Nutella Sauce
Nutella Sauce is a decadent, silky smooth hot fudge sauce you’ll want to pour over everything! Perfect for serving with ice cream, cheesecake, pancakes, and more.
Confession: I tend to eat dessert every day.
Sometimes it’s small batch brownies or small batch chocolate chip cookies.
Other times it’s a handful of M&Ms or gummy worms.
But then there are times I don’t have anything ready and need to whip up something quick.
That’s when I pull out some Nutella ice cream from the freezer and pour this Nutella Sauce all over.
It’s pretty much homemade hot fudge sauce with Nutella added to it.
In fact it’s SO easy, if you can melt chocolate you can make Nutella Sauce.
My Nutella sauce is more magical than most recipes thanks to one secret ingredient, which really makes the chocolate taste more chocolaty.
And of course you don’t have to dirty the dishes every time you want some. Make a jar ahead of time to keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
What is Nutella?
Nutella is a chocolate hazelnut spread with the same smooth, creamy texture as peanut butter. Pretty much if you can use peanut butter in a recipe, you can use Nutella.
I first tried it when I was studying abroad in Ireland. Europe really does love their Nutella!
You can find it in most grocery stores in the peanut butter aisle.
Not a fan of Nutella? Make my peanut butter ice cream sauce and pour it over Peanut Butter Ice Cream.
Ingredients For Nutella Sauce
To make your chocolate sauce from Nutella, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Baking chocolate: Semisweet chocolate is ideal but if you’re a dark chocolate lover like, you can also use bittersweet.
- Heavy cream: Similar to making ganache, heavy cream helps the sauce set with a pourable consistency. Otherwise your melted chocolate will harden into a big block of chocolate. Do not substitute milk or half and half because you need the higher fat content.
- Nutella: The star of the hot fudge sauce!
- Espresso powder: Has a bolder flavor than instant coffee
- Vanilla: Much like the espresso, vanilla also brings out the chocolate flavor.
What is espresso powder?
Espresso powder is brewed espresso that has been dehydrated to create water-soluble granules. This is not the same as coffee grounds.
It’s more concentrated than instant coffee, which means it has a stronger (and better) flavor for baked goods.
You can find it in the coffee aisle and in specialty Italian groceries.
How To Make Nutella Sauce
Ready to start making your Nutella sauce?
- Melt chocolate and cream, stirring often to ensure it doesn’t burn.
- Whisk in Nutella, espresso powder, and vanilla until smooth.
Serve over vanilla bean ice cream or small batch pancakes
How To Store Nutella Sauce
Store your homemade Nutella sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It’ll harden once cold, so spoon a few tablespoons into a bowl and microwave until pourable again.
Nutella Sauce FAQ
Yes! Whisk in more heavy cream for a thinner sauce.
Yes, you can make it up to 2 weeks ahead of time.
Yes. Nutella is a gluten free ingredient, so this sauce is also gluten free.
More Nutella Recipes
Nutella Sauce
Nutella Sauce is a decadent, silky smooth hot fudge sauce you’ll want to pour over everything! Perfect for serving with ice cream, cheesecake, pancakes, and more.
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (do not substitute)
- 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 3 tablespoons Nutella
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder (optional for non-coffee lovers)*
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat cream until hot and bubbly but not boiling. Add the chocolate and stir until melted.
- Remove from the heat. Stir in the Nutella, espresso powder, and vanilla until smooth. Serve immediately.
Refrigerate in a jar for up to 2 weeks. When ready to use, warm it up until pourable.
Notes
- Don't have espresso powder? Use 1/4 cup heavy cream + 2 tablespoons prepared coffee.
- Serve your sauce over Nutella ice cream.
- Don't like Nutella? Check out my hot fudge sauce or peanut butter ice cream sauce.
First published July 19, 2012
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchase.
And….Nutella for the win!! Oh my what a great ice cream topping. I like the overflowing over the rim photo, makes it real.
Shhhh, the overflowing fudge sauce was done on purpose to emphasize the ooey-gooey richness.
NUTELLA!!!! and ESPRESSO!!! these are a few of my favorite things (can you hear the music playing?) I first starting using it about 2 years ago and was so happy to see that you can get a two-pack at Costco :-)
Dear ice cream twin,
We must stop meeting like this.
Love, Jen
You made a tiny mess. Can I lick that up for you? I mean, I’ll just take a taste. haha
That looks so good Carla! OMG! Nutella is my favorite, then you added espresso – seriously? I can’t even imagine what that tastes like but I am betting it is rich, and creamy and chocolatey and delicious and I want some. GREAT post!
Want that.
NOW!
ooh another easy one :) Yumm ! Love Nutella and the expresso nutella combo sounds heavenly ! Am pinning this and makeing it when the craving hits !
Ice cream week has been the best week so far this year, hands down! Thank you for this luscious recipe – Nutella is one of humanity’s greatest creations in my opinion!
I never would have thought to combine espresso with Nutella. Mostly because of the hazelnut flavor in Nutella which sometimes irritates me – don’t get me wrong, I love Nutella, but sometimes the hazelnut gets in the way when using the spread in combo with other flavors. But then, hazelnut cream is a very common adder for coffee, so why not with espresso powder? Very cool…
Nutella ice cream topped with nutella fudge! I’m on my way over. This frozen treat looks amazing! I hate that #icecreamweek is almost over. Boo!!!
Okay this is brilliant. I can’t even explain how cool I think this is.
Whoa! That looks ridiculously good!!
Golly Gosh this looks AWESOME. *scrolling up to finish drooling*
Oh Carla, Oh Carla, why do you do this to me. I want that like RIGHT NOW! All of these ice cream posts are making me want to break out the ice cream making this weekend!!!