Hi! Has anyone used Nutella as a filling? I used it straight from the bottle on one cake, and it is OH so good! But I was wondering, does anyone have any ideas on how to thin it down or fluff it up, so that it doesn't stick to the roof of your mouth( like peanut butter) as much? I looked at the ingredients, and two of the emulsifiers/liquids are peanut oil and milk. Do you think it would work to add either of those?
THANKS!

My dh, who is into food science, suggests warming the nutella and adding heavy cream bit by bit with a whisk. He warns to be careful about overheating the nutella, as it may separate.

Thanks! But wouldn't whipping cream destabilize it? It seems to break down easily. This is going to be for a large tiered wedding cake, so I don't want to have to refridgerate it, or worry about it's stability. Any other ideas?

hi apcakes

i have made a filling before with whipping crream and nutella ......was really good ...i can't find the recipe anywhere...i'll look for it again
but i wonder if you could do the same technique as makin ganache
i mean heat nutella and heavy cream up..stir until combined, chill and then whipped the mixture
i am out of nutella other wise i would try it out
let us know

Ashiana

I know what you mean about not wanting to worry about the stability of your cake's filling BUT I do have a recipe on chocolate-hazelnut mousse using Nutella if you would like to try. I read somewhere the usage of gelatin or piping gel (I can't remember which one) in whipping cream to help with stability but you would probably still need to consider refridgeration. I will look at my recipes but in the mean time here's that recipe: Whip up 2 cups of heavy cream, 3 tbsp of confectioners sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla, then gently fold in 1/2 cup of Nutella (other chocolate-hazelnut spread can be used). Makes 4 1/2 cups.

Another sugguestion would be to try a hazelnut buttercream.

Thanks for all your help so far!!
I'm so sad, the refridgeration is going to be a problem, because first, it will be covered in fondant, and second, I have to deliver the cake an hour away and have it set up several hours before the reception.

Is there any way to thin or fluff nutella filling OTHER than whipped cream??
Thanks!

Well, you could thin it out with a thinned buttercream. I cannot see why a bit of milk wouldn't work, if you are worried about using it, just heat the Nutella up with a bit of cream or milk as suggested.
Usually milk added to something like this, when it is only a wee bit, will withstand being at room temperature for a couple of days because of the sugar etc. It is only when you use cups of it and it is the main ingredient, where you end up with problems.
Have you tried using it on its own? For filling a cake usually a thicker less runny filling is best anyway, Now don't forget to first make a stiff buttercream dam, but I cannot see why it wouldn't work well. Haven't bought it in a few years, but I remember it being of a thinner consistency. If you want it fluffier, add some buttercream icing or a chocolate buttercream icing to it, maybe about a third icing to two thirds Nutella. Another option would be to add some high-ratio shortening to it, this will make it quite a bit fluffier. Start by adding about 1/4 of high ratio shortening to the amount of Nutella and add more if needed.
As long as your room temperature is below 75F and it isn't sitting in the sun, you won't have any problems with adding a wee bit of milk or cream.
I hope that the guests will be warned of the use as many, many people have a severe reaction to nuts, particularly peanuts, almonds and hazlenuts (filberts).
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

Thanks, squirrellycakes, that was helpful. I think I'll try milk, and chocolate buttercream too - that could do the trick, or else I may try some shortening. Do you mind me asking where you purchase your high-ratio shortening? I haven't been able to find any, and my local cake store didn't offer any help.
I have used plain nutella, and personally, I love it, but the groom doesn't like the way it sticks to the roof of the mouth, and wanted a thinner version. I am making half the tiers in lemon cake/raspberry filling, for those who might be allergic to nuts.

Well I get it at a Bulk Barn in Canada, you might be best off getting it online at an American store. There are different brands available to you in the U.S., it is actually much easier for you to get it than it is for me, haha! Sweetex seems to be the preferred brand name of high-ratio shortening. In a pinch you can still use your good old Crisco but the high ratio will have a bit less of the shortening feeling on the roof of your mouth. It tends to hold on to moisture and icing sugar and such easier which might well make it a good thing for this situation.
Just a warning with the nuts and such, folks that have nut allergies usually have them to the extreme. So be careful not to use the same utensils for the nuts, peanut oil or Nutella filling or any other nuts or nut by-product. For folks with a nut allergy any contact at all with even minute traces of nuts can be very serious. So if the cakes are stacked together or in close proximity and there is even the slightest risk of cross contamination, this can be very serious indeed.
I make a cooked chocolate icing which might go well with the Nutella. I will post it.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

Here is the cooked chocolate icing. You can add more sifted icing sugar to it if you want it to be much thicker, but it should work well as is mixed with the Nutella.
Filling/Frosting
2 tbsp. butter
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 tbsp. whipping cream, un-whipped
1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over minimum heat, 1 0r 2 on my stove. Stir constantly until smooth. If you are frosting a cake, use immediately. If you let it cool too much, it becomes fudge like. If you are using as a filling, remember to place a bead of buttercream icing on the outer rim of your cake so the filling won't seep through. As a filling, you should cool to room temperature, whisk and pour onto cake. Let it set a few minutes before placing top layer over filling.

Thanks, squirrelycakes. Since it will be a stacked cake, I guess it may be impossible to truly isolate the nut flavoring. We will just have to put up a little sign on the cake table that says the filling contains nuts, or make an announcement after the cake is cut.

Isn't it technically the responsibility of those with the allergy to make sure what they are eating is safe for them? I usually hear those people asking the host or waiter if it has any "...." in it. If I inform the caterers and main wedding party that there are nuts, that seems like all I can do. The rest should be up to the guests, right?

Well yes, putting up a sign and informing the guests is about all you can do. But I was worried that you thought that if you had safe fillings in other tiers that these would be served as being nut free. Since they are in close proximity to the nut filled cake, they are still a risk. So this is why I mentioned it. the servers might use the same server for both cakes or there may be some contact between them.
I have several friends that have severe nut allergies to peanuts and hazelnuts (filberts). Many folks are unaware of just how severe these allergies can be. I have one friend that ate dinner at a home and the dishes were very clean. However, the night before the cake plates had been used to serve a cake that had hazelnuts in it. Even though the plates has been put through the dishwasher and appeared to be perfectly clean, my friend had a bad reaction and her throat started to close up very quickly. Nut allergies can produce a very quick severe reaction.
People with severe allergies to peanuts can react to even traces of the peanuts or shells in the air when a bag of peanuts is opened. So we don't always see the traces but they are there. That is why if you are making something for someone with a nut allergy, you cannot have any nuts in the room even.
Anyway, because Nutella is nut based, I wanted to mention this. There is a lot of potential for law suits which is why so many manufacturers starting labelling their products, "May contain traces of nuts".
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

You're right, thanks for the heads up. I didn't even think about the serving knives being used for both. I'll put up a sign AND make an announcement, just to be safe!
I feel so bad for people with such serious allergies! I just love nuts! (the food and the personality! ) I had a neighbor who's son was deathly allergic to bee stings, and it was such a frightening condition.

Yes, some allergic reactions are more deadly than others. Funny how that is, bee stings, penicillin, nuts, shellfish, these are some of the worse ones. Plus folks can have mild reactions for years and then suddenly have a severe reaction.
Scarey stuff, isn't it?
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes