Nutella is a staple in many households, known for its delicious and thick chocolatey goodness you can spread on your bread. Another plus is that you’ll be able to incorporate it in your recipes, may it be cakes, bread, or even cupcakes. Whether you’re making frosting or a chocolate-flavored cake, this hazelnut spread will be the perfect ingredient to use.
But many recipes will also require you to melt Nutella, something that may seem confusing for some. So if you’re wondering how to melt Nutella, read on as I show you the various methods you can follow on melting this yummy ingredient and being able to use it either as a spread or in your recipes.
What Is Nutella?
You have probably heard of Nutella before; a delicious hazelnut spread many people use just about anywhere. The sweet and thick spread is perfect on bread or as a topping for your pancakes and fruits. It’s your all-around spread for sweet tooths around the world!
And in baking, you’ll love topping melted Nutella onto your cakes and brownies, giving it a double-chocolate flavor and thicker consistency that makes it thick and indulgent.
Why Melt Nutella?
If you knew me well enough, I am an avid baker. I love baking, and I make sure to use the exact amount of ingredients and ensure that everything is the perfect texture to avoid messing up my recipe. And yes, even melting Nutella will affect your recipe in so many ways.
Without melting Nutella when asked, you may end up having a clumpy mess that isn’t only difficult to mix, but it will also end up creating a rougher texture on your baked goods, may they be frosting or cake. And if you are planning on making a ganache or dip, you won’t want to dip your fruits or bread in a cold and hard Nutella mixture!
Melting Nutella is very easy and only takes a few minutes of your time. So if you want to perfect your recipe, you will need to learn how to add your ingredients properly. And that includes learning how to melt Nutella.
How To Melt Nutella
Melting Nutella may seem like a no-brainer, but there will be times you don’t have the right equipment for it and need another alternative. Fortunately, there are a ton of easy ways you can follow for the perfect consistency to add to your baked goods or dishes:
When storing Nutella (before or after melting), you should store it in an airtight container or its original packaging. Leave it at room temperature to make it easier for melting. You can also leave it in the fridge if you plan on leaving it unused for a longer period.
Using A Hot Butter Knife
This is an ideal idea if you want something simple and without the utilization of any equipment. It’s also better to use for those who want to use a small amount of Nutella (about less than three tablespoons). You can also use a spoon for this method.
Items You Need:
- Hot coffee, water, or tea knife
- Nutella
- Paper Towel
Steps To Follow
- Dip the butter knife into the hot liquid or put it on top of the cup. Let it heat up for a few minutes.
- Remove from the cup and quickly wipe it with a piece of paper towel.
- Get the Nutella from the jar or bowl, cutting the spread and getting the right amount you need.
- Spread the Nutella wherever you need it on, may it be pancakes, bread, or in your baking mixture.
Using a Microwave
This is ideal for those who want to use a huge amount of melted Nutella for dessert recipes. Do NOT use the Nutella jar or plastic containers to melt it, as the plastic might increase the risk of poisoning.
Items You Need
- Metal Spoon
- Microwave-safe container or bowl
- Nutella
- Microwave oven
Steps To Follow:
- Spoon out the desired amount of Nutella into the microwave-safe container or bowl.
Put it in the microwave oven on high heat for about 15 seconds. If it isn’t completely melted (especially if you are using more than a quarter cup), then microwave it for another 15 seconds.
- The microwave will warm food from the outside, so you aren’t sure if the inner parts of the Nutella will be melted inside. Stir the Nutella with the to heat up everything evenly.
- The chocolate hazelnut spread should melt into a chocolate hazelnut syrup that is smooth and tasty
Using a Bowl of Hot Water
For those who don’t want to use equipment but need to melt a big amount of Nutella, using hot water is a great option. You can also use this for melting butter or shortening.
Items You Need:
- Hot water
- Clear Glass Bowl/ Pot of Water
- Nutella (in its original jar)
- Wooden Spoon/ Spatula
Steps to Follow
- Bring water to a boil and place it in a bowl.
- Put the Nutella jar inside the bowl and let it sit for about five minutes. I would recommend using a clear glass bowl so you can see the jar floating clearly. Check to see if the spread has melted evenly. If not, leave it for another two to three minutes.
- Stir the Nutella with the wooden spoon especially if it was tough and left in the fridge. Place it in the bowl of hot water if you need to melt it more.
Another way to do this method is to fill a saucepan halfway with water and let it boil on the stovetop. Remove it from the heat and let it simmer, adding the Nutella jar or a bowl of Nutella. Let the Nutella melt for five minutes and stir.
Using Milk
You won’t exactly be melting the Nutella using this method, but this is a great way to make your Nutella more liquid without using any form of heat. It’s more convenient, though you need to watch out with adding too much milk, as it might end up being too liquidy!
Items You Need:
- Bowl
- Spoon
- Nutella
- Milk
Steps To Follow:
- Spoon out the desired amount of Nutella into a bowl.
- Pour milk into the bowl, about 10% of the amount of Nutella you have. So if you have 200 grams of Nutella, use the only 20ml of milk.
- Stir the mixture, ensuring that the consistency is just right. Add a little more milk if it’s still too thick, or add more Nutella if it’s too watery. Remove the extra Nutella if you’ll be using an exact amount for baking.
Here are some tips to follow when melting Nutella:
- Remember to stir the Nutella in intervals while it melts. If it needs to be melted more, then add it back into the hot water or microwave. That way, you have ensured that everything melts consistently. Also, heat it in short intervals to avoid it from burning.
- Prevent the water and Nutella from mixing, or you will ruin the desired consistency. It ends up being grainy.
- I recommend you to start any of these methods with Nutella that is at room temperature. It may take a few minutes or an hour to let it go back to room temperature (if you left it in the fridge), but it will make the melting process quicker.
Recipes That Use Melted Nutella
Now that you know how to melt Nutella, the next question is: What can you make with melted Nutella anyway? Here are some awesome recipes and ideas you can follow:
- With melted Nutella, you’ll be able to have a delicious dip for your fruits or cookies! Or make it a mixture of sweet and savory by drizzling Nutella on top of fries or using it as a dip.
2. Nutella S’mores Pizza is another excellent idea! Instead of using tomato sauce on your pizza dough, spread melted Nutella and add more sweet toppings, such as marshmallows and graham crumbs. Let it bake for five minutes or until the marshmallows are melted, and you’re ready to go.
3. Drizzle melted Nutella like syrup on top of your cakes or brownies. You can even do it on pancakes!
4. Make Nutella hot chocolate by substituting a serving of cocoa powder with two tablespoons of Nutella. No need to add more sugar!
In Conclusion
When it comes to using Nutella in your recipes, you’ll be surprised with the many types of baked goods you’ll be able to whip up if you wanted to try something new. But of course, before using Nutella, you’ll need to learn how to melt it to the perfect liquid consistency to properly mix it. That way, you’ll have a better textured baked correctly to enjoy.
I hope that this article helped you know about what you can do to properly melt Nutella. So what are you waiting for? Now that you know how to melt Nutella try adding this versatile ingredient in any of your dishes today.