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Nutella: Everybody's Favourite Spread
Nutella is a hazelnut and chocolate spread that is manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero. Available in jars or in handy snack containers, Nutella is a favourite among kids and adults all over the world.
This buyer's guide will explain how to find the cheapest Nutella deals, as well as suggesting some potential gift purchases for Nutella fanatics.
The World-Famous Hazelnut Cream
Nutella is one of modern Italy's greatest exports. It was probably first produced commercially in 1965 although its origins lie further back in time. Just after WWII, baker Pietro Ferrero created a spread named Pasta Gianduja on his Piedmont premises. At the time, Ferrero was seeking to economise. The post-war Italian economy couldn't afford to import much chocolate, and Ferrero thought that hazelnuts might make his stocks go further. He had no idea how right he was.
This Gianduja soon became a proprietary product called “supercrema” which formed the basis for Ferrero's sweets. In a slightly altered form, it became Nutella in 1965, and Ferrero began exporting it all over the European continent, where its unique blend of nuttiness, chocolate and sheer sweetness became a breakfast staple.
These days, it has lost none of its popularity. In fact, Ferrero consumes a whopping 25% of the global hazelnut supply, and have opened plants in North America, Australia, Brazil and a variety of European nations.
How is Nutella Made and What's In It?
The frustrating answer to this question is that we don't really know how Nutella is made, although we have a pretty good idea. That's because Ferrero closely guards its trade secrets, aiming to prevent the competition emulating their hazelnut infused delicacy.
However, they are fairly upfront about the ingredients, which include sugar, chocolate, hazelnuts, palm oil, milk, lecithin and vanilla. If you don't already know, lecithin is what's known as an emulsifier. It also helps to make the mixture smooth and even, and you'll find it in almost all commercially made spreads for these reasons.
The precise way that these ingredients are turned into Nutella spread remains a mystery. We know that the cacao needs to be processed and the butter removed. We know that the nuts need to be cleaned, inspected, roasted and ground. Then the chocolate, milk, nuts, vanilla and lecithin are mixed together to create a paste. Palm oil is also added to keep the mixture nice and stable at room temperature.
Beyond that, we're not sure. But what's clear is that the process has been taking place for decades and produces a reliable, popular product.
The Different Types of Nutella Products
Nutella makes a wide range of products based on their iconic spread, and here are the main options available for UK confectionery fans:
Nutella spread – the family favourite that we are all familiar with, classic Nutella comes in a variety of sizes and containers. You can choose from tiny 15g containers, which are essentially taster packs (and would be great for kids' lunch boxes). Moving up the scale, you'll find the famous 200g and 400g jar products, which are the most common way to consume Nutella. However, if you have a ravenous family to feed or you are a genuine Nutella super-fan, there's only one way to go: their 750g and 1kg jars provide months worth of hazelnut and chocolate goodness, and this can help you save money if you need to buy Nutella in large amounts.
Nutella and Go – If you are all about snacking, Nutella and Go is the product for you. Realising that most Nutella fans loved the spread on toast or bread, Ferrero has launched a product that allows consumers to do just that, wherever they happen to be. Each Nutella and Go pack comes with 35g of Nutella spread, along with 13g of breadsticks, which are perfect for dunking in the gooey chocolate spread. If you're looking for a lunchtime treat for the kids or something to snack on after a hard session at the gym, check out Nutella and Go. Snacks hardly come more inviting.
Ferrero Rocher – Nutella is made by the Italian confectionery giant Ferrero, who also make the famous Rocher sweets, which have been a huge hit in the UK. Each Rocher contains a helping of Nutella, so if you like to eat your spread with a wafer crust or you want to give a decadent chocolate gift, why not choose a Ferrero Rocher set? With white, dark and milk chocolate varieties available, there should be a taste for everyone.
Nutella Recipes and Gift Ideas
What if your spouse or children adore Nutella, and you want to incorporate the spread into a Christmas or birthday gift? Well, aside from wrapping up a tub of the spread (which isn't a very creative gift idea), there are some things you might want to try, although they may require a little bit of creativity on your part. Here are some popular suggestions.
Nuttella cheesecake – A party favourite and pure decadence on a plate, Nutella cheesecake is easy to make. To whip one up, you'll need a pot of Nutella (with at least 400g of spread), 250g of digestive biscuits (any brand will do), some chopped hazelnuts, 60g of icing sugar, 75g of butter and 500g of cream cheese (Philadelphia will do just fine). Then, mix up 15g of the Nutella, digestives, hazelnuts and butter in a food mixer, then place this in the base of a round, spring-opened baking dish. To make the cheesecake filling, mix the cheese and icing sugar together with the rest of the Nutella, then spread it over the top of the digestive base. Chill it for 4 hours and it should be ready to serve.
