You’ll want to learn how to melt Nutella if you enjoy it as much as I do. You can microwave Nutella, which is one of my three really simple techniques.
Even though I don’t have children of my own yet and am no longer a child, I always keep Nutella in the refrigerator!
Who, after all, can resist Nutella? Undoubtedly not me!
How To Melt Nutella?
Nutella might not be super healthy for you, but when you crave something sweet, you have to scratch where it itches! On such occasions, Nutella is my best friend, and I can eat it on its own or spread it on bread or crackers; however, the perfect way to eat Nutella is to turn it into a topping.
How should you do that? Simply melt Nutella, and you are done!
How to melt Nutella, you might ask too…Well, microwaving Nutella is one way to do it, but read on to find more details!
Nutella Defined
You have probably already noticed that I like to know all I can about the food I eat, and Nutella is no exception, so I have done a bit of research.
You probably know that Nutella is a sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread made by an Italian company called Ferrero – you could read that on the label. You might not know, though, that it first came to be during World War II due to the ingenuity of baker Pietro Ferrero who added ground hazelnuts into a chocolate spread.
Sounds rather unpretentious, but someone had to think of it first! Today, Nutella is one of the world’s most popular hazelnut spreads with no indications that its popularity is going to seize to be anytime soon.
This chocolate dessert topping can be consumed in numerous ways, from topping your breakfast waffles, toast, or pancakes, to using it in more or less complex desserts such as Nutella fudge brownies, Nutella cheesecake, or Nutella ice cream.
The company tries to advertise Nutella as a healthy breakfast spread for your kids, but as much as I love Nutella, I cannot agree with that. Why? Read on to find out!
What goes best with Nutella? Our Swedish Pancakes, of course! Also, check out some great pancake griddles!
Is Nutella Healthy?
As soon as you read the label and become aware of its high sugar content, you do not need to be a nutritionist to know that Nutella is not the healthiest breakfast choice for your kids or yourself. No advertisement can change that.
Ferrero may take pride in the simple and sustainable ingredients that make up Nutella, but they cannot erase the fact that most of it are sugar (a whopping 57% of its weight).
Nutella also contains certified sustainable palm oil, which gives it its renowned creamy texture, 100% pure hazelnut paste, skimmed milk powder, and cocoa powder. As for additives, Nutella contains two relatively harmless ones: soy lecithin and synthetic vanillin.
Two tablespoons of Nutella will feed you 200 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 21 grams of sugar but also 2 grams of protein and 4% of the RDI of Calcium and Iron, so it’s not all bad.
You can probably draw your own conclusions: Nutella is not healthy by any means, but a little bit of it here and there is good for your soul! I have tried it, and it works wonders when you feel blue.
Make sure that you set up your willpower to the highest possible before you open your Nutella jar, as you should really limit yourself to a couple of spoons!
If you overdo it and consume too much-added sugar, you risk developing some dire conditions such as obesity and diabetes, or cardiovascular diseases.
On the bright side, Nutella does not contain too many artificial ingredients such as high-fructose corn syrup or artificial food colorings. So if you cannot keep away from chocolate spreads and you dread highly processed ingredients, Nutella might be a good choice!
How to Melt Nutella: The 3 Top Methods
Microwaving Nutella
You will need:
- Microwave safe bowl (preferably glass one)
- Metal or wooden spoon (plastic one might leach some harmful chemicals)
Step-by-step instructions:
- Use a metal or wooden spoon to scoop the Nutella out of the jar.
- Transfer it into a microwave-safe glass bowl. Do not cover it!
- Set the microwave to the medium setting and turn it on for about 20 seconds or so.
- Take the bowl out, stir the Nutella to distribute the heat evenly, and then return it into the microwave.
- Turn on the microwave for an additional twenty seconds.
- Take it out to check if you have achieved the desired consistency. If not, repeat the process once again.
Word of Caution: Do not overdo it – microwaving Nutella too much can burn it and thus alter its taste and texture inadvertently!
