Chefs share the best and worst things to make with Nutella

• Insider spoke with five professional chefs about the best and worst ways to use Nutella.
• The hazelnut-cocoa spread can pair well with charcuterie boards, coffee, and cheesecake.
• But some chefs advised against using Nutella in recipes that call for dark chocolate.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nutella is a cocoa-hazelnut spread known for its sweetness and versatility.

Insider spoke with professional chefs about their favorite things to pair the spread with and flavors that don't complement it as well.

Read on for the best and worst ways to use Nutella, according to chefs.

It's easy to make a sweet dessert pizza with Nutella

Ivano Centemeri, executive chef at The Row Reno, told Insider that he loves making a quick and easy dessert pizza with Nutella.

"Spread homemade pizza dough with mascarpone cheese and drizzle Nutella all over it," he said. "Then top with fresh red berries of your choice and bake."

To help the Nutella spread more evenly, Centemeri recommended warming up the unbaked dough in the oven before adding the toppings.

You can use Nutella to dress up a cheesecake

Steven Balmer, executive chef of Springfield Country Club and Tavola Restaurant, told Insider that Nutella is a simple way to add extra flair to a homemade or store-bought cheesecake.

"Drizzle Nutella over cheesecake and top with fresh fruit for an elevated take on a traditional dessert," he said.

You can make the spread easier to drizzle by microwaving a small portion or simply letting the container sit in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.

Add a spoonful to oatmeal for a chocolaty breakfast

Corina Muhammad, a recipe developer for Lekkco dark-chocolate spread, told Insider that products like Nutella are perfect for adding a touch of sweetness to porridge or oatmeal.

"I love mixing chocolate spread in with oatmeal or drizzling it on top," she said.

Top the oatmeal with real chopped hazelnuts for added protein and extra nutty flavor.

Try using Nutella as a dip on your next charcuterie board

Charcuterie boards typically consist of a selection of cured meats, cheese, nuts, and fresh or dried fruit - and Nutella makes a great addition.

"Charcuterie boards of all styles typically include chocolate, and a spread is versatile enough to pair with cheese, fruit, or nuts," Muhammad said.

You can add a spoonful of Nutella directly to the board or offer it in a small ramekin.

Stir a spoonful of the spread into your coffee for added sweetness and flavor

You can swap your normal coffee sweetener for a spoonful of Nutella.

"Chocolate spreads can be used to enhance the flavor of coffee," Muhammad told Insider. "Start with 2 teaspoons and adjust to your liking."

Nutella and other chocolate spreads are made with a high amount of fat, so use a small amount to avoid an oily cup of coffee.

Nutella, pastry dough, and marshmallows make a decadent s'mores dessert

You can use Nutella to make a decedent s'mores-inspired dessert.

"Roll out some dough, spread it with Nutella, and top it with marshmallows," Balmer said. "Sprinkle on some cinnamon, brown sugar, and graham cracker dust, and bake in the oven."

Pastry dough will result in a flakier dessert, but you can also use pizza dough in a pinch.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can be made even better with a little Nutella

For an extra-special lunch or snack, add Nutella to a traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"I love using Nutella as an added ingredient in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made with toasted bread," Balmer told Insider.

Using warm, toasted bread allows the Nutella and peanut butter to melt and blend slightly.

You can melt the chocolaty spread for a quick and tasty fruit dip

Using melted Nutella as a dip is an easy way to turn your fruit bowl into a dessert.

"Dipping fruits such as strawberries, bananas, and apple slices in the chocolate spread is a delicious snack for adults and an easy way to get kids to eat fruit," Muhammad said.

On the other hand, it doesn't make a great hot-chocolate base

Chef Diana Manalang of Little Chef Little Café told Insider that she doesn't recommend making hot chocolate with Nutella.

"Nutella doesn't melt into the milk properly and can be too sweet for hot chocolate if you're also adding marshmallows or other toppings," she said.

Manalang suggested using chocolate ganache instead for less intense sweetness and better mixing.

You should avoid using Nutella in recipes that call for dark chocolate

Bianca Osbourne, chef and host of the podcast "On My Plate," told Insider that Nutella isn't usually a good substitute for dark chocolate.

"Any recipe that isn't intended to be super sweet should use dark or semisweet chocolate, not Nutella," she said.

Osbourne explained that using dark chocolate allows you to control sweetness better than you could with the chocolate-hazelnut spread.

The spread can be overpowering if it's the only flavor in a dish

Nutella delivers a strong dose of chocolate and hazelnut flavors, but the sweetness of the spread can sometimes be overwhelming on its own.

"The sweetness of Nutella needs balance," Osbourne said. "Try using orange zest, a sprinkle of sea salt, or a smattering of nuts to add more flavor."

Tart fruit like cranberries or raspberries can also help cut the sweetness of the spread.