Can You Make Chocolate Milk With Nutella?

That jar of lusciously velvety Nutella sitting in your pantry is beckoning. Its rich, chocolatey hazelnut spread could easily transform into a delectable drink. Is it possible to craft chocolate milk simply by blending Nutella with regular milk? Let’s investigate whether everyone’s favorite spread contains the right ingredients and properties to mix into chocolatey, malt-flavored milk. Get ready to find out if a touch of hazelnut will infuse scrumptious new flavor into your glass or if the oils will curdle the milk into an unappealing mess. By understanding the science of emulsification, we’ll discover if Nutella can churn out the chocolate milk of your dreams or lead to undrinkable disappointment.

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Snapshot Summary

Yes, you can make chocolate milk with Nutella! While Nutella is quite thick, you can thin it out by mixing it with milk. Start by pouring a cup of cold milk into a glass or jar. Then add a few tablespoons of Nutella and whisk or blend vigorously until the Nutella is fully incorporated into the milk. You’ll need to experiment with the ratios to get the chocolate flavor as strong as you like. The resulting drink will be a chocolatey, hazelnut-flavored milk. It makes for a tasty on-the-go breakfast or snack when you want something chocolaty but need chocolate syrup.

What is Nutella?

Nutella, the popular hazelnut chocolate spread, can be used to make a tasty chocolate milk beverage. By mixing Nutella with milk and blending well, you can create a rich, chocolatey drink similar to chocolate milk made with cocoa powder.

Benefits of Using Nutella Instead of Cocoa

Using Nutella to make chocolate milk comes with some advantages over traditional cocoa powder:

Flavor – Nutella has a more complex hazelnut-chocolate flavor compared to plain cocoa. This adds more depth and sweetness to the chocolate milk.
Creaminess – The oils and fat in Nutella help make the chocolate milk creamier and smoother than cocoa powder alone. Nutella has a velvety texture.
Sweetness – Nutella contains sugar, so it naturally sweetens the chocolate milk without adding extra sugar. Cocoa powder has a bitter taste on its own.
Convenience – Nutella requires no prep work, scoop and mix. Cocoa powder needs to be blended with milk thoroughly to dissolve.

Simple Ingredients: Nutella and Milk

The ingredients to make Nutella chocolate milk are simple:

Nutella
Milk

Nutella

Use regular store-bought Nutella in a 13 oz glass jar or squeeze bottle.
Nutella contains sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, skim milk, and vanilla.

Milk

Whole milk, 2% reduced fat milk, or skim milk all work well.
For richer chocolate milk, use whole milk. For lower fat, use skim.
Milk helps thin out the thick Nutella into liquid form.
Any variety of milk can be used – dairy, plant-based, etc.

Steps to Make Nutella Chocolate Milk

Making chocolate milk with Nutella only requires a few simple steps:

1. Add Nutella to Glass

Scoop 2-3 tablespoons of Nutella into a tall glass.

2. Heat Milk

In the microwave or stove, heat 1 cup of milk until hot but not boiling.

3. Mix and Blend Milk and Nutella

Pour hot milk over the Nutella glob in the glass.
Using a whisk or spoon, vigorously mix the Nutella into the hot milk until fully blended.

4. Adjust Nutella and Milk Ratios to Taste

Add more Nutella for thicker, richer chocolate milk.
Add more milk to thin out and dilute the chocolate flavor.

5. Serve and Enjoy Nutella Chocolate Milk

Add ice if you want chilled chocolate milk.
Garnish with extras like whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or hazelnuts.
Enjoy your homemade Nutella chocolate milk!

Troubleshooting Tips

If you have trouble getting smooth chocolate milk, try these tips:

Make sure the milk is hot enough to melt Nutella fully when mixed.
Add a dash of vanilla extract to help incorporate Nutella.
Use a milk frother or immersion blender for perfect smoothness.
For very thick Nutella, microwave it for 10-15 seconds before adding milk.

Other Uses for Nutella

Nutella, the popular chocolate hazelnut spread, is very versatile. While delicious eaten straight from the jar, Nutella can be used in many other sweet and savory ways. From breakfasts to desserts, here are ideas for how to incorporate Nutella into all types of foods and recipes.

Nutella on Toast or Bagels

One of the most popular uses for Nutella is spreading it on toast or bagels. The chocolate hazelnut flavor is an indulgent breakfast topping.

Bread choices – Nutella pairs well with white or whole wheat toast, English muffins, crumpets, biscuits, croissants, etc.
Bagel flavors – Complement Nutella with sweet bagels like cinnamon raisin or plain. Avoid savory bagels.
Additions – Enhance your Nutella toast with extras like bananas, strawberries, coconut flakes, powdered sugar, or honey.
Toasting – Lightly toast the bread first for a crispy Nutella canvas. Or leave it soft for a decadent open-faced sandwich.

