This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.
These Nutella Cupcakes are made with Nutella in the cupcake, a Nutella filling, and fluffy Nutella buttercream! They are east to make, moist, and bursting at the seams with amazing chocolate-hazelnut flavor!
Why You’ll Love This Nutella Cupcake Recipe
Nutella is like heaven in a jar. It’s dangerous for me to open a jar because I just want to eat it with a spoon, but then I’d never stop. So instead, let’s bake it into these cupcakes. They are almost like eating Nutella from the jar because they are so full of Nutella flavor. They’re amazing and here’s why.
- Loaded with Nutella flavor. I did not skimp on the Nutella here folks. From the batter to the frosting to the pure Nutella filling, these cupcakes are bursting the chocolate-hazelnut goodness.
- A sweet surprise. I cored these cupcakes and filled them with Nutella before covering the evidence with buttercream. It makes them so fun to bite into. No one will expect the Nutella surprise in the center.
- So moist. These cupcakes are wonderfully moist and tender and will stay that way for days.
- Simple recipe. The mixing method for the cupcake batter is as simple as it gets. Combine the dry ingredients, then the wet ingredients, and then mix it all together. That’s it! Quick and easy!
What You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious Nutella cupcake recipe. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.
For the Nutella cupcakes
- All-purpose flour – Be sure to measure the flour correctly so you don’t end up with a dry cake. I always recommend a food scale for accuracy, but you can use the spoon and level method as well.
- Baking powder and baking soda – Using both baking powder and baking soda gives the cake the best rise and tender texture. Learn more about baking soda and baking powder.
- Salt and Vanilla extract – Both add flavor to the cake. Be sure not to leave out the salt or you’ll end up with a bland cake.
- Unsalted butter – You’ll use melted butter in these cupcakes, since we aren’t creaming anything together. I use unsalted butter, but if you only have salted butter on hand, just leave out the added salt.
- Sugar – For sweetness, but also for added moisture and a tender texture.
- Eggs – Be sure to use large eggs, not medium or extra large.
- Sour cream – The sour cream adds extra fat and moisture to help make these cupcakes nice and moist.
- Nutella – The star here!
- Milk – I recommend either 2% or whole milk. Milks with less fat will make your cupcakes less moist and tender.
Filling, Frosting, and Decorating
- Unsalted butter – The butter should be at room temperature. Using butter that is too cold will make it hard to combine.
- Nutella – For our amazing Nutella flavor, of course! You’ll need some for the buttercream and the filling.
- Powdered sugar – Powdered sugar helps to sweeten and thicken the frosting. You can adjust it, if desired, but keep in mind that adjustments change the consistency of the frosting.
- Heavy cream – To make the buttercream nice and creamy.
- Ferrero Rocher candies – The candies are optional but they make a lovely garnish.
How to Make Nutella Cupcakes
You’re going to love how quickly and easily these cupcakes come together. Here’s a brief look at how to do it. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
Make the cupcakes
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
- Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine the wet ingredients. Whisk together the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk in the eggs followed by the sour cream and Nutella and then, finally, the milk.
- Put it all together. Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- Bake. Fill the cupcake liners a little more than 1/2 full and bake for 16-20 minutes.
- Cool. Set the cupcake pan on a cooling rack to cool.
- Make the buttercream. Whisk together the butter and Nutella. Whisk in half of the powdered sugar followed by 2 tablespoons of cream and then the remaining powdered sugar. Whisk in the remaining cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the buttercream is too thick.
- Core the cupcakes. Use a cupcake corer to remove the centers from the cupcakes.
- Fill, frost, and decorate. Fill the cored cupcakes with the additional Nutella and then pipe the buttercream on top of the cupcakes. Garnish with half a Ferrero Rocher candy and finely chopped hazelnuts, if desired.
Tips for Success
Set yourself up for success and read these simple tips and tricks before getting started. You’ll be glad you did it because they will help you achieve some of the best cupcakes you’ve ever tasted!
- Measure your flour correctly. I highly recommend using a food scale. If not, check out my post on how to properly measure your flour, to be sure you don’t over measure and end up with dry cupcakes.
- Don’t over-mix. When combining the wet and dry ingredients, do not overmix. Mix just until everything is incorporated. Mixing much beyond that can cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop which can end you with tough, dense cupcakes.
- Scrap down the sides of the bowl. When adding and mixing ingredients into the batter and the frosting, scrape down the sides of the bowl intermittently to ensure all of the ingredients make it into the mix, so you don’t end up with lumps.
- Cool completely. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before coring, filling, and frosting them. If they are too warm, the frosting will slide off.
- Invest in a cupcake corer. You can use a small knife or a cupcake corer to fill the cupcakes. Both work well, but the corer does make the job quicker and easier.
Best Tools for the Job
Here are my favorite things to use for making these cupcakes just right.
- Cupcake Pan – I like this lighter colored muffin/cupcake pan from Wilton.
- Cupcake corer – I’ve mentioned it a few times, but this cupcake corer works great.
- Piping bags – For a reusable bag, I like this piping bag. If looking for disposable ones, I use these piping bags.
- Piping Tip – I used the Ateco 847 tip for these cupcakes.
