Personalized Introduction
If you love chocolate chip cookies and Nutella, imagine combining both into one soft, chewy cookie. That is exactly what makes these Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookies so special. They have a buttery cookie base, rich hazelnut chocolate flavor, plenty of chocolate chips, and deliciously soft centers.
I love this recipe when I want something a little more exciting than a traditional chocolate chip cookie. Nutella adds a creamy chocolate-hazelnut flavor that makes every bite taste rich and indulgent without making the recipe complicated.
These cookies are wonderful for afternoon snacks, weekend baking, lunchbox treats, holiday cookie trays, or whenever you have a serious chocolate craving. You can enjoy them warm from the oven when the chocolate chips are still melted, or let them cool completely for a soft and chewy cookie.
The best part is that you do not need any special equipment. A mixing bowl, spoon or mixer, baking sheet, and cookie scoop are enough to make a beautiful batch of homemade cookies.
If you have a jar of Nutella sitting in your pantry, this is a delicious way to turn it into something everyone will love.
Recipe Origin & Story
Chocolate hazelnut spread has become a favorite ingredient in desserts around the world. Its creamy texture and combination of roasted hazelnuts and chocolate make it especially delicious in baked goods.
Chocolate chip cookies are another timeless favorite, so bringing these two flavors together is a natural match.
Instead of making a completely traditional cookie and simply adding Nutella on top, this recipe incorporates Nutella directly into the dough. That gives the finished cookies a deeper chocolate-hazelnut flavor while keeping the centers soft.
For an extra special result, you can also add small spoonfuls of Nutella to the tops of the cookies after baking. When the cookies are still warm, the spread becomes wonderfully creamy and creates an attractive bakery-style finish.
Ingredient Spotlight
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure needed for thick, chewy cookies.
- Butter: Adds richness and creates a delicious buttery flavor.
- Nutella: Provides the signature chocolate-hazelnut flavor and extra richness.
- Brown Sugar: Helps create soft, chewy centers.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the edges become lightly crisp.
- Egg: Helps bind the ingredients together and contributes to the cookie’s texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the chocolate and buttery flavors.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cookies spread and brown properly.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate Chips: Add melted chocolate pockets throughout every cookie.
Nutella: Use your favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread. Make sure it is at room temperature so it mixes easily into the dough.
Chocolate chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips are a great choice because they balance the sweetness of the Nutella. Milk chocolate chips can be used if you prefer a sweeter cookie, while dark chocolate chips create a richer flavor.
Butter: Use softened butter rather than melted butter. Softened butter creams more effectively with the sugars and helps create the right cookie structure.
Nutritional Benefits
These cookies are a dessert, so they are best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than as a health-focused snack.
Eggs and dairy ingredients provide small amounts of protein, while flour provides carbohydrates. Hazelnuts in chocolate-hazelnut spread contribute some naturally occurring fats and minerals.
If you want smaller portions, use a smaller cookie scoop and reduce the baking time slightly. Mini cookies are perfect for parties and dessert tables.
You can also use dark chocolate chips if you prefer a less sweet chocolate flavor.
Adaptable Variations
- Double Chocolate Nutella Cookies: Add cocoa powder to the dough for a deeper chocolate flavor.
- Dark Chocolate Version: Use dark chocolate chips or chunks.
- White Chocolate Nutella Cookies: Replace some of the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips.
- Hazelnut Crunch: Add chopped toasted hazelnuts to the dough.
- Sea Salt Cookies: Sprinkle a tiny amount of flaky sea salt over the cookies after baking.
- Stuffed Nutella Cookies: Place a small frozen spoonful of Nutella in the center of each dough ball before baking.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies: Add peanut butter chips for a chocolate-hazelnut-peanut butter combination.
- Espresso Cookies: Add a small amount of instant espresso powder to intensify the chocolate flavor.
For a simple bakery-style finish, press a few extra chocolate chips onto the tops of the cookies immediately after they come out of the oven.
Cooking Science Explained
Why use softened butter? Softened butter can be beaten with sugar to create a light, creamy mixture. This helps give the cookies their tender texture.
Why use brown sugar? Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds moisture and helps produce a chewy center.
Why chill the dough? Nutella adds softness and richness to the dough. Chilling can help firm the butter and reduce excessive spreading during baking.
Why avoid overmixing? Once flour is added, excessive mixing can develop gluten and make cookies tougher. Mix just until the dry ingredients disappear.
Why do cookies continue cooking after leaving the oven? The baking sheet remains hot, so the cookies continue to set for several minutes. Removing them while the centers still look slightly soft helps preserve a chewy texture.
Easy, Step-by-Step Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup Nutella or another chocolate-hazelnut spread
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts, optional
- Flaky sea salt, optional for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream the butter: Add the softened butter to a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
- Add the sugars: Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat for approximately 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg: Beat in the egg until completely incorporated.
- Add vanilla: Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Add Nutella: Add the Nutella and mix until the dough looks evenly combined and creamy.
- Add the dry ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture. Mix only until no obvious streaks of flour remain.
- Add chocolate chips: Fold in the chocolate chips and optional chopped hazelnuts.
- Chill if needed: If the dough feels very soft, refrigerate it for approximately 20–30 minutes.
- Scoop the dough: Use a cookie scoop to form evenly sized dough balls.
- Arrange: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving approximately 2 inches of space between them.