Nutella as a Cupcake or Cake Frosting

Nutella makes for a creamy chocolate hazelnut frosting.

Use it to frost cupcakes for an easy shortcut over traditional buttercream.
Fill two cake layers with Nutella for a surprise chocolate center.
Pipe Nutella frosting onto cakes in creative designs.
Pair Nutella frosting with chocolate or vanilla cakes for complementary flavors.
Refrigerate Nutella-frosted baked goods to firm up the frosting.

Nutella Hot Chocolate

For a luxurious winter drink, blend Nutella into hot milk or cream for an indulgent hot chocolate.

Milk – Whole milk or cream provides a rich flavor for Nutella hot chocolate.
Sweeteners – Add sugar, honey, or chocolate syrup to taste. Nutella is already quite sweet.
Spices – A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or peppermint extract enhances Nutella’s flavors.
Toppings – Finish with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and marshmallows.

Nutella Smoothies

Nutella’s chocolate-hazelnut taste shines in smoothies.

Fruit – Bananas, strawberries, and raspberries pair especially well with Nutella.
Yogurt – Add Greek or regular yogurt for extra creaminess and protein.
Milk – Use milk, almond milk, or ice cream to blend Nutella smoothies.
Ice – Add ice cubes or even frozen fruit for thicker, cold smoothies.

Nutella Hot Pancake Topping

Drizzle warm Nutella over pancakes, waffles, or French toast for breakfast.

The heat softens the Nutella so it drizzles smoothly.
Fruit toppings like bananas, berries, and pineapple go well with Nutella.
Add powdered sugar for extra sweetness.
For Nutella pancakes, swirl the spread directly into the batter before cooking.

Nutella Grilled Cheese

For an unexpected savory use, spread Nutella on the inside of a grilled cheese sandwich.

Use butter or mayo on the outside of the bread to grill.
Bread – Nutella grilled cheese works well with whole wheat, sourdough, brioche, or white bread.
Cheese – Pair Nutella with semi-soft cheeses like cheddar, Gruyère, or Havarti.
Additions – Complement with sliced apple, ham, or roasted tomatoes inside.

Nutella Quick Bread or Muffins

Incorporate Nutella into banana bread, zucchini bread, or muffin batters.

Swirl Nutella directly into bread doughs or muffin batters before baking.
Chop Nutella into small chunks to mix into batters for pockets of chocolate hazelnut.
Drizzle Nutella over finished bread or muffins for extra flavor.
Nuts like walnuts or pecans enhance Nutella’s nuttiness.

Nutella Spread on Fruit

Fruit dipped or spread with Nutella makes for a simple, healthy snack.

Apples and pears – Slice and dip apples or pears directly into Nutella.
Bananas – Drizzle sliced bananas with Nutella or spread it between banana slices.
Strawberries – Dip whole strawberries into Nutella for an indulgent chocolate-covered treat.

Nutella Cookies

Nutella is delicious baked into cookies like chocolate chip, peanut butter, or shortbread.

Swirl Nutella into cookie dough before baking.
Sandwich Nutella between large cookie halves to make cookie ice cream sandwiches.
Fill thumbprint or sandwich cookie centers with Nutella.
Drizzle Nutella over the finished cookies for extra flavor.

Nutella Rice Krispy Treats

Make homemade Rice Krispy treats even better with Nutella.

Swirl Nutella directly into the melted marshmallow-butter-cereal mixture.
Layer Nutella between stacked Rice Krispy treats.
Spread Nutella on top of finished, cooled Rice Krispy bars.

Nutella Hot Dogs

For an unexpected savory-sweet flavor, spread Nutella on hot dogs.

Works best with plain dogs – avoid chili, cheese, or other topped hot dogs.
You can also spread Nutella on the inside of the hot dog bun.
Pair Nutella dogs with crunchy kettle chips or potato chips.

Nutella Quesadillas

Fill flour tortillas with Nutella solo or with additions:

Sliced fruit like bananas, strawberries or mango
Sliced chocolate – milk, dark or white chocolate
Hazelnuts – whole, chopped, hazelnut spread
Powdered sugar – for extra sweetness

Nutella Sandwich Cookies

Sandwich any flavor cookie around Nutella for easy homemade treats.

Chocolate cookies – like Oreos or chocolate chunk cookies
Vanilla cookies – like shortbread or sugar cookies
Peanut butter cookies – for a PB&Nutella flavor

Is Nutella Healthy?

The iconic chocolate-hazelnut spread Nutella is beloved for its rich, indulgent taste. But many people wonder – is Nutella actually a healthy food choice? With its long list of processed ingredients, there are reasons to be skeptical. However, enjoyed in moderation, Nutella can have a place in an overall balanced diet.

