What's the Healthiest Hazelnut Spread?

November 10, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Healthline, a typical 2-tablespoon serving of Nutella contains 21 grams of sugar, nearly the entire recommended daily limit for women. This fact highlights why discerning consumers are asking: "what's the healthiest hazelnut spread?" The answer lies in carefully scrutinizing nutrition labels and ingredients.

Quick Summary

This article analyzes popular hazelnut spreads, examining factors like sugar content, ingredient quality, and the presence of palm oil. It details how to interpret nutrition labels to select the most nutritious option for your diet, offering insight into healthier alternatives and how to make your own.

Key Points

Check Ingredients First: Always read the ingredient list; a healthy spread lists hazelnuts before sugar.
Avoid Excessive Sugar: Opt for spreads with low added sugar or those sweetened with natural alternatives like dates or maple syrup.
Choose Healthier Oils: Look for spreads made with sunflower, coconut, or avocado oil instead of palm oil to lower saturated fat content.
Consider Organic Options: Brands with organic certification often use higher quality, purer ingredients and avoid harmful pesticides.
Try Homemade for Ultimate Control: Making your own hazelnut spread at home guarantees the freshest, healthiest product with complete control over all ingredients.
Compare Nutritional Facts: Use the comparison table to easily evaluate store-bought spreads based on key health metrics like sugar, fat, and ingredients.

Decoding the Hazelnut Spread Label

To determine what's the healthiest hazelnut spread, you must first become a label-reading expert. The front of the jar can be misleading, so flipping it over to check the ingredient list and nutritional facts is crucial.

Prioritizing the Ingredients

Hazelnut Content: A high-quality, genuinely healthy hazelnut spread lists hazelnuts as the very first ingredient. Products that list sugar first, like Nutella, are essentially selling a sugar spread with hazelnut flavoring. Healthier options typically contain a higher percentage of hazelnuts, sometimes up to 30-50%.
Sugar Content: Check the 'Sugars' line on the nutrition panel. For the best option, choose a spread with the lowest amount of added sugar. Some brands use natural alternatives like date paste or maple syrup, while others use artificial sweeteners. Be mindful that artificial sweeteners can sometimes have an unpleasant aftertaste, so tasting different brands may be necessary.
The Oil Debate: Traditional spreads like Nutella contain controversial palm oil due to its high saturated fat content and environmental impact. Healthier spreads often use alternative oils like sunflower, coconut, or avocado oil, which offer healthier fat profiles. Look for spreads with low saturated fat content.

The Healthiest Hazelnut Spreads on the Market

Navigating the grocery aisle can be overwhelming, but several brands have stepped up to offer more nutritious alternatives to the high-sugar options. Here are a few notable examples, each with a different focus on health.

Nocciolata Organic Hazelnut Spread: Praised for its organic, high-quality ingredients, this Italian spread avoids palm oil and relies on raw ingredients. It is a premium, creamy option with a rich flavor profile. While not sugar-free, it is considered a significant step up from mainstream brands due to its ingredient quality and organic certification.
Artisana Organics Hazelnut Cacao Spread: For those focused on a clean, minimally processed product, Artisana is a top choice. It uses organic hazelnuts, coconut sugar, and no palm oil. The flavor is less sweet and more cacao-forward, appealing to those with a more sophisticated palate.
Pyure Hazelnut Spread: A notable low-sugar, keto-friendly option, Pyure boasts a dramatic reduction in sugar content compared to Nutella by using organic sugar-free sweeteners like erythritol and stevia. It's also vegan and contains no palm oil, making it suitable for multiple dietary needs. However, some find the taste of the sugar alternatives less appealing than natural sugar.
Chosen Foods Chocolate Hazelnut Spread: This option distinguishes itself by using 100% pure avocado oil, a high-quality, healthy fat source. It also features hazelnuts as the primary ingredient and significantly less sugar than the leading brand. Its texture is creamy and thick, though some notice a slight chalkiness from the oat milk powder and powdered sugar.

Comparison Table: Healthy Hazelnut Spreads vs. Nutella

This table provides a quick side-by-side view to help you make an informed decision.


Feature	Nutella	Artisana Organics	Nocciolata Organic	Pyure Hazelnut Spread
First Ingredient	Sugar	Hazelnuts	Raw Cane Sugar, Hazelnut Paste	Hazelnuts
Primary Oil	Palm Oil	Coconut MCT Oil	Sunflower Oil	Sunflower Oil
Added Sugar (per 2 Tbsp)	21g	7g (Coconut Sugar)	13g (Raw Sugar)	2g (Sweeteners)
Palm Oil Free?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Texture	Smooth, runnier	Slightly grainy	Thick, creamy	Smoother, more processed
Key Benefit	Widely available	Organic, minimal ingredients	High-quality organic	Keto, lowest sugar
Flavor Profile	Very sweet, chocolate-forward	Nutty, cacao-forward	Balanced, rich	Very low sweetness, relies on alternative sweeteners

Making Your Own Healthy Hazelnut Spread

The healthiest option of all is to control the ingredients yourself by making homemade hazelnut spread. This allows you to eliminate palm oil, drastically reduce sugar, and select high-quality, minimal ingredients. A basic recipe involves roasting hazelnuts, blending them into a smooth paste, and then mixing in a small amount of a healthy sweetener and cacao powder. You can even find recipes online that use dates for natural sweetness. For an in-depth guide on making your own, check out this recipe: Healthy Homemade Nutella (Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Spread).

Conclusion: Finding the Right Spread for You

The quest for the healthiest hazelnut spread reveals that the most popular choice is far from the most nutritious. By prioritizing products with hazelnuts as the primary ingredient, low sugar content, and healthier oils like sunflower or avocado oil, you can make a significantly healthier choice. Brands like Artisana, Nocciolata, and Pyure offer excellent store-bought alternatives that cater to different health goals, from organic purity to low-carb lifestyles. For ultimate control and freshness, making your own spread at home is the best route. In the end, the healthiest hazelnut spread for you will be one that aligns with your nutritional goals while still satisfying that creamy, nutty, and chocolatey craving. Always read the label and choose wisely to enjoy this treat as part of a balanced diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Nutella is not considered a healthy hazelnut spread. Its primary ingredient is sugar, not hazelnuts, and it is high in sugar and saturated fat from palm oil.

A true nut butter is primarily made from ground nuts, while many chocolate hazelnut spreads include various other ingredients like sugar, oil, and milk products, significantly altering their nutritional profile.

Not necessarily. Organic spreads guarantee ingredients grown without pesticides, but you still need to check the sugar content and fat sources. Some organic spreads can still be high in sugar.

Many people avoid palm oil due to its high saturated fat content, which can be linked to heart disease, and because its production is tied to deforestation and environmental concerns.

Yes, some brands like Pyure specialize in low-sugar, low-carb spreads using alternative sweeteners. However, hazelnut spreads are generally calorie-dense due to their fat content.

No, it's quite simple and requires minimal ingredients. The process typically involves roasting hazelnuts, blending them into a paste, and mixing in your choice of sweetener and cocoa powder.

Prioritize spreads with hazelnuts as the first ingredient, low sugar content, healthy oils (like sunflower or avocado oil), and a short, recognizable ingredient list.