This Nutella buttercream frosting is smooth, fluffy, and packed with chocolate hazelnut flavor. It's quick whip up with simple ingredients, adding the perfect Nutella flavor to cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Easy to pipe, spread, or eat by the spoonful, this frosting is a must-try for Nutella lovers!
I love thisย Nutella buttercream frostingย on my Nutellaย cupcakes or spread over Nutella chocolate chip muffins, where Nutella really shines as the star flavor. ย It's one of myย favorite frostings, making simpleย chocolate cupcakesย feel special and bakery-worthy!
This frosting comes together in just 5 minutes! Whether you're spreading it on layer cakes, piping it on cupcakes, or dolloping it on cookies, it's quick, versatile, and always a crowd-pleaser.
If you're looking for more chocolate buttercream recipes, check out this chocolate fudge frosting, chocolate cream cheese frosting, and chocolate mascarpone frosting.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This is a classic American buttercream made with butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt (plus Nutella, of course).
I chose to make this Nutella frosting without cocoa powder, so the chocolate-hazelnut flavors stand out without being muddled by extra chocolate!
Key Ingredients
- Unsalted butter- Using unsalted butter is best for this frosting so you can control how salty it is. Make sure it's room temperature so your frosting doesn't turn out lumpy.
- Nutella- Any chocolate hazelnut spread works. Make sure to give it a good mix before using in this recipe since it can get a little clumpy in the jar.
- Powdered sugar- Sweetens the frosting and binds the ingredients together. You can sift it to avoid lumps, but it's not necessary.
For the full ingredient list and quantities, see the recipe card below.
Equipment Needed
- Electric mixer- You need either a stand mixer or a hand mixer to thoroughly beat the ingredients. Unfortunately you can't make this frosting recipe without one! If using a stand mixer, fit it with the paddle attachment. You can switch to the whisk attachment at the end for a more airy texture.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Beat the butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add the Nutella, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat on medium speed until creamy and fully combined.
Step 3: Gradually add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
Step 4: Increase the speed to medium-high, beating until the frosting is creamy and fluffy. Then it's ready to use!
Top Tips
- Use room temperature butter- If your butter is cold, the ingredients won't emulsify and the frosting will turn out lumpy. Pull the butter out of the fridge to soften 1-2 hours before starting.
- How to thicken the frosting- Add a couple extra tablespoons of powdered sugar, 1 at a time until the desired consistency is reached. If you're worried about too much sweetness, add cornstarch instead to thicken it up.
- If the frosting is too thick- Drizzle in heavy cream or milk 1 teaspoon at a time until the Nutella frosting has the right creamy texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe makes about 3 cups of frosting, which is enough to pipe tall swirls on a dozenย cupcakes. It makes enough to frost a 6-inchย layer cake, but I recommend making a double batch for anything larger.
I don't recommend making the the frosting with all shortening since it will heavily impact the flavor. However, you can substitute about a quarter of the butter for shortening to make the frosting more stable.
Yes! Scoop it in anย airtight containerย orย freezerย bag and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw it in theย refrigeratorย overnight, then let it come toย room temperatureย and rewhip with a mixer until smooth and creamy before using.
How to Use
Nutella pairs well with almost anything, like pumpkin, chocolate, and fruity desserts! I recommend piping or spreading it on:
Storage Instructions
Store Nutella buttercream in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring the frosting to room temperature and mix it up to get a creamy consistency again.
More Frosting Recipes to Try
๐ Recipe
Nutella Buttercream Frosting
Equipment
- 1 5-quart stand mixer or electric hand mixer
Need Metric or US Customary Measurements?
Use the buttons below to toggle between grams and cups!
Ingredients
- 226 grams unsalted butter room temperature
- 170 grams Nutella or any chocolate hazelnut spread
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- 360 grams powdered sugar
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the softened butter on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes, until it looks pale, light, and fluffy.
- Add the Nutella, vanilla extract, small pinch of salt. Beat on medium speed for about 1-2 minutes, until everything is fully combined and creamy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula to make sure no butter or Nutella is stuck.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the powdered sugar about 1 cup at a time. Mix until mostly combined before adding the next cup to prevent the sugar from flying everywhere.
- Once all the sugar has been added, increase the mixer speed to medium-high, beating for 1-2 minutes until the frosting is fluffy. If it's too thick, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until you reach the right consistency. If it's too thin, mix in a few extra tablespoons of powdered sugar.
Comments
No Comments