Nutella’s Ingredients

To determine how healthy Nutella is, you have to look at what’s inside. The main ingredients in Nutella are:

Sugar
Palm oil
Hazelnuts
Cocoa powder
Skim milk
Soy lecithin
Vanillin

High Sugar Content

By far, the main ingredient is sugar, making up over 50% of Nutella.
Each serving (2 Tbsp) contains 21g of sugar – 86% of your daily value.
This high amount of added sugar is Nutella’s biggest dietary downside.

Palm Oil Concerns

The second biggest ingredient is palm oil, comprising 20% of Nutella.
Palm oil production has raised environmental concerns around deforestation.
However, Nutella’s parent company, Ferrero, states they now use 100% certified sustainable palm oil.

Benefits of Hazelnuts

Nutella does contain hazelnuts, which provide benefits:

Monounsaturated fats for heart health
Vitamin E – an antioxidant
Plant-based protein
However, hazelnuts are still high in fat and calories.

Minimal Cocoa

While marketed as a chocolate spread, Nutella only contains 7.4% cocoa powder.
The small cocoa amount provides antioxidants like flavonoids.
But you would get more chocolate flavor and benefit from dark chocolate.

Skim Milk

Skim milk adds a dairy component with protein, calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus.
However, many people prefer to avoid dairy for health or dietary reasons.

Negligible Micronutrients

Nutella has no significant micronutrient value, as it lacks:

Fiber
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Iron
Potassium
Other vitamins and minerals

High in Calories

One serving of Nutella (37g) provides:

200 calories
21g total fat
2g protein

So, the calorie density is quite high for the small serving size.

Glycemic Index and Blood Sugar

Nutella has a glycemic index of 68, which is considered high.
The sugar causes a rapid blood sugar spike after eating.
It is not ideal for diabetics or those managing blood sugar.

Contains Trans Fats

While small, Nutella contains trans fats:

0.1g per serving
Trans fats are considered the unhealthiest type of fat.

Artificial Ingredients

Nutella includes minor artificial ingredients:

Soy lecithin – An emulsifier and stabilizer
Vanillin – Artificial vanilla flavoring

Nutella in a Healthy Lifestyle

While Nutella may seem unhealthy based on its nutritional profile, you can incorporate it into your diet in moderation through:

Small serving sizes – Stick to 1-2 Tbsp max at a time.
Occasional treat – Enjoy Nutella a couple of times a week rather than daily.
Pair Nutella with healthier choices like fruit, oatmeal, or whole wheat toast.
Balance Nutella indulgences with more nutritious foods and physical activity.
Read labels and choose products with fewer artificial ingredients when possible.
Homemade versions can be healthier by minimizing sugar.

FAQs

What Gives Chocolate Milk its Distinct Texture?

Chocolate milk gets its signature creamy texture and chocolate flavor from:

Cocoa powder – De-fatted powdered cocoa provides a pure chocolate taste without excess oils.
Emulsifiers – Lecithin is added to join fat and water molecules and prevent separation.
Stabilizers – Carrageenan or gums thicken the milk and prolong the suspension of particles.
Sweeteners – Sugar or corn syrup provides sweetness to balance cocoa bitterness.
Milk – The dairy fat in whole milk also helps emulsion. Skim or reduced-fat milk requires more emulsifiers.

Through homogenization and the addition of emulsifiers/stabilizers, the cocoa fat globules remain evenly dispersed in the milk rather than separated. This creates a smooth, rich chocolate milk consistency.

What is Nutella Made Of?

Nutella contains:

Cocoa – Provides deep chocolate flavor but contains extra cocoa butter fat.
Hazelnuts – Up to 13% hazelnuts lend Nutella its signature flavor and increase the fat content.
Vegetable oils – Palm, canola, and sunflower oils are blended in, comprising about 20% of Nutella.
Sugar – Powdered sugar partially offsets the bitter cocoa.
Milk powders – Skim milk and whey powders add creaminess.
Emulsifier – Soy lecithin is the only emulsifier used. Vanillin enhances the flavor.

Nutella has a much higher fat percentage from cocoa butter and oils and lacks added stabilizers. This affects its ability to blend into milk without separating.

Conclusion

While Nutella contains cocoa, using it to make chocolate milk won’t give you the traditional taste and texture you’d expect. Nutella is a spreadable hazelnut and cocoa mixture with a very distinct flavor profile from normal chocolate syrup or cocoa powder. Attempting to thin out Nutella with milk will likely result in a grainy, overly sweet concoction that doesn’t dissolve well. For best results, use higher quality chocolate, either melted into the milk or mixed with hot milk and sweetener in the form of syrup or powder. Nutella is delicious but best enjoyed as-is or paired with fruit. Save it for spreading on toast or crepes rather than trying to transform it into chocolate milk.