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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Chocolate Nutella Cake

    Published: Nov 7, 2022 · Modified: Sep 8, 2024 by Shiran · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This one-bowl Nutella chocolate cake is extraordinarily decadent and easy to make. The flavor of Nutella encompasses every bite along with chunks of milk chocolate and toasted hazelnuts. You’re going to love this cake!

    chocolate nutella cake

    You all know that I like easy desserts–in fact, the simpler the better! Lately, I’ve been making a lot of cakes from Yossy Arefi’s cookbook, Snacking Cakes, which was named the best cookbook of the year by The New York Times and Bon Appetit Magazine.

    If you love to bake then you’re probably familiar with Yossy Arefy. She’s a baker, cookbook author, food stylist, and the creator of the blog Apt 2B Baking Co. All the recipes in her cookbook are quick, easy and many are made in a single bowl–that means less prep time AND less clean up (who doesn’t love that?). If you haven’t checked out her or her book yet, I highly recommend it! 

    This milk chocolate Nutella cake is one of my favorite of Arefy’s recipes. While I have several Nutella-based recipes on my blog already, like my Nutella brownies and Hazelnut Nutella Sandwich Cookies, one more can’t hurt :). This cake combines similar flavors as the Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe I posted last year, but is made with a simpler method that does not require a double boiler.

    This one is just as incredibly moist and chocolatey, with Nutella flavor and milk chocolate in every bite. The cake is also topped with toasted hazelnuts, adding the perfect texture and crunch. It makes a great Christmas dessert, or enjoy it any time of year!

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    chocolate nutella cake

    How to make chocolate Nutella cake

    1. Start by whisking the sugar and egg together in a bowl for one minute. You want the mixture to start looking pale and foamy, which means air is being incorporated so your cake isn’t dense.
    2. Add in Nutella, oil, milk, vanilla, and salt and whisk together until everything is combined. Then, add in the cocoa powder and mix. 
    3. Lastly, you’ll add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda and combine. 
    4. Next, add the coffee or water and mix together. Finally, add the milk chocolate chunks and fold in using a rubber spatula. 
    5. That’s it! Once you pour your batter into a parchment-lined 8×8 pan, top with hazelnuts and it’s ready for the oven.
    chocolate nutella cake

    Tips for making chocolate Nutella cake 

    • Don’t overmix the batter. While you want all of the ingredients to be fully incorporated, overmixing will result in a denser cake. Mix your ingredients just until they come together.
    • Heat the Nutella in the microwave until it’s slightly softened (but not hot) so it combines easily into the egg mixture.
    • Use good quality cocoa powder and milk chocolate for the best flavor. I prefer using milk chocolate bars and chopping them into bite-size pieces, but you can also use milk chocolate chips if it’s what you have on hand.

    More of my favorite Nutella dessert recipes:

    • Nutella Stuffed Cookies – Made with a soft sugar cookie dough and filled with creamy Nutella. They’re rich, delicate, amazing.
    • Nutella Banana Cake: Rich, tender, moist banana cakes swirled with gobs of Nutella.
    • No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake – Rich and velvety smooth! This no-bake dessert tastes amazing.
    • Nutella Fudge – Made with both white and dark chocolates and hazelnuts for amazing texture.
    • Chocolate Banana Tart – Made with crunchy chocolate cookie crust, fresh bananas and rich Nutella ganache.
    chocolate nutella cake
    5 from 2 votes
    Print

    Chocolate Nutella Cake

    An incredibly simple, one-bowl recipe that's perfectly rich and so easy to make!

    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 45 minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes
    YIELD 16 squares

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • ½ cup (160g) Nutella
    • ¾ cup (180 ml) neutral oil, like canola or vegetable
    • ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup (140g) all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup (50g) unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ cup (60 ml) hot coffee or water
    • ¼ cup (40g) milk chocolate chips or chopped milk chocolate
    • ¼ cup (25g) hazelnuts, finely chopped

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease an 8×8-inch pan.

    2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together eggs and sugar for about 1 minute until well combined. Add Nutella, oil, milk, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until smooth.

    3. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda and whisk until well combined and smooth. Stir in the coffee or water, then fold in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

    4. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Scatter the chopped hazelnuts over the top. Bake cake for 35-45 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
    5. Cake can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. jj says

      November 15, 2022 at 7:29 pm

      can I use regular milk or does it have to be whole milk?

      Reply
      • Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says

        November 16, 2022 at 3:05 am

        Hi JJ, it depends what you consider “regular” milk – but I would stick with whole milk for this recipe because the fat content helps create the perfect texture 🙂

        Reply
    2. lola says

      November 19, 2022 at 3:30 pm

      is 2 % milk good for this??

      Reply
    3. Georgia BRADTKE says

      May 28, 2023 at 12:23 am

      Do you think this is best without icing? Or is there one you would recommend?

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        June 01, 2023 at 1:43 pm

        Hi Georgia, while this cake is delicious without any icing, I’d recommend doubling down on the hazelnut flavor and trying my milk chocolate nutella frosting recipe https://prettysimplesweet.com/milk-chocolate-nutella-frosting/

        Reply
    4. Jaclyn says

      June 28, 2023 at 9:59 pm

      I love love love this recipe!! Do you think I could make cupcakes with this batter too??

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        July 05, 2023 at 2:37 pm

        Hi Jaclyn! Thank you. Yes, you absolutely can!

        Reply
    5. Oluyinka says

      March 17, 2024 at 10:04 am

      Why is d cake kept in d refrigerator for five days. How many grams of evaporated milk can one use.

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        March 17, 2024 at 12:34 pm

        Hello, the cake can be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days for maximum freshness; certainly eat it before then. This recipe doesn’t call for evaporated milk. As a rule, regular milk shouldn’t be substituted for evaporated milk in baking recipes as it alters the flavor, texture, and general structure of the cake.

        Reply
    6. Liz E says

      March 05, 2025 at 10:39 am

      I just took this out of the oven, and it smells great! But it was WAY too much batter for an 8 inch pan, a 9 inch might be big enough. Sad because it’s not a cheap cake to make. It will go straight into the garbage.

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        March 06, 2025 at 5:15 pm

        Hi Liz! The recipe is for an 8 inch square pan (8×8) which is definitely not equal to an 8 inch round pan in size.

        Reply
    7. heather mccoyne says

      March 23, 2025 at 5:55 pm

      Can i use a 9 inch round cake pan?

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        March 24, 2025 at 1:13 pm

        Yes! You can use a 9-inch round with no recipe modifications needed.

        Reply
    8. Debbie says

      May 04, 2025 at 10:14 am

      This is an excellent cake- I have made it several times and use 2% milk, still delicious- now a family favorite as my kids love it!

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        May 19, 2025 at 3:12 pm

        Thank you, Debbie! So glad you love this cake!

        Reply

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