Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies — The Ultimate Gooey Chocolate Experience
If you’re a chocoholic or Nutella lover, prepare yourself: these Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies are about to become your newest obsession. Imagine the perfect blend of chocolate lava cake and soft, brownie-like cookies, all wrapped around a warm, molten Nutella core that stretches with every bite. The edges are chewy, the centers are fudgy, and the melty hazelnut chocolate filling is pure dessert perfection.
Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, treating your family, or simply craving something irresistibly indulgent, this Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies recipe delivers restaurant-quality results with easy home-baker instructions.
In this post, we’ll go over why these cookies are so special, the key ingredients and techniques that make them unforgettable, how to store them, and even creative variations and serving tips. At the bottom, you’ll find the full recipe so you can get baking ASAP!
What Makes Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies So Special?
Here’s why these cookies will blow your mind (and taste buds):
✨ Molten center that stays gooey even after cooling
✨ A brownie-like cookie exterior with rich cocoa flavor
✨ Perfectly soft, thick, and chewy — no flat cookies here!
✨ Freezes beautifully, so you can bake just one at a time
✨ Hit of hazelnut from Nutella that pairs perfectly with chocolate
These cookies have the kind of wow-factor that makes guests think you spent hours in the kitchen — but they’re actually super beginner-friendly.
Key Ingredients for the Best Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies
To get that signature lava effect, Nutella must be frozen before baking. This ensures the filling doesn’t dissolve into the cookie dough while cooking. Here’s everything you need:
Ingredients
-
1 cup (300g) Nutella
-
2 ¼ cups (295g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
-
2 tablespoons cornstarch
-
1 cup (80g) unsweetened cocoa powder
-
2 teaspoons baking soda
-
½ teaspoon salt
-
1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, room temperature
-
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
-
1 cup (200g) light or dark brown sugar, packed
-
2 large eggs, room temperature
-
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
-
(Optional) Flaky sea salt for topping
📝 Tip: For an even richer flavor, use Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
Why These Ingredients Matter
Each component plays a crucial role in texture and flavor:
| Ingredient | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Nutella | The molten center — freezes well, melts beautifully |
| Cocoa powder | Gives deep chocolate brownie flavor |
| Cornstarch | Keeps cookies thick, soft, and tender |
| Brown sugar | Adds moisture and chewiness |
| Eggs | Structure + rich thickness |
| Butter | Essential fat for fudgy texture |
| Sea salt | Balances sweetness (don’t skip!) |
This combination ensures every bite is ultra-indulgent.
How to Make Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies
This recipe is easier than it looks — the freezing step does all the magic!
Instructions
Step 1 — Freeze the Nutella
1️⃣ Line a baking sheet or cutting board with parchment.
2️⃣ Scoop 15 tablespoon-sized portions of Nutella.
3️⃣ Freeze at least 1 hour, until solid.
⏱️ Keep them frozen until the moment you wrap them in dough.
Step 2 — Make the Dough
4️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
5️⃣ Line a cookie sheet with parchment.
6️⃣ In a medium bowl: whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.
7️⃣ In a large bowl: cream butter + sugars until light and fluffy (1–2 minutes).
8️⃣ Beat in eggs one at a time + vanilla extract.
9️⃣ Add dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
Step 3 — Assemble the Cookies
🔟 Scoop ¼ cup dough, flatten into a 4-inch disc.
1️⃣1️⃣ Place a frozen Nutella scoop in the center.
1️⃣2️⃣ Seal dough around Nutella completely.
1️⃣3️⃣ Place on baking sheet, spacing cookies apart.
Step 4 — Bake + Serve
Bake 10–12 minutes, or until edges are set but centers still soft.
Cool just 5 minutes — serve warm for maximum lava flow!
✨ Optional: Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top immediately after baking.
Serving Ideas for Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies
These cookies already feel gourmet, but you can take them further:
🍨 Serve warm with vanilla or hazelnut ice cream
☕ Pair with espresso, mocha, or hot chocolate
🍓 Add fresh berries to balance richness
🍫 Drizzle melted chocolate on top
🥛 Classic — cold glass of milk!
Perfect for:
-
Valentine’s Day
-
Holiday dessert platters
-
Birthdays
-
Movie nights
-
Bake sale show-stoppers
How to Store + Freeze
These freeze wonderfully — yes, even unbaked!
