Love Nutella but wondering if it’s vegan? Or maybe just looking for vegan alternatives? You’re in the right place.
Expect to find all that and other common questions about Nutella in this short guide, along with a list of vegan Nutella brands and alternatives to keep a lookout for!
Let’s begin!
Quick Summary
| Product Name | Grade |
| Nutiva Vegan Hazelnut Spread | A |
| JEM Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Spread | A+ |
| Hey Boo Chocolate Coconut Spread | A |
| Rigoni Hazelnut Dairy-Free Spread | A+ |
| Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Spread | B |
Is Nutella Vegan?
Nope. Unfortunately, Nutella is not vegan, but not to worry. There are plenty of better alternatives that you can choose from if you’re avoiding animal products (listed below).
Why is Nutella Not Vegan?
The reason Nutella isn’t vegan is that it’s made with dairy. According to the Nutella website, the famous hazelnut spread comprises seven ingredients, including milk.
Take a look…
Ingredients: Sugar, Palm Oil, Hazelnuts, Skim Milk, Cocoa, Soy Lecithin as Emulsifier, Vanillin: an Artificial Flavor.
But just because there’s dairy in Nutella doesn’t mean you must deprive yourself in today’s diverse vegan market…
Vegan Nutella Alternatives and Their Ingredients
1. Nutiva Vegan Hazelnut Spread
Nutiva Hazelnut is one of the closest plant-based products to Nutella available. You can use it in the same way as the regular stuff.
On sandwiches, for dipping, or for eating right out of the jar. It’s also certified organic (not that this matters too much).
You can find Nutiva in supermarkets and at Walmart, but if you’re having trouble getting it locally, you can buy it right on Amazon or directly from Nutiva.
In case you’re wondering, these are the ingredients in the Classic spread listed on Nutiva’s website:
Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Palm Oil, Flaxseed Flour, Inulin, Hazelnut, Palm Olein, Palm Stearin, Refined Coconut Oil, Chia Seed Oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavors.
2. JEM Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Spread
Are you looking for a vegan Nutella with a clean ingredient statement? This is it! It’s a great way to stay fueled as an athlete or to enjoy an indulgent snack as a lay-person. Seriously, this stuff tastes incredible.
JEM is made with only four ingredients: Sprouted Hazelnuts, Coconut Sugar, Cacao Nibs, and Vanilla.
Pick up a jar from either Amazon or JEM.
3. Hey Boo Chocolate Coconut Spread
Check out this vegan starter kit
While this product doesn’t technically have any hazelnuts, it’s still dairy-free chocolate spread with a similar mouthfeel to Nutella.
It comes in a chocolate version and a caramel version, both of which are milk-free and vegan. They’re coconut milk-based, so they still have that fatty richness even without the hazelnuts.
Hey Boo sells its Chocolate Coconut Spread on its website and Picks up a jar from either Amazon. You can also purchase it at Wegman’s.
These are the ingredients, according to Hey Boo on Amazon:
Ingredients: Coconut Milk, Organic Sugar, Tapioca Syrup, Cocoa Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Cream of Tartar.
4. Rigoni Hazelnut Dairy-Free Spread
Part of the allure of Nutella is that it’s Italian, right? Well—if you’re looking for a vegan version made in Italy, this is it.
It has a very similar ingredient statement to Nutella, except without the milk. It’s also free of palm oil, which is a definite plus!
And for the chocolate-hazelnut icing on the cake, it has a Vegan Certification from Europe Italia. Buy it from Whole Foods; pick up a jar from either Amazon or Vitacost.
Here’s what’s in it:
Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Hazelnut Paste, Sunflower Oil, Cocoa Powder, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla Extract.
5. Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
If you need a creamy hazelnut fix, Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter is a great bet. One of the nice things about it is that it has a lower percentage of sugar.
You’ll notice that sugar is listed as the third ingredient rather than the first (as is the case with Nutella). As a result, Justin’s spread has a deeper and richer flavor instead of one that’s slightly overpowering on sweetness.
This one is a quick find in supermarkets, including Whole Foods and Target, but you can also get it from the company website or Pick up a jar from either Amazon.
Here’s the ingredient statement, according to the manufacturer’s website:
Ingredients: Dry Roasted Hazelnuts, Dry Roasted Almonds, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa, Organic Cocoa Butter, Palm Oil, Vanilla Powder, Sea Salt.
What Makes Nutella So Delicious?
Believe it or not, it’s not the skimmed milk in Nutella that gives it the delectable flavor profile that people love. It’s a combination of sugar, fat, hazelnuts, and chocolate. The added skimmed milk is a useless ingredient other than the fact that Nutella uses it as a misleading selling point. Given the health and ethical pitfalls of dairy, it’s unfortunate that it would be advertised as a selling point, but the good news is, replicating Nutella without the skimmed milk is super easy!
Conclusion on Nutella
Nutella might not be all that it is “cracked” up to be between animal products and excess sugar. With all the alternative options we’ve offered, replacing it should be super simple and taste just as good if not better. Happy spreading!
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Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
Want to take all of the guess-work around going vegan?
Click here to check out the Vegan Starter Kit.
