REVIEW: Nutella Peanut Spread

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Nutella Peanut yellow jar

For the first time in over 60 years, Nutella has a new flavor.

No, it’s not following the last decade’s trend of endless wild creations like Cotton Candy Oreo, Cappuccino Lay’s, or hot dog’d pizza crusts, but rather, a more nuanced, fitting addition: peanut. The classic Italian spread made of hazelnuts, sugar, palm oil, skimmed milk powder, and cocoa that has delighted International consumers since 1964 gets a much more American twist, packaged in a vibrant yellow container.

The big question is: what do you do with a jar of Nutella? Drizzle it on fruit, put it in crepes, spread it on graham crackers, use it like hot fudge on an ice cream sundae? All are valid, and I have done those things, but mostly, I like to eat it with a spoon. I want to taste that beautiful, dense, sweet intensity in isolation. And that gorgeous sugary rush is on full display here, but it’s also notably different.

Nutella Peanut is a thick as regular Nutella

Nutella Peanut is advertised as “thicker” than standard Nutella, but to my eye (and tongue), it’s almost identical in its thickness. “Thickness” meaning it’s a lot thinner and smoother than the density of a shelf-stable peanut butter, and will drip off of a spoon easily to drizzle if held for a while. It has the same stunning glossy sheen as the original and shares most of the same ingredients, too, just swapping out the skimmed milk powder for peanuts, making this spread vegan, as well.

Just eat Nutella Peanut with a spoon. Although apples would be good too.

Despite the inclusion of the brand’s signature nut, the biggest difference here is that the hazelnut is very much an afterthought, or at least after-taste. The ingredients list sugar, then peanuts and peanut flour, then oil, followed by cocoa, hazelnuts, and salt — and that’s pretty accurate to how it comes across. The initial hit of flavor is sweetness and peanuts, followed very quickly by cocoa with just a whisper of hazelnut in the finish. It’s so faint that if you told me this had no hazelnut at all, I would totally believe it. At its core, it tastes like a chocolate peanut butter with the velvety smooth texture and sugar-laden flourish of Nutella.

Look at that Nutella sheen.

If you prefer peanuts to hazelnuts, like me, this totally works, but if you’re nuts for hazelnuts, you might be disappointed. Even as much as I love peanuts and peanut butter, I can’t deny that this new-Tella is a bit less distinct than the original. But it’s refreshing to see a brand put a different yet accessible spin on its core product.

There’s no doubt that the signature texture and mouthfeel Nutella is known for is there, and it does it without sacrificing any of its decadent appeal. Nutella has always been more akin to a frosting than a nut butter, and this new spin brings a prominent pop of peanut to the king of luscious cocoa spreads.

Purchased Price: $6.09
Size: 13 ounces
Purchased at: Amazon
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (37g) 200 calories, 13 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 45 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 14 grams of total sugars, and 5 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Nutella Ice Cream

/ / Reviews / 2 Comments

Nutella Ice Cream Pint 1.

I assume the foil lid that seals the Nutella Ice Cream pint, with the wait 5 minutes message, is there to allow the layer of Nutella below it to soften before you stab your spoon into it for the first time. I also like to think it’s there to allow you to contemplate the life choices you’re about to make once you pull that lid off, because once you do, there’s a good chance you could eat this excellent pint in under five minutes.

Nutella Ice Cream Pint 2.

A major issue with Nutella is that you can’t eat the whole jar in one sitting in front of your primary care physician without them giving you a horrified look. At some point, that look will make you feel so guilty that you’ll stop eating, or your physician will slap that jar away from you. I mean, that still might be the case if you ate the entire pint of this ice cream because no caring doctor would let you eat a whole pint of the dessert in front of them. However, after comparing the nutrition facts of the two, eating the pint would be “healthier” than eating an entire jar of Nutella. Heck, it’s “healthier” than eating half the jar.

As I mentioned at the beginning, there’s a frozen Nutella layer that softens after five minutes of sitting. Once that layer is gone, you might think all the fun is over, but below that is Nutella-flavored ice cream and Nutella swirls. If you’re nuts about Nutella, I tell ya, you’re going to love this.

Nutella Ice Cream Pint 3.

Even though it’s a simple pint made up of components that taste the same, I think it’s more satisfying than a jar of the choco hazelnut spread. It may be one note, but that one note has level variations and is terrific. While the top layer is a burst of Nutella and a tasty hindrance, I’d argue it’s unnecessary, since what’s under it is more fun.

Nutella Ice Cream Pint 4.

The ice cream and swirls have a flavor that I’d say is not as potent as a spoonful of actual Nutella, so it’s easy to find yourself shoveling spoonful after spoonful into your mouth. But what I enjoyed most about those spoonfuls was how the swirls went from solid to gooey in my mouth. And, fortunately, there are many swirls throughout the creamy base.

If you love Nutella enough that you could eat an entire jar in one sitting, then you’re gonna love this pint. But just don’t eat it in front of your doctor and try not to eat it all in under five minutes.

Purchased Price: $4.99 (sale)
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 330 calories, 20 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 45 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 30 grams of sugar (including 24 grams of added sugar), and 5 grams of protein.

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