Nutella Pancakes with