Unbaked:
-
Freeze assembled cookie dough balls
-
Bake from frozen: add +2 minutes to baking time
Baked:
-
Store in an airtight container up to 5 days
-
Reheat in microwave 10–15 seconds for molten centers
Variations & Flavor Twists
You can totally customize these cookies:
| Variation | Swap or Add |
|---|---|
| Peanut Butter Lava | Replace Nutella with peanut butter cups |
| Caramel Core | Use soft caramel squares |
| Double Lava | Mix Nutella with melted dark chocolate |
| White Chocolate Drizzle | Add over the top after baking |
| Stuff with Hazelnuts | Add chopped toasted hazelnuts for crunch |
Endless ways to reinvent this delicious treat!
Baking Tips for Guaranteed Success
✔ Keep Nutella frozen solid
✔ Don’t overmix the dough
✔ Slight underbake for perfect lava texture
✔ Chill dough if sticky before assembling
✔ Seal dough completely to avoid leaks
✔ Let cookies rest a few minutes before serving
Following these steps will give you bakery-quality Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies every time.
📌 Printable Recipe Card
Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus freezing)
Bake time: 10–12 minutes
Total time: ~1 hr 30 min
Servings: 12–15 cookies
Ingredients
(See full list above)
Directions
-
Freeze Nutella scoops 1 hour.
-
Mix dry ingredients.
-
Cream butter + sugars.
-
Add eggs + vanilla.
-
Combine wet + dry.
-
Wrap dough around frozen Nutella.
-
Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
-
Cool & enjoy warm!
Why You’ll Make These Again and Again
These cookies check every dessert-lover box:
✔ Impressive but simple
✔ Easy ingredients
✔ Guaranteed chocolate fix
✔ Crowd-pleasing
Every bite combines rich cocoa, a melty Nutella core, and that perfect chewy-meets-gooey cookie texture.
PrintNutella Chocolate Lava Cookies — The Ultimate Gooey Chocolate Experience
Chocolate lava cake meets Nutella-stuffed cookies! These Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies are pure decadence — featuring a chewy, fudgy chocolate cookie (think brownie texture!) wrapped around a melty, gooey Nutella center. Each big bakery-style cookie is rich, indulgent, and guaranteed to satisfy every chocolate lover.
Ingredients
-
1 cup (300g) Nutella
-
2 ¼ cups (295g) all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled
-
2 tablespoons cornstarch
-
1 cup (80g) unsweetened cocoa powder
-
2 teaspoons baking soda
-
½ teaspoon salt
-
1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, room temperature
-
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
-
1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar
-
2 large eggs, room temperature
-
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
-
Flaky sea salt — optional, for topping
Instructions
Step 1: Freeze the Nutella
-
Line a small baking sheet with parchment.
-
Scoop 15 tablespoon-sized portions of Nutella onto the tray.
-
Freeze for 1 hour or until firm. (Keep frozen until needed!)
Step 2: Make the Cookie Dough
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment.
-
Whisk together flour, cornstarch, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
-
In a separate bowl, beat butter + both sugars with an electric mixer on medium for 1–2 minutes until fluffy.
-
Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Add vanilla with the second egg.
-
Mix in the dry ingredients until fully combined (no streaks).
Step 3: Assemble the Cookies
-
Scoop ¼ cup of cookie dough and flatten into a 4-inch (10 cm) circle.
-
Place 1 frozen Nutella scoop in the center.
-
Wrap dough fully around the Nutella, pinching edges closed.
-
Place on baking sheet seam-side down, leaving space between cookies.
-
Repeat with remaining dough and Nutella.
Step 4: Bake
-
Bake for 10–12 minutes — the cookies should look set on the edges but soft in the center.
-
Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to finish setting.
-
Sprinkle with flaky sea salt (optional but recommended!).
Notes
-
Frozen Nutella is key — don’t skip this step or it will disappear inside the dough!
-
Avoid overbaking — they firm up as they cool.
-
For extra fudgy cookies, slightly underbake by 1 minute.
-
Store leftovers in an airtight container:
-
Room temp: 2–3 days
-
Fridge: up to 1 week
-
-
To re-melt the lava, microwave 10–15 seconds before eating!
Final Thoughts: The Magic of Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies
If you love chocolate, decadence, and desserts that make people gasp, these Nutella Chocolate Lava Cookies are your new go-to recipe. They’re the perfect mix of luxurious and comforting — and once you take that first molten bite, you’ll understand why everyone is obsessed with them.
Whether for a special celebration or a casual treat-yourself evening, these cookies are guaranteed to make any moment feel like a celebration. So grab your baking tray, freeze that Nutella, and get ready for greatness.