How to Store Cupcakes
Arrange the cupcakes in an airtight cupcake carrier or in a single layer in an airtight container (just make sure there’s enough room for the frosting!). They can be stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours, in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you choose to freeze them, allow the cupcakes to thaw in the fridge before indulging.
More Nutella Desserts
Obsessed with Nutella? You aren’t alone. Here are some of my other yummy Nutella desserts.
- Nutella Cheesecake
- Nutella Biscoff Icebox Cake
- Nutella Fudge Brownies
- No Bake Nutella Cheesecake
- Nutella Chocolate Cake
- Caramel Macchiato Tiramisu Trifle with Nutella
Nutella Cupcakes
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 31 minutes
- Yield: 14-16 Cupcakes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Nutella Cupcakes are made with Nutella in the cupcake, a Nutella filling, and fluffy Nutella buttercream! They are east to make, moist, and bursting at the seams with amazing chocolate-hazelnut flavor!
Ingredients
Nutella Cupcakes
- 1 2/3 cups (217g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (207g) sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (115g) sour cream
- 1/2 cup (160g) Nutella
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk
Nutella Buttercream
- 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (160g) Nutella
- 4 cups (460g) powdered sugar
- 2–4 tbsp (30-60ml) heavy cream
- 7–8 Ferrero Rocher candies, optional
Additional
- 1 cup (320g) Nutella, for filling cupcakes
Instructions
Make the cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, sugar and vanilla extract together until well combined.
- Add the eggs and whisk together until well combined.
- Add the sour cream and Nutella and whisk together until well combined. Now, add the milk and whisk together until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and whisk together until combined, but do not over mix.
- Fill the cupcake liners a little more than 1/2 full (51g) and bake for 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges are just lightly golden.
- Remove cupcakes from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.
Make the buttercream
- While the cupcakes cool, make the frosting. Add the butter and Nutella to a large mixer bowl and mix until well combined and smooth.
- Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
- Add 2 tablespoons of cream and mix until well combined and smooth.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
- Add the remaining cream as needed and mix until smooth.
Put cupcakes together
- When the cupcakes have cooled, use a cupcake corer to remove the centers from the cupcakes.
- Use the additional Nutella to fill the cupcakes, then pipe the buttercream on top of the cupcakes. I used Ateco tip 847.
- Finish off each cupcake with half of a Ferrero Rocher candy, if desired. I also sprinkled some finely chopped hazelnuts on top.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
- Calories: 819
- Sugar: 85.1 g
- Sodium: 160.9 mg
- Fat: 46.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 98.5 g
- Protein: 7.2 g
- Cholesterol: 93.1 mg
These look amazing! I was trying to decide between these cupcakes and your other Nutella cupcakes that you’ve actually filled with Nutella which is your favorite, they both look delicious. I can’t decide. Would these ones hold up to filling with Nutella as well, or are the other ones more sturdy?
It’s been a while since I made either so it’s hard to remember. But I’d probably marry the two if I were going to make them again. I think I would use the Nutella cupcake base from this recipe and the Nutella frosting from the other one because it has a little extra Nutella. And this Nutella cupcake should do well filled with Nutella so I would probably add that. I hope that helps!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
I made these cupcakes, but I poked a whole in the middle and put some Nutella inside the cupcakes they turned out GREAT my son in law loved them.
Sounds delicious! I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Hello I was wondering if I can use 3 whole eggs instead of egg whites?
Three whole eggs would be far too much. You could try one egg and one egg white.
Can I substitute shortening with butter? If yes, How much?
Thank you
Made these for my boyfriend’s birthday and they turned out great! Had way more batter than 12 cupcakes though so we made a little cake too.
Hi Lindsay, I just came across your blog recently and am loving it. I just made the Nutella cupcakes (with gluten free flour) and they look and taste amazing. I’m bringing them to sell at a cake stall at what is hoped to be the biggest Repair Cafe in the world run by the Cambridge Carbon Footprint here in Cambridge, UK. I’m an American who lives here. Just thought you would like to know your recipe will be enjoyed tomorrow by many across the pond!
How fun! I’m glad you’re happy with them and hope they do well for you!
terrible! The Cupcakes over flowed the base and we didn’t even put half way! Way too much was made!!!! This is such a waste of ingredients and such a waste of our time! My sons birthday is ruined!!!!
These cupcakes are sooo good! I made them as minis and the whole family loved them. Thanks for the awesome recipe 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
This recipe was wonderful, and the frosting is out of this world! Thank you for this recipe!
Hi, Lindsay — You mentioned in another recipe post that you were staying out of town & it was awkward for you because you often need to get up & go to the bathroom in the night. You asked for comments or ideas about that. Don’t know if you actually indulge in sugary desserts as much as you bake them (and they look FANTASTIC, girl!), but it might be a good idea to tell your doctor about that problem. Excessive urination is one symptom of diabetes. (I think I mentioned one time in another comment that my hubby is diabetic.) Take care of yourself. I really like baking cakes, too, & I learn from your recipes & videos. Thanks for sharing! God bless you.
Absolutely beautiful, and delicious too! Just curious as to where you found the cupcake stand? Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!
It’s from Home Goods. Thanks Nicole!