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    Home > Recipes > Dessert

    Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Nov 26, 2012 · Modified: Oct 7, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 15 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    nutella frosting on cupcakes

    cupcakes topped with frosting in red and blue paper liners

    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.

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    Favorite Tools

    • KitchenAid Stand Mixer
    Print Recipe
    4.33 from 52 votes

    Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting

    Turn the addictive Nutella chocolate-hazelnut spread into a creamy frosting.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: baking, frosting
    Servings: 1.5 cups
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $3.00

    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

    This recipe is easily doubled, which is a good idea if you will be frosting more than 12 cupcakes or want to use it on a cake or brownies.

    *This post contains affiliate links*

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Claire @ Claire K Creations

      November 26, 2012 at 12:41 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Jess

        November 26, 2012 at 6:35 pm

        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!

        Reply
    2. Averie @ Averie Cooks

      November 26, 2012 at 3:38 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Jess

        November 26, 2012 at 6:34 pm

        Oooo, Averie - I'm glad you pointed me in the direction of those brownies! Yum!

        Reply
    3. sally @ sallys baking addiction

      November 26, 2012 at 5:50 pm

      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!!

      Reply
      • Jess

        November 26, 2012 at 6:33 pm

        After this experiment, I've decided that there's nothing that isn't made better with the addition of nutella, Sally!

        Reply
    4. Ashley

      November 27, 2012 at 11:29 pm

      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 : )

      Reply
    5. cindy

      November 28, 2012 at 1:09 am

      This frosting look most delicious!

      Reply
    6. Karista

      November 29, 2012 at 9:37 am

      This is going on our Christmas baking day list. 🙂 Oh Yum!

      Reply
    7. Chris

      December 31, 2018 at 12:04 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Jess

        January 04, 2019 at 7:01 pm

        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!

        Reply
    8. Richard

      January 12, 2021 at 7:28 pm

      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?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        January 13, 2021 at 11:04 am

        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.

        Reply
    9. Maso

      March 23, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      Does it need to be in the refrigerated?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        March 23, 2022 at 12:15 pm

        Yes - it should be refrigerated.

        Reply

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