Is Nutella Vegan?
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but Nutella is sadly NOT vegan. This popular spread contains a variety of non-vegan ingredients that are either animal derived or indirectly harmful to animals. Keep reading to learn more and discover yummy vegan alternatives!
Why Is Nutella Not Vegan?
The main controversial ingredients you'll find in Nutella are sugar, milk powder, and palm oil. You may be wondering, what about the lecithin? Although this ingredient can be from animal origin, Nutella has confirmed that their lecithin always comes from either soy or sunflowers.
However, as for the sugar, milk, and palm oil, these ingredients may all directly or indirectly affect the animals involved in their production.
The sugar, if produced in the U.S., may have been refined using cow bone char. More info on this issue here. Meanwhile, the milk powder is dairy-based, meaning it's a direct product of the animal industry. This makes it unsuitable for the vegan diet. And finally, the production of palm oil has led to mass habitat destruction, which today threatens the existence of orangutans! You can learn more about how palm oil harms our planet and the animals here.
Is There Vegan Nutella?
Although none of Nutella's products are vegan-friendly, as they all feature their signature chocolatey spread, there are plenty of vegan chocolate spreads on the market today. Made with zero animal-derived ingredients or palm oil, these plant-based swaps prove that the vegan version can be as delicious as the original! Check them out below!
SunButter Chocolate Sunflower Butter
Price | $6.48
Amount | 16 oz.
Key Ingredients | Roasted Sunflower Seeds, Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate.
SunButter's creamy chocolate spread is made with just six sustainable ingredients: roasted sunflower seeds, sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla flavor! No animal products needed. You'll also love that it offers 6g of protein per serving, just 4g of sugar, and is totally non-GMO and gluten-free. Drizzle it over some whole wheat toast, ice cream, waffles, pancakes, or bake it into indulgent vegan desserts!
Shop On:
88 Acres Dark Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter
Price | $10.99
Amount | 14 oz.
Key Ingredients | Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Powdered Sugar, Organic Cocoa Powder.
Gluten-free, nut-free, and entirely organic, this rich vegan dark chocolate spread is made with sunflower seeds, sugar, sunflower oil, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and sea salt. Pair this simple, natural spread with fresh fruits, like strawberries, bananas, or apples for a healthier sweet treat!
Shop On:
Biona Organic Cocobella Coconut Chocolate Spread
Price | ±$7.22
Amount | ±8.8 oz.
Key Ingredients | Coconut Butter, Cacao, Coconut Blossom Nectar.
Made with just three organic ingredients; concentrated coconut blossom syrup, coconut butter, and cacao powder, this vegan spread is possibly the most sustainable on our list! To top it all off, it comes in a recyclable and reusable glass jar. Go for this eco-friendly pick today!
Shop On:
Jem Organics Chocolate Sprouted Hazelnut Butter
Price | $12.99
Amount | 6.52 oz.
Key Ingredients | Sprouted Hazelnuts, Coconut Sugar, Cacao Nibs.
A totally organic vegan Nutella substitute, Jem Organics' hazelnut spread is made with sprouted hazelnuts, coconut sugar, cacao nibs, cacao powder, Jacobsen Sea Salt, and vanilla. This nutritious hazelnut butter offers 3g of fiber, 3g of protein, 18% of your daily vitamin E needs, and 8% iron in a two tablespoon serving. It's the ultimate sweet topping for smoothie bowls, oatmeal, pancakes, and other vegan breakfast staples!
Shop On:
tbh Hazelnut Cocoa Spread
Price | $11.69
Amount | 14 oz.
Key Ingredients | Hazelnuts, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Powder.
One of the more indulgent treats on our list, tbh's Hazelnut Cocoa Spread contains a whopping 100 calories in just a tablespoon (same as Nutella). However, it's possibly the closest to Nutella's taste and texture, offering luscious creaminess with the help of its sunflower lecithin, pea protein, and sunflower oil.
As a result, it's also high in protein, offering 6g of protein per two tablespoon serving. That's twice as much as you'd get from Nutella! Plus, it contains only half the sugar, and of course, zero palm oil. It even provides 4g of fiber and 10% of the recommended daily iron intake! Definitely a healthier, more sustainable swap!
Shop On:
We hope you were able to find the info you need to incorporate vegan chocolate hazelnut spreads into your breakfasts and snacks. Remember, if you don't have access to any of these store-bought spreads, you can always mix up some roasted hazelnuts with cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and your sweetener of choice (we'd go for maple syrup, agave syrup, or organic cane sugar) in your food processor to make your own chocolate hazelnut paste!
A plant-based diet shouldn't be restrictive. After all, it's simply about living more naturally, compassionately, and creating a kinder, more enjoyable world for ALL animals. So, no reason to miss out on your favorite sweet treats! Simply satisfy your sweet tooth by going for yummy plant-based alternatives made with natural sweeteners and minimal common food additives. No need for any refined sugars or animal derivatives in the ingredient list.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to get weekly tips, advice, and recommendations to help you simplify your plant-based lifestyle!
