Nutella is a chocolate-hazelnut spread popular around the world.
It is commonly used on toast, pancakes and other breakfast treats and can be incorporated into innovative recipes, such as Nutella Banana Bread or Nutella Stuffed Pancakes.
That said, you may be wondering if Nutella is vegan, that is, without animal ingredients, such as eggs, dairy or honey, and produced without animal cruelty or exploitation. .
Table of contents
This article tells you if Nutella is vegan and provides a list of alternatives, as well as a recipe to make yourself.
Nutella Vegan or not?
According to its website, Nutella contains eight ingredients: sugar, hazelnuts, skimmed milk powder, cocoa, lecithin and vanillin (a synthetic vanilla flavor).
Lecithin is an emulsifier that is added to mix the other ingredients, allowing for a smooth consistency. It is usually an egg or . In Nutella, it is made from soybeans, which makes this ingredient vegan.
However, Nutella contains skim milk powder, which is cow's milk that undergoes a rapid heating and drying process to remove liquids and create a powder.
This ingredient makes Nutella non-vegan.
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Nutella contains skimmed milk powder, which comes from cow's milk. Therefore, Nutella is not vegan.
Nutella Vegan Alternatives
There are plenty of options if you're looking for a delicious vegan alternative to Nutella.
Plain nut butter
For a quick and healthy swap, choose natural nut butters without added ingredients, such as sugar and oils. Natural nut butters contain much less sugar than Nutella and provide a healthy dose of protein and healthy fats.
Almond and peanut butters are great vegan choices that offer about 7 grams of filling protein per 2 tablespoons (, ).
butter is also a great option. However, with 5 grams of protein per 2 tablespoons, it provides slightly less of this important macronutrient ().
Vegan Alternatives to Nutella
If you're looking for a vegan version of Nutella, many companies have created their own varieties.
Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut and Almond Butter
This spread is made from dry roasted hazelnuts and almonds, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, palm oil, powdered sugar and sea salt. The combination gives you the classic taste of Nutella and the comfort of knowing it's vegan.
Peanut Butter & Co hazelnut and dark chocolate spread
Enjoy this dark chocolate and hazelnut spread in baked goods, with fruit or even by the spoonful. The lecithin in this product is derived from sunflowers, making it vegan-friendly.
Artisana Organics hazelnut and cocoa spread
This is a great option if you want a vegan and organic hazelnut spread. It uses organic hazelnuts, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, coconut and vanilla. Cocoa powder is an excellent source of disease-fighting antioxidants ().
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Natural almond and peanut butters are good vegan alternatives to Nutella and excellent sources of protein. Additionally, many excellent chocolate and hazelnut spreads for vegans are available in stores and online.
How to Make Vegan Chocolate Spread
Making your own spread is another great way to ensure your chocolate hazelnut spread is .
In Nutella, lecithin and skim milk powder are added as emulsifiers to improve texture and increase shelf life. You can skip these ingredients when making your own spread.
The sugar, hazelnuts and cocoa powder are naturally vegan and can be used in your homemade version. Meanwhile, vanilla extract can replace vanillin.
To make vegan spread, you need:
- 4 cups (540 grams) roasted, skinless hazelnuts
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) of
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) coconut oil
- 1/2 cup (160 grams) maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of table salt
To make the spread, add the hazelnuts to a blender or food processor and process until a paste forms. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Be patient, as this may take a few minutes.
Once you have achieved a smooth consistency, pour the spread into a jar and close it with a lid. It should last about a month in the refrigerator.
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Making your own chocolate hazelnut spread ensures that all ingredients are vegan. Mix together toasted hazelnuts, cocoa powder, sugar, oil, vanilla extract and salt for a delicious vegan spread.
The bottom line
contains skimmed milk powder, an ingredient of animal origin. Therefore, it is not vegan.
However, many brands offer similar spreads without animal ingredients. Be sure to choose a product labeled “vegan.”
Alternatively, you can make your own vegan chocolate and hazelnut spread.
