Feb. 5 is World Nutella Day, and fans have celebrated the creamy chocolate-hazelnut spread since it first appeared on American shelves in 1964. Here’s a concise look at Nutella’s origins, how the holiday began, and ways people around the world enjoy this beloved spread.
🍫 History of Nutella
Nutella and similar chocolate-hazelnut spreads are common in stores today, often displayed near peanut butter. But Nutella’s story began from necessity. After World War II, cocoa was scarce and expensive. Pietro Ferrero, an Italian pastry maker, devised a sweet paste made primarily from hazelnuts, sugar and a small amount of cocoa to stretch limited ingredients while satisfying a craving for chocolate. That early product evolved over time, and the first jar branded as Nutella reached shops in 1964.
🍫 World Nutella Day
World Nutella Day was not created by the company behind the spread but by a devoted fan. In 2007, food blogger Sara Rosso declared Feb. 5 as World Nutella Day and invited other fans to share photos, recipes and ideas on social media. The celebration quickly gained momentum, and fans now use the #worldnutelladay hashtag to mark the occasion each year.
🍫 Nutella in American culture
Nutella’s popularity has grown beyond the pantry. It’s been featured in media and pop culture, including appearances in TV and film. The brand name is also commonly used as a generic term for chocolate-hazelnut spreads, similar to how brand names sometimes replace generic product names in everyday speech.
🍫 How Europeans enjoy Nutella
Nutella has long been a staple in parts of Europe. Many Europeans enjoy it simply spread on fresh bread or baguettes, sometimes with sliced fruit like apples or bananas. In France, Nutella commonly tops crepes along with bananas and whipped cream, while in Italy you’ll find pastries such as cornetti filled with the spread. Warm fried dough served with a scoop of Nutella is another fond family memory for many.
🍫 Alternative chocolate-hazelnut spreads
Although Nutella is the most recognized name, several other brands produce chocolate-hazelnut spreads. Some companies offer variations that cater to different tastes or dietary needs—organic options, kosher varieties for specific holidays, or nut-free chocolate spreads made from sunflower seeds for those with nut allergies. These alternatives make the flavor accessible to more people while maintaining similar uses in breakfasts and desserts.
🍫 Chocolate-hazelnut recipes
Store-bought spreads can be used in a wide range of recipes. One popular idea is a breakfast charcuterie or pancake board that pairs homemade pancakes with bowls of chocolate-hazelnut spread, fresh fruit and syrup. Below is an example set of ingredients and a simple method for making heart-shaped pancakes to assemble on a board.
🍫 Hazelnut chocolate pancake board ingredients
Typical ingredients for the pancakes include:
- 8.8-ounce jar of hazelnut chocolate spread
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
🍫 Steps to make the pancakes
Grease a skillet and heart-shaped pancake rings. Combine wet and dry ingredients, stirring until just mixed. Heat the skillet to medium, hold a pancake ring in place, and pour about half a cup of batter into the ring. After the batter sets (about 30 seconds), remove the ring and cook until the edges set, then flip and finish cooking. Transfer pancakes to a wire rack and repeat.
🍫 Assemble the breakfast board
Arrange the heart-shaped pancakes on a wooden board and add small bowls filled with chocolate-hazelnut spread, fresh fruit, maple syrup and any other desired toppings. This creates an inviting, shareable breakfast or brunch presentation.
🍫 Sweet endings
World Nutella Day, Valentine’s Day and other special occasions are perfect excuses to enjoy chocolate-hazelnut spread. Use it on toast, dollop it onto pancakes, swirl it into coffee, or enjoy it straight from the jar as a snack. For those who enjoy making things from scratch, many blogs and recipe sites offer homemade nut-butter and chocolate-spread recipes to try at home.
Whether you spread it on bread, stir it into beverages, or use it in baked goods, chocolate-hazelnut spread remains a versatile and much-loved ingredient for fans around the world.