- Bake: Bake for approximately 10–13 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies.
- Check the centers: The edges should look set while the centers remain slightly soft.
- Add extra chocolate: Press a few additional chocolate chips into the tops while the cookies are still warm if desired.
- Add sea salt: Sprinkle a tiny amount of flaky sea salt over the cookies for a sweet-and-salty finish.
- Cool: Let the cookies remain on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes.
- Transfer: Move the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool further.
- Serve: Enjoy warm or completely cooled with your favorite drink.
Practical & Valuable Tips
- Do not melt the butter: Softened butter gives you better control over the dough.
- Measure flour correctly: Too much flour can make the cookies dry.
- Do not overmix: Stop as soon as the flour is incorporated.
- Chill soft dough: This can help prevent excessive spreading.
- Use parchment paper: It makes removing the cookies easier.
- Do not overbake: Soft centers are what make these cookies delicious.
- Use extra chocolate chips: Press them onto the tops for a bakery-style appearance.
If you want thicker cookies, chill the dough for longer before baking. If your first batch spreads too much, refrigerate the remaining dough before putting it into the oven.
If your cookies come out too thick, gently flatten the next dough balls before baking.
For the most attractive cookies, make sure the chocolate chips are visible on top rather than buried entirely inside the dough.
Make-Ahead & Batch-Cooking
These cookies are excellent for make-ahead baking. Prepare the dough, scoop it into portions, and refrigerate the dough balls until you are ready to bake.
You can also freeze unbaked cookie dough portions. Place the dough balls on a tray and freeze until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag.
When you want fresh cookies, bake the frozen dough portions directly from frozen, adding a little extra baking time as needed.
Baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.
For longer storage, place cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers.
Eco-Friendly Kitchen Hacks
- Use leftover Nutella for toast, pancakes, waffles, or fruit.
- Use broken chocolate pieces instead of throwing them away.
- Turn extra cookies into an ice cream topping.
- Freeze extra cookie dough rather than letting ingredients go unused.
- Use reusable containers for storing baked cookies.
If you have cookies that are slightly past their freshest stage, crumble them over vanilla ice cream or yogurt. They can become a delicious dessert topping instead of going to waste.
Pairing Suggestions
- Beverages: Cold milk, coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate, or iced coffee.
- Desserts: Vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, or fresh strawberries.
- Special Treat: Warm a cookie and serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Cold milk is my favorite classic pairing because it balances the rich chocolate-hazelnut flavor.
For an indulgent dessert, warm one cookie for a few seconds and serve it with vanilla ice cream. Add a small drizzle of warmed Nutella over the top for an extra-special finish.
Coffee is another excellent choice because its slightly bitter flavor balances the sweetness of the cookie.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use any chocolate-hazelnut spread?
Yes. Nutella is the classic choice, but another chocolate-hazelnut spread can also work. - Can I make these cookies without hazelnuts?
Absolutely. The Nutella already provides plenty of chocolate-hazelnut flavor, so chopped hazelnuts are completely optional. - Why did my cookies spread too much?
The butter may have been too warm or the dough may have been too soft. Chill the dough before baking the next batch. - Can I use milk chocolate chips?
Yes. Milk chocolate creates a sweeter cookie, while semi-sweet or dark chocolate provides more contrast. - Can I stuff the cookies with Nutella?
Yes. Freeze small portions of Nutella first, then wrap cookie dough around each portion before baking. - How do I keep the cookies soft?
Do not overbake them. Remove them when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. - Can I freeze the dough?
Yes. Scoop the dough into individual portions and freeze them in an airtight freezer-safe container. - Can I add sea salt?
Yes. A small amount of flaky sea salt creates a delicious sweet-and-salty contrast. - Can I make smaller cookies?
Yes. Use a smaller cookie scoop and reduce the baking time slightly. - How should I store the cookies?
Keep completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.
Call to Action
If you are a chocolate lover, these Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookies are a must-try.
They combine everything you love about classic chocolate chip cookies with the rich, creamy flavor of chocolate hazelnut spread. The result is a soft, chewy, chocolate-packed cookie that is incredibly hard to resist.
They are perfect for family baking, parties, holidays, lunchboxes, homemade gifts, or simply satisfying a sweet craving at home.
Grab your jar of Nutella and a bag of chocolate chips, and bake a batch of these irresistible cookies today!
Bonus: Your Kitchen Notes
For the best-looking cookies, save a handful of chocolate chips before mixing the dough. After you scoop the cookies onto the baking sheet, press a few chips into the tops of each dough ball.
This simple trick makes the finished cookies look much more professional.
If you want an even richer Nutella flavor, add a small spoonful of Nutella to the center of each cookie after baking. Use the back of a spoon to create a small indentation while the cookie is still warm, then fill it with Nutella.
Another favorite finishing touch is flaky sea salt. You only need a tiny amount to create a wonderful contrast between the sweet cookie and slightly salty topping.
Remember that the cookies should still look slightly soft in the center when you take them from the oven. They will continue to set on the hot baking sheet as they cool.
Whether you enjoy them warm with melted chocolate chips or completely cooled with a cup of coffee, these cookies are an easy homemade treat that is sure to disappear quickly.
Soft, chewy, buttery, and packed with chocolate chips and creamy hazelnut spread, these Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookies are the ultimate cookie for Nutella lovers.