Nutella cookies – Nutella cookies are the perfect option when you need to feed an army of young sweet lovers. Again, making them is easy. To do so, you'll need 275g of Nutella, 60g of chocolate chips, a large egg and 70g of plain flour. First, preheat an oven to 180 degrees and grease a baking tray. Now, mix together the flour, egg and Nutella in a bowl until the mixture is smooth, then add the chocolate chips. Form this dough into small clumps, about 2-3cm in width. Place them on the baking tray and cook them for 8-10 minutes. Then cool them on a cookie rack and they're ready for the party.
Nutella accessories – Nutella gift ideas aren't all about slaving away in the kitchen. There are also some nifty accessories around that the Nutella 'nuts' (no pun intended) would appreciate. For instance, you'll find special spreaders that are ideal for smearing Nutella on a freshly toasted slice of bread. Some places sell Nutella wall art and t-shirts (for real fans), and Ferrero has also come up with a Nutella cookbook, which is a must for any fans of the spread.
Pancakes with Nutella
Is Nutella Fattening?
Unsurprisingly for such a sweet, delicious and addictive treat, Nutella is a fairly calorific food. On average, 100g of Nutella contains 546kcal (around 5 bananas). However, even the most passionate fan would struggle to consume 100g of Nutella in one sitting (although many of us have tried). A recommended serving size of 15g contains just 81kcal, and is enough to coat a slice of bread for a Nutella sandwich – so, eating the spread doesn't have to be a catastrophe for your waistline.
If you struggle with portion control, there are some things you can do that will allow you to continue to enjoy Nutella and fight weight gain. Most importantly, you could switch from larger jars to 15g sachets. These portion-sized containers will make you remember the recommended intake, and help to limit your consumption... at least in theory.
Similar Products for Nutella Fans
Nutella is delicious, but is it the only chocolate spread on the scene? Far from it. Although no-one knows the exact recipe for Nutella, many have sought to imitate it over the years, some successfully, and some dismally. Here are a few popular competitors:
Rawtella – An interesting new alternative to Nutella, Rawtella is available from fitness specialists Protein Works and has been formulated to provide more nutrients than Ferrero's popular spread. There's no palm oil in Rawtella, which will please environmentalists, but there are more calories in this than in Nutella, at 622 per 100g. Having said that, it contains three times as much protein, which is why it's catching on with gym bunnies and bodybuilders.
Pip and Nut – A small artisan producer from the UK, Pip and Nut makes a delicious range of nut butters including a limited edition chocolate and hazelnut variety. At 648kcal per 100g, it's on the fattening side, but with roasted hazelnuts and pure cacao, it tastes pretty impressive and contains plenty of protein as well. As with Rawtella, there's no palm oil in Pip and Nut's spread – another plus for the environment.
Biona – One of the UK's biggest makers of sustainable foodstuffs, Biona produce a gorgeous hazelnut and chocolate butter using 100 percent organic ingredients. At 567 calories per 100g, it's on par with Nutella, and just as smooth. It's also slightly higher in protein, which could be helpful for growing children.
Jim Jams – Firmly targeted at a younger demographic, Jim Jams hazelnut spread comes in a low-sugar variety and is available from HotUKDeals merchants like Holland and Barrett. At under 500 calories per 100g, it's the least calorific of the lot, is rich in protein and gluten-free. However, it does contain (sustainable) palm oil, so bear that in mind.
Tips on Finding Nutella Deals
How can you buy Nutella as cheaply as possible? Well, don't just head straight to the nearest supermarket and grab a jar off the shelf. It may be tempting, but this isn't a great solution for bargain hunters.
Instead, think about taking advantage of money-off or multi-buy offers. Head to the Nutella HotUKDeals listings and you'll find a constantly changing range of discounts from major UK merchants like Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose and Lidl as well as online sellers like Amazon and delivery firms like Ocado.
If you've become a fan of Nutella and Go, supermarkets like CostCo regularly run generous multi-pack savings, which is a good way to save money on lunches. The key thing is to stay on top of current deals and pick the best ones as soon as they become available.
If you have a birthday coming up and need to buy Nutella in bulk for cookies or cakes, think about ordering in advance when deals are available, not just before the event. Remember, you can store Nutella for months without it going bad, so buy when the product is cheap, not just before you need it.
Nutty Chocolate Delights with the Nutella Discounts at HotUKDeals
Nutella is one of the most delicious spreads around. Whether you love to smear it all over croissants in the morning, dunk breadsticks in it at lunchtime or turn it into irresistible cheesecakes for parties and dinners, you can always find the cheapest Nutella products at HotUKDeals.