This Nutella Frosting 2.0 is rich and creamy, thanks to the addition of cream cheese and a bit of cocoa powder to amp up the chocolate-hazelnut flavor.
I grew up spending the day after Thanksgiving at the Christmas tree farm, picking out the tallest, fullest tree that my siblings and I could talk our parents in to buying. Times have changed (no Christmas tree farms here), so Frank and I use the post-Thanksgiving days to deck out our scrawny plastic tree, and I do enough baking to fill the apartment with holiday cheer. This weekend I roasted a chicken and popped these cupcakes in the oven, which nearly could had me convinced that it could be snowing outside...if I closed my eyes and had the air conditioning on high.
I knew I wanted to re-visit this sweet frosting for the weekend's round of baking. It is one of my favorite ways to top cupcakes and is also one of the most searched recipes on this blog. The original Nutella frosting is light and fluffy. As in the original, in tasting this frosting, there is no doubt that Nutella is the star ingredient.
I'm still somewhat distracted by the fact that it has been two years since Frank and I arrived in Bangkok. We arrived those years ago a little overwhelmed, and quite inundated by the heat. We were excited, nervous, and uncertain about what the future would hold. If I could sit down with that Jess in her first days in Thailand, I would have lots to say. I would tell her that this would be the adventure of a lifetime. I would assure her every day she would grow more in love with the man she chose to spend her life with. I'd tell her that she would be so grateful to have him by her side in this place, particularly since he would calm her when tropical critters snuck into the house and encourage her, without reservation, to try something completely new.
I would make that Jess vanilla cupcakes with Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting, tell her to take a deep breath, and enjoy the ride.
More Dessert Recipes
- Banana Layer Cake
- Carrot Top Chocolate Cupcakes
- Frozen Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pie
- Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake
- Mini Cheesecakes
- Semolina Yogurt Cake
- Muffin Pan Strawberry Shortcakes
- Easy Vanilla Snack Cake
- Light and Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
- One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
- Applesauce Cake
- Healthy Smash Cake for Baby's First Birthday
Favorite Tools
Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- Stand Mixer
Ingredients
- 2 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature (use block cream cheese, not cream cheese in a tub which includes added ingredients that can ruin the texture of the frosting)
- 4 tablespoon Unsalted Butter, room temperature
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar (1 cup powdered sugar = 120g)
- 2 tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- ½ cup Nutella chocolate-hazelnut spread (155 g)
- 1-4 tablespoon Milk, any type
Instructions
- In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the beater attachment, combine the cream cheese and unsalted butter. Beat on high until smooth and light, about 5 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder to the bowl and mix on low until fully incorporated. Increase the speed to high and beat again until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the Nutella and mix on low, just until combined (do not overmix or the frosting will become grainy). Add milk a bit at a time, starting with 1 tablespoon and increasing as needed until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Use immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. (If refrigerated, allow the frosting to soften a bit at room temperature before using.)
Notes
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Claire @ Claire K Creations
Wouldn't it be lovely if we could go back and visit ourselves? What wise words we'd have to say. It might pay to think about the words of wisdom we'd have for our past selves and make sure our current selves take the same advice!
It's pretty special that you can fall more in love with someone isn't it? Just when you thought there couldn't be any more love.... bam it hits you again!
I think past Claire could have been comforted rather well with a nutella frosted cupcake too!
Jess
You're so right, Claire - I hope I'd be wise enough to listen to my future self. 😉 I do know that a cupcake with Nutella frosting would have given me a compelling reason though!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I am ALL ABOUT Nutella + cream cheese = frosting. To die for good looking!
This reminds me of some brownies that are my #1 fave brownie on my site, Nutella brownies with cream cheese frosting. I need to work the nutella INTO the cream cheese frosting next time!
Jess
Oooo, Averie - I'm glad you pointed me in the direction of those brownies! Yum!
sally @ sallys baking addiction
I love cream cheese. I love nutella. I love frosting! I never ever would have thought to combine three of my loves. I have to make something like this!!
Jess
After this experiment, I've decided that there's nothing that isn't made better with the addition of nutella, Sally!
Ashley
Oh my! I love cream cheese frosting... and then combining it with nutella?! Gah I need to make cupcakes very soon to give this a try : )
cindy
This frosting look most delicious!
Karista
This is going on our Christmas baking day list. 🙂 Oh Yum!
Chris
If anyone is seeing this in 2018, for 2 dozen cupcakes you need to quadruple the ingredients. I first doubled it and it it barely frosted 12 cupcakes. Amazing recipe and so good but you need to X4 everything to generously frost 24 cupcakes.
Jess
Chris - thanks so much for the comment. I'll add a note to the recipe too. It's been years since I've made this recipe, but it's one of my favorites! I'm sorry that the measurements were off!
Richard
Question, I made the frosting but it seems to be too viscous. I am unable to squeeze it through the pipping bag. How do I fix it to make the frosting easier to go through the pipping bag?
Jess Smith
You can always adjust the consistency by beating in extra milk - it really can vary, especially depending on how compressed the powdered sugar is when you add it.
Maso
Does it need to be in the refrigerated?
Jess Smith
Yes - it should be refrigerated.