Smooth Nutella buttercream is so easy to make and is the perfect topping for cupcakes, birthday cakes, layer cakes, or anywhere else you might need a little buttercream really!
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was going to share my recipe for Nutella cupcakes and if you follow me on… well any social media really, you will have noticed that last week I decided my willpower was strong enough to not eat all of them if I made them.
It turns out I was wrong, I don’t have nearly enough willpower and simply couldn’t resist giving them a try. But, it you’re going to crack and eat something a bit naughty, I’d suggest that Nutella cupcakes are definitely the way to go 🙂
I was going to dive straight into posting the recipe for those cupcakes but then I decided that the buttercream deserved a post all to itself. Yes, it’s the perfect Nutella-y topping for the cupcakes, but it’s also yummy in it’s own right and it would make a brilliant topping to all sorts of other flavours of cupcakes, birthday cakes, layer cakes or anywhere else you might want to use a bit of buttercream.
It took a bit of trial and error to get the balance of butter, sugar and Nutella right in this buttercream. I started by making standard buttercream (made with 1 part butter to 2 parts sugar) and simply mixing in plenty of Nutella for flavour but I found it far too sweet. In the end I found that using equal amounts of butter and icing sugar gave a much better flavour.
As with my standard vanilla buttercream, you need to add just a little milk to get the buttercream to a nice spreadable consistency, perfect for covering a cake or piping onto cupcakes. You’ll need less milk than you would with standard buttercream as the addition of Nutella gives it a softer, smoother texture anyway.
What You’ll Need
Before you start, make sure you have all of the equipment needed.
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Weighing Scales- Measuring Spoons
- Knife – to cut the butter
- Electric Mixer (or a bowl and hand mixer or wooden spoon)
- Sieve
- Piping Bags – if you’re planning on piping the cupcakes
- Piping Nozzle – To pipe the cupcakes as shown in the video you’ll need a JEM 1B nozzle. To pipe the cupcakes as shown in the pictures you’ll need a Wilton 2D nozzle.
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Nutella Buttercream
INGREDIENTS
- 175 g unsalted butter - at room temperature
- 175 g icing sugar
- 350 g Nutella
- A dash of milk - I use skimmed but any is fine
RECIPE VIDEO
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut the butter (175g) into cubes and beat in an electric mixer until soft.
- Add the icing sugar (175g) and beat until fully combined. To try and avoid the sugar flying everywhere I add the sugar a spoonful at a time and keep the mixer on a low speed until it has started to mix with the butter.
- Add the Nutella (350g) and beat until fully combined.
- Take a look at the consistency of the icing, is it spreadable? If not add ½ tsp milk and mix until fully combined. Check the consistency again and repeat until it is just spreadable.
- Once you’ve got the consistency right, it’s ready to use.
NOTES
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Any nutritional information provided is the estimated nutritional information per serving. Please refer to my guide to Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen nutritional information if you would like to learn more about how this is calculated.
Free From/Suitable For…
- Suitable for Vegetarians
- Gluten-Free
- Egg-Free
The ingredients for this recipe are commonly available free from all these allergens. However, please ensure you double-check allergen information for all ingredients.
lisa says
These might be a really stupid question, but do you need to use butter not marg to make butter cream? I used marg and it was runny.
Charlotte Oates says
Yes, I find marg is too soft. It will firm up if you refrigerate it but I find butter much easier to get the right consistency.
Chloé says
Can you half this recipe??
BTW love the idea
Charlotte Oates says
Yes. As long as you keep the ratio of the ingredients the same you can make as much or as little as you like.
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder says
Perfect buttercream. I made it back in December as a filling for my son’s birthday cake and also used leftovers on some cupcakes. Simply heaven! 🙂
Charlotte Oates says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, I hope your son had a lovely birthday x
Janet says
Can the cakes be frozen once decorated with this buttercream?
Charlotte Oates says
I’ve not tried it – sorry.