Placing Nutella in Hot Water
You will need:
- Pot
- Water
- Heat-proof bowl
- Jar of Nutella (if you do not want to melt the whole jar, transfer some Nutella into a small glass bowl instead)
- Wooden or metal spoon
Step-by-step instructions:
- Fill a pot with water; place it on the stove on high heat.
- Once the water boils, remove the pot from the stove.
- Pour the hot water into a heatproof bowl without waiting for it to cool off first. The water should come to half of the bowl. If you overdo it, the water might spill over the side, later on, so better be safe than sorry.
- Open the jar with Nutella and put it into the bowl with hot water. Be careful; you do not want the water to enter the jar.
- Allow for a few moments for Nutella to soften a bit and then stir it. Let it sit in hot water for about five minutes more, and continue stirring it from time to time too (use a wooden or metal spoon, not the plastic one).
- Once the Nutella achieves the consistency you strive for, remove it from the hot water. Unlike microwaving Nutella, this method is safe for Nutella – you cannot overheat it or compromise its taste or texture.
Using a Hot Spoon?
You will need:
- Metal spoon
- Hot water
- Jar of Nutella
You Should Know: This method is not only appropriate for really small amounts of Nutella but also will not liquefy Nutella completely. On the other hand, it is a great solution when you want to soften Nutella enough to spread it over whatever you are eating at the moment (bread, waffles, pancakes).
Step-by-step instructions:
- Choose a metal spoon and place it under running hot water. Alternatively, you can place it in a bowl of hot water too.
- Let the spoon heat for approximately one minute.
- Once the metal is hot enough, wipe the water off, scoop Nutella out of the jar and start spreading it immediately. You will notice that it softens quite quickly thanks to the high temperature of the spoon.
- If your spoon cools off too quickly, wipe it clean and repeat the whole process again.
Extra Advice: If you already have a cup of hot tea, coffee, or milk ready, you can dip the spoon or knife into that instead. That will be more convenient for sure.
Believe it or not, you can even buy an electric butter spreader. It is a small knife that heats itself and makes spreading Nutella a breeze.
Bonus: The Best Nutella Dessert Recipe
I am a guy, and when it comes to cooking, I tend to keep things simple, so here is a quick and easy recipe to make Nutella dessert you have to try! I am mouthwatering only at the thought of it!
The good news is that this dessert not only tastes good but also oozes elegance and class. The bad news is that you have to eat it right away, or it might deflate and transform into a gooey mass.
Nutella Soufflé for Two
You will need:
- Two Soufflé ramekins
- Two medium-size bowls
- Half a cup of Nutella
- Two eggs
- One tablespoon of sugar (or brown sugar)
- Cocoa powder
- Butter
Step-by-step instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375 F (190 C)
- Use butter to coat two Soufflé ramekins.
- Sprinkle the inside of ramekins with some cocoa powder.
- Pour Nutella into a bowl, add two egg yolks and combine.
- Take the other bowl and whisk two egg whites until they turn foamy.
- Add a tablespoon of sugar and mix until the foam becomes firm enough to hold peaks.
- Start combining the two mixtures by adding about a third of the whites into the bowl with Nutella. Fold gently and when the mixture is uniform, add the rest of the egg whites and continue the process until you get a smooth mixture.
- Pour the mixture into the Soufflé ramekins making sure that the rims stay clean (otherwise, you risk your Soufflé raising unevenly).
- Bake in the oven for about a quarter of an hour. Do not open the oven during the process!
- Serve the Soufflé right away and enjoy the magic!
Check out this video by our dear colleague Laura Vitale for another great Nutella Soufflé!
Conclusion
Now you know how to melt Nutella, but don’t go all wild on me and consume more than you are supposed to. Sugar is bad for you and your teeth!
Remember the saying “the best things in life come in small packages”? Apply that philosophy when consuming Nutella, and you will be just fine! 🙂
Share my melting methods, but do share some good Nutella dessert recipes as well!