Nutella Cupcakes

Table of Contents

1. Nutella Cupcakes Ingredients
2. Substitutions And Additions
3. How To Make This Recipe For Nutella Cupcakes
4. How To Serve
5. Storage
6. Why We Love This Recipe
7. More Cupcake Recipes
8. JUMP TO RECIPE
9. More Easy Recipes

These Nutella cupcakes perfectly blend velvety chocolate with the unmistakable flavor of roasted hazelnuts. The moist, soft cupcake isn’t too sweet, letting the Nutella shine. A decadent Nutella center adds a burst of creamy, nutty richness, while the whipped Nutella frosting melts in your mouth. These cupcakes don’t just satisfy a sweet tooth—they’re the kind of dessert Nutella lovers dream about long after the last bite.

Let’s Dish: What To Know About This Recipe

Main Ingredients: Nutella, flour, cocoa powder, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and butter.
Quick Steps: Combine dry ingredients, mix with wet ingredients, bake, fill with Nutella, and frost with Nutella buttercream.
Total Time & Yield: 1 hour 5 minutes; makes 14-16 cupcakes.

Why This Nutella Cupcake Recipe

• Instead of just swirling Nutella into the batter or using a simple frosting, we use Nutella both as a filling and in the buttercream. This ensures chocolate-hazelnut flavor in every bite.

• Many Nutella cupcake recipes stick to a basic buttercream, but our frosting uses real Nutella for a richer, smoother texture.

• The Nutella brings an extra depth of flavor, and just a touch of salt keeps the sweetness balanced, making these cupcakes indulgent without being too sugary.

• Additionally, our cupcakes have a soft and moist texture, thanks to the addition of sour cream and a perfectly blended cocoa base. This results in a cupcake that stays moist longer, unlike many that dry out after a day​.

Nutella Cupcakes Ingredients

Substitutions And Additions

LIQUEUR: The hazelnut liqueur is optional in this chocolate cupcake recipe. The cupcakes will get plenty of hazelnut flavor from the Nutella itself, but the liqueur is a fun addition.

If you omit the hazelnut liqueur from the cupcake batter, there is no need to substitute additional liquid in the batter.

*Please note that if you choose to include hazelnut liqueur, the alcohol content will not be cooked away in the frosting.

How To Make This Recipe For Nutella Cupcakes

For the Cupcakes

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside.

Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your Nutella chocolate cupcakes as the suggested baking time approaches.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl with a hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cake mix, instant pudding, eggs, oil, milk, espresso, and hazelnut liqueur, if using. 

STEP THREE: Beat on medium-high speed for 2 full minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl midway through mixing.

STEP FOUR: Scoop batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each cup no more than ⅔ of the way full. 

STEP FIVE: Bake for 20 minutes or until the cupcakes are puffed, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out with just a few crumbs. Remove the cupcake pan from the oven and cool completely.

STEP SIX: When the cupcakes are cool, use a serrated spoon or cupcake corer to carve out a small hole in the top center of each cupcake. Fill with Nutella.

Please note that the cupcakes lose their stability the larger the hole for the Nutella filling there is. If you like a lot of Nutella filling, you may want to top them with less frosting OR simply serve these delicious cupcakes with a fork and plate.

For the Frosting

You can freeze the cupcakes after filling them with Nutella to make them easier to move and decorate when adding the frosting.

Freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour, and then top with frosting. They will thaw quickly but will also stay sturdy when removing them from the muffin tin or transferring them onto a serving platter.

STEP ONE: With an electric mixer and large mixing bowl, beat together butter, vanilla, and hazelnut liqueur (if using) until smooth and creamy.

STEP TWO: Add the powdered sugar, half at a time, and beat until fully mixed. The mixture will be very thick.

STEP THREE: Add the Nutella and beat until fully combined.

STEP FOUR: While the mixer is still running on medium-low speed, pour heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, into the frosting mixture until desired consistency is achieved. 

STEP FIVE: Use a piping bag and open star piping tip to pipe fluffy swirls of frosting over the filled cupcakes. Sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles.

How To Serve

Nutella lovers will be in their element with these scrumptious cupcakes. For an even more decadent dessert, serve them with a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream and a warm mug of homemade hot chocolate.

Fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries are a sweet and tangy accompaniment to these cupcakes that is sure to please.

Nutella recipes always seem to be a winner anytime we whip up a batch. Check out our Nutella brownies and Nutella truffles for more chocolatey hazelnut goodness.

Storage

Whether you’re planning to make these cupcakes ahead of time or have leftovers, here are some handy tips for storing them.

MAKE AHEAD: If you want to get a head start on your baking, these Nutella cupcakes can be made ahead of time. Simply follow the recipe as instructed and allow the cupcakes to cool completely.

Once cooled, place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap. These cupcakes can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days before frosting.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store moist chocolate cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

IN THE FREEZER: Delicious chocolate Nutella cupcakes In the freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutella cupcakes are not only mouth-wateringly delicious but also surprisingly simple to make. They are ultra moist and fluffy, and the creamy Nutella frosting is so flavorful that you will love sinking your teeth into them. 

Why We Love This Recipe

• The flavor profile of Nutella cupcakes is a rich blend of sweet and nutty elements. The base has deep, velvety chocolate tones, thanks to cocoa, which provides a smooth, almost bittersweet richness.

• The roasted hazelnut flavor from the Nutella adds a nutty, earthy sweetness that complements the chocolate.

• The creamy Nutella center enhances the dessert with its indulgent, silky texture, while the whipped Nutella frosting brings a light, airy sweetness that melts in the mouth.

• Together, these elements create a well-rounded flavor experience that’s both comforting and indulgent, with balanced sweetness and a subtle nuttiness.

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