Inaayah says
Hi Charlotte,
I’m looking forward to making this on Saturday for a 40th birthday layer cake. I just want to ask does this buttercream crust over? Would really appreciate your response! X
Charlotte Oates says
It does a bit but not as much as a standard buttercream as the Nutella keeps it softer.
Robert says
Thank you for this recipe Charlotte!!
I was making a birthday cake and was lost for motivation for a good nutella dressing.
FYI, the kids loved it!! 🙂
Charlotte Oates says
Mine too! 🙂
Bugi says
Wow wow this is lovely… What nozzle did u use? And how many cupcakes did it cover?
Charlotte Oates says
Aaargh, I’m so sorry I don’t have that tip any more as I bent it and it stopped piping nicely so I’m not too sure. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful.
Jessica says
I’d really like to try your recipe but could not find how to convert it to American units! I feel so silly but can you help me out? We measure in table & teaspoons,& cups
Thanks!
Charlotte Oates says
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar)
1 cup + 2 tbsp nutella
A little milk
Boyan Minchev says
This Nutella buttercream dessert is amazing, thank you for sharing this recipe with us.
Emma @ The Happy Journal says
I can vouch for how great this recipe is. Just typed in Nutella Butter Icing to Google and this was the first one that came up. The quantities of the ingredients were perfect (although I ended up using less Nutella as it was all I had) and the texture is light and fluffy. I hope my fiance will be happy with his birthday cake! I would definitely recommend!
Charlotte Oates says
That’s fantastic. I hope your fiancé has a lovely birthday x
Rena Heath says
Do the cupcakes need to be refrigerated with this frosting or can they be left out?
Thx!
Charlotte Oates says
Technically you should probably keep them in the fridge as there’s butter in the buttercream but I’ve kept them out for a day or so and not had any problems.
Vanessa Amador says
what if you cant get icing sugar… will powdered sugar work??
Charlotte Oates says
Yes, they’re the same thing with different names in different countries.
Hollie says
Hi Charlotte! I planned to make a hazelnut praline buttercream to fill a chocolate cake but won’t have the time – does this taste hazelnutty or will there be too many chocolate flavours going on?
Charlotte Oates says
It tastes just like Nutella but with a lighter texture so it depends whether Nutella is hazelnutty enough for you. If definitely has a more hazelnutty flavour than my chocolate buttercream.
Surbhi says
Hey Charlotte, would you recommend Nutella buttercream only on a chocolate/Nutella cupcake or would it go well with vanilla too?
Thanks
Surbhi
Charlotte Oates says
It would go brilliantly on a vanilla cupcake. The reason I posted it on it’s own rather than with the cupcakes was to encourage people to add it to whatever they wanted rather than just sticking to the Nutella cupcakes I made.
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
Yep. Nutella is great in creams and buttercreams! Love the swirly piping too xx
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Kate, it’s the only style of piping I can do so I really need to get on and learn some more!
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Ooh your nutella buttercream sounds (and looks) delicious Charlotte. Your iced roses are fab too….i really must practice my piping skills!
Angela x
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Angela. I need to practice mine too as that’s the only thing I can pipe! Take a look at the tutorial on Gym Bunny Mummy, that’s where I learnt to do it from – it’s really simple.
Martin @ The Why Chef says
That cup of pure buttercream is criminal! I need it in my life! Just need an excuse to make it now… ‘Tuesday’s’ are a thing to celebrate, right?
Charlotte Oates says
It’s a very dangerous thing to make, far too tempting!
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
Omg this is genius why have I never done this?! Looks amazing
Charlotte Oates says
Good question! You really should make some as soon as you can 🙂
The Purley Girly says
Yummy! This buttercream sounds incredible. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks, I’ve got a little bit leftover in the fridge and I’m having to try very hard not to go and eat it all up!
Juventia | Foodiestory.com says
Oh I love the shape of those roses. Love your piping skill! I can never make it look that pretty!
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Juvenita. It’s the only piping I can do, I really should learn some more styles. It’s actually really easy, if you take a look at my vanilla buttercream post there’s a link to the tutorial I learnt from.