Vegan Nutella Stuffed Cookies

What’s better than a classic chocolate chip cookie? Vegan NUTELLA STUFFED cookies that are thick, chewy, and everything you’re craving! Chocolate lovers rejoice!

Cookies are good. You know this. But vegan nutella stuffed cookies? That’s some next-level ish right there!

One of the best things in life (in my humble opinion) is discovering recipes that seem like they would take so much effort but are actually quite simple! If you appreciate this as well, then you’re in the right place! 

These vegan nutella stuffed cookies contain only eleven ingredients, which are mainly pantry staples, and you can whip them up in no time at all! They’re much fancier than a chocolate chip cookie with hardly any more effort. Best of all, they’re sure to impress!

So, read on to learn how you can whip up these vegan Nutella stuffed cookies yourself!

Recipe Ingredients

Many of these ingredients are vegan staples so you should have some, if not all of them, on hand!

• All-purpose flour – Any kind of all-purpose flour should do the trick just fine. If you want to experiment with other types or go gluten-free, I can’t vouch for them! Please do let me know though how it turns out in the comments 🙂
• Brown sugar – You can substitute other types of sugar, but brown sugar works well. You should know, however, that many white and brown sugars are not vegan-friendly (at least in the U.S.). This unfortunate issue is due to bone char. Luckily, you can find vegan-friendly white and brown sugar online if not in your preferred grocery stores.  
• Coconut oil or vegan butter – Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which may help promote weight loss. Coconut oil is also rich in a variety of antioxidants, including tocopherols, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Although high in saturated fat, coconut oil carries many benefits and also works well as a high-temperature cooking oil as it has a very high smoke point. You can also use vegan butter if you prefer that—any kind should work fine.
• Plant-based milk – While you can simply choose your preferred plant milk, you may get a richer recipe if you opt for a creamier plant milk rather than one that’s more “thin,” i.e. more watery. Oatmilk is my pick!
• Applesauce – Applesauce can be used as a vegan egg substitute for baking, which is exactly why you find it in this recipe! It helps keep baked goods nice and moist as well, and the apple is a neutral enough flavor that it doesn’t generally flavor your recipe too much (if at all). 
• Baking soda and baking powder – These work together to help the cookies rise and get them extra fluffy!
• Vanilla extract – It’s not a huge deal if you don’t include it, but vanilla extract helps take this recipe to the next level!  
• Salt – It’s tempting to skip out on the salt, but even just a pinch can help elevate the other flavors! Cooking and baking (and healthy living) are all about balance. 
• Vegan chocolate chips – Luckily, it’s not too hard to find vegan chocolate chips these days. In general, dark chocolate should be vegan—key word being “should.” Just be sure to check the label! A few brands I like using the Enjoy Life chocolate chips because they are widely available in most stores or on Amazon as well.
• Nutella – Nutella, a chocolate-hazelnut spread, has really caught on in the U.S. in the past generation or so, but it’s been a favorite in Europe since the 1960s. While the original brand is made by the Italian company Ferrero, you can find alternatives. You will need to find an alternative, in fact, if you are vegan. Read more below!

Is Nutella Vegan?

The chocolate-hazelnut spread Nutella, which is the name-brand version made by Italian company Ferrero, prides itself on “7 quality ingredients, that’s all.” Unfortunately, these ingredients include palm oil, which is already controversial, and milk, which should arguably be much more controversial.

If you’re a vegan, you’ll need to forego Nutella entirely as it contains milk. Even if it didn’t, you may want to choose a product that doesn’t contain palm oil. (And it’s possible that even their cane sugar uses bone char, although more research would need to be done there.) 

