10 recipes with chocolate and hazelnut spread that taste like pastries
Chocolate–hazelnut spread doesn’t really need an introduction, what matters is knowing where it fits in your baking. Most people recognize it by brand name: Nutella first, of course, but also Hershey’s versions, Nocciolata, or the grocery store’s own jar on the shelf. The real magic, though, isn’t in the logo, it’s in the category: used the right way, this one ingredient gives everyday desserts that “bakery-level” feel in the simplest possible way.
It works for a very specific reason. In a single spoonful you get flavor, sweetness, and creaminess all at once: cocoa and hazelnut in a texture that plays well with almost any batter or dough. In cakes, it behaves like instant praline; mixed into the batter it adds fat and solids that refine the crumb, make it moister, and boost the chocolate–hazelnut flavor without needing a long ingredient list. Swirled through the middle, it doesn’t just look pretty: it creates fudgier pockets that still taste freshly baked the next day. In cheesecakes (baked or no-bake), you can blend it into the filling for extra body and depth, or save it for a final swirl that perfumes every slice. Warm it gently and you’ve got an instant sauce for crepes, waffles, or vanilla ice cream; whisk it with a little hot cream and it turns into a quick, smooth, glossy ganache for glazing, filling, or dipping without being sickly sweet. And in fridge desserts (mousses, parfait cups, semifreddos) it acts like friendly “edible structure”: it holds the spoonful, adds silky density, and leaves that melting-cream feel instead of heaviness.
Some ideas to take advantage of it:
From cakes and cupcakes to quick no-bake desserts, these recipes show different ways to take advantage of it in home baking and show off with little effort. This is where Nutella ceases to be a simple craving and becomes a one-time ingredient for desserts that are sure to be repeated.
Patricia González









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