Nutella panna cotta combines the flavours of hazelnut and chocolate in a panna cotta form. And if you love the wiggly creamy dessert, but never had it with Nutella, you should definitely give this recipe a try. This Nutella panna cotta combines the best of both - while it does have a distinctive Nutella flavour, it's not "just" a Nutella dessert, but still tastes very much like a panna cotta.
Nutella panna cotta might be my favourite way to enjoy the famous hazelnut spread as an ingredient. While I love to eat Nutella on its own, making Nutella-flavoured desserts is just as fun. Remember my hazelnut tart with Nutella filling? Nutella panna cotta is a seriously good dessert.
Did you know that you can also make homemade Nutella with dark chocolate?
Ingredients & equipment
- Heavy cream - 40% fat recommended
- Nutella - or equivalent hazelnut spread from another brand
- Sugar
- Gelatin
- Milk
- Chopped hazelnuts - for a finishing touch
For detailed quantities, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
To make Nutella panna cotta you will need a small saucepan, a couple of bowls, a hand whisk and moulds to serve your panna cotta in.
How to make nutella panna cotta
1. Combine the cream, sugar and Nutella in a small saucepan and set on medium heat. Stir continuously until the Nutella dissolves (a hand whisk can help). Remove the mixture from the heat just before it reaches boiling temperature.
2. Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water. Aside, warm up the milk. When the gelatin has bloomed, drain it and squeeze any excess water. Stir it into the hot milk. Pour gelatin mixture into the saucepan and stir all the ingredients together.
3. Divide the mixture between moulds and place in the fridge to set for a minimum of 2 hours.
When hardened, unmould by flipping onto a serving plate and top with chopped hazelnuts.
Nutella panna cotta tips
You don't need to unmould the panna cotta and flip it in order to top it with hazelnuts. The beauty of panna cotta is that you can also serve it directly in the cups it has been hardened in. Just add the hazelnuts to the cup before serving.
I like to add chopped hazelnuts to up the hazelnut flavour, but Nutella panna cotta tastes delicious also on its own. I just think it's cute to add something, especially if that something gives a little bit of texture. If you don't have any hazelnuts, you can warm up (in the microwave on low) a couple of tablespoons of Nutella and just pipe that on top of your panna cotta for a simple decoration that does not require buying extra ingredients.
For more hazelnut recipes
Whether it is Nutella or any alternative brand, I love a good hazelnut spread. And while it's delicious on its own, it makes for a fantastic ingredient to use in more desserts. So here is a little selection of desserts where hazelnuts are main character, and in some of them Nutella is used as ingredient. Click on the pictures below to discover more recipes.
If you tried this recipe, let me know your thoughts in the comments. If you're planning to try it another time, pin this recipe to Pinterest. Please consider subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Instagram and on Pinterest.
This recipe was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated in October 2026.
Nutella Panna Cotta
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Bowls
- Serving cups/molds
- Hand whisk
Ingredients
- 250 ml whipping cream divided
- 50 ml milk
- 5 g gelatin sheets
- 30 g granulated sugar
- 70 g Nutella or other hazelnut spread
- 20 g chopped hazelnuts
Instructions
- Combine the cream, sugar and Nutella in a small saucepan and set on medium heat. Stir continuously until the Nutella dissolves (a hand whisk can help). Remove the mixture from the heat just before it reaches boiling temperature.
- Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water. Aside, warm up the milk. When the gelatin has bloomed, drain it and squeeze any excess water. Stir it into the hot milk. Pour gelatin mixture into the saucepan and stir all the ingredients together.
- Divide the mixture between moulds and place in the fridge to set for a minimum of 2 hours. When hardened, unmould by flipping onto a serving plate and top with chopped hazelnuts.
So much chocolatey goodness! Nutelloti? Yum.
They are amazing. I love Nutella 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
How many cups does this make?
Hi Maria! This makes 3 portions, or 4 if using small jars.
Wow I never heard of this before but it looks delicious! I am definitely gonna try it out! ☺️
It's such an amazing combination of flavour and texture! I'm sure you'll love it and you'll keep wondering how on earth you had never thought of this before 😀 That was me the first time I had it.
I found it to be too thick and dense. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Francesca! I believe the gelatin is to blame, different brands may yield different results. This is why I prefer to list it by weight, as sheets may have different thickness in different countries. If you're to make it again I'd say try with a tad less gelatin. Panna cotta shouldn't be too dense, better somewhat wiggly instead. Good luck!
I love this panna cotta! Very elegant and perfect to end a dinner !
Thank you very much Barbara!!