Luckily, there are lots of recipes for homemade vegan nutella online. You can also consider one of these five vegan-friendly Nutella alternatives:

• Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
• Nutiva Vegan Hazelnut Spread with Chia and Flax 
• Don’t Go Nuts Chocolate Soybean Spread
• JEM Raw & Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter 
• Nocciolata Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Spread 

How to Make Nutella Stuffed Cookies

1. In teaspoon portions, scoop Nutella onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place in the freezer for 30-60 minutes until solid. I have this nifty mold that makes perfect disc shapes, but you can always juat use a spoon.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. With a hand mixture, combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Then, add the milk, applesauce, and vanilla extract.
4. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture until just combined.
5. Fold in the chocolate chips, and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
6. Scoop a heaping spoonful of dough and flatten it slightly into a disc shape. Place the Nutella in the center and wrap the dough around the Nutella so it is fully sealed. Repeat this process until you use up all of the cookie dough. You should be able to make between 16-18 cookies.
7. Place the cookies 2-3 inches apart on your parchment-lined baking sheet. You can top the cookies with more chocolate chips or sea salt if you wish! Bake for 8-12 minutes until the edges turn golden brown.

Recipe FAQ

How do you stuff nutella in the cookies? 
The key is to freeze the nutella first. Then, wrap the cookie dough around it and form it into a patty. I have a super handy mold that makes the nutella into perfect disc shapes, but you can also just use a spoon and your fingers to make nutella discs on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. 

My nutella is getting too sticky? Help!
Don’t worry! Just place it back into the freezer to firm it up, and then return to making the cookies. 

Is it possible to overstuff the cookies?
Yes! It’s good to exercise some restraint here. Just a teaspoon or so of nutella per cookie is perfect. If you overstuff them, it’s liable to end up seeping out. Make sure all of those edges are sealed!

How can I make these cookies fluffier? 
I’ve got you! If you have time, put the fully mixed cookie dough in your refrigerator for thirty minutes before stuffing with nutella and baking. This will allow the flour to fully develop and create a fluffier cookie! 

How can I customize these cookies?
Add whatever you like! For example, you could put chocolate chips on top of the cookies for some extra chocolatey goodness. 

I want the nutella to be nice and gooey? What should I do?
The key here is to slightly “under” bake them so that the nutella stays creamy and gooey. 

Can you freeze these cookies?
Absolutely! Simply place them in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and enjoy! 

Is Nutella vegan?
No! Name-brand Nutella contains milk. Plus, if you’re an ethical vegan, it contains palm oil, which is more often than not harvested in an unethical and environmentally unfriendly way. Luckily for us, there are many alternatives! You can find five possibilities mentioned in the article above, or you can always make your own with one of the many recipes available online. 

Is Nutella healthy?
Unfortunately, not really. It is loaded with sugar and also contains milk, which is inflammatory and difficult to digest for many people. Luckily, you can whip up your own version at home or find a vegan alternative. While there will still be a lot of sugar probably, this is a cookie recipe, after all. Sometimes you’ve got to give in to that sweet tooth!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This is a cookie recipe that will surely impress! It’s much fancier than a regular chocolate chip cookie, but not as hard to make as it seems! These vegan nutella stuffed cookies are…

• Fancy – People are truly impressed by these cookies! Luckily for you, they’re relatively easy to make!
• Simple – Just eleven ingredients and a process that isn’t nearly as hard as it would seem means that you can whip these cookies up without too much hassle anytime you want to impress some guests or simply indulge your sweet tooth! 
• Chocolate lovers rejoice – This recipe is perfect for chocolate lovers, and the nutella helps provide some extra nuance with that delicious chocolate-hazelnut combo.

Let me know if you try this recipe for vegan nutella stuffed cookies, and if you do, I would love it if you left a rating and review below! Make sure you are also following along on Instagram and Pinterest for more food inspiration.

Try more vegan dessert recipes below:

• Pomegranate chocolate tart
• Raspberry custard tart
• Matcha glazed donuts
• Millionaire shortbread bars
• Chocolate dipped ice cream bars
• Refined sugar-free apple crisp
• Pumpkin pie bars
• Gingersnap cookies

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