions for dark chocolate protein cheesecake, post-workout chocolate protein cake, and protein tiramisu.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1/4 cup hazelnut butter, crunchy or smooth

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tbsp. coconut oil

1 scoop WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate

1/4 cup granulated stevia

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 82

Protein: 5 grams

Carbs: 3 grams

Fat: 7 grams

  Get the Recipe

Nutella Protein Cake Bites

Picture courtesy of Hognuts Butters / Delicious Duo

Not every special occasion needs cupcakes, especially when you have Nutella chocolate cake instead.

The difference is this dessert isn’t weighed down with sugary frosting, and it can be cut into squares to serve more like brownies. But if you decide to make smaller cake bites before drizzling in chocolate, then you can get twice as many servings.

Serves 9

Ingredients

Cake:

1/4 cup mint cashew-almond butter (or any nut butter)

3 Tbsp. raw cacao powder

5 Tbsp. granulated sugar

1 1/3 cups coconut flour

2 egg whites

1/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

2 tsp. pure honey (or other liquid sweetener)

2 tsp. baking powder

Splash of almond milk

Topping:

1/3 cup hazelnuts, chopped

5 squares (about 2 oz.) 80% dark chocolate, melted

1 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 224

Protein: 9 grams

Carbs: 27 grams

Fat: 14 grams

 Get the Recipe

What did you think of these Nutella recipes? Have anything else to share? Let me know in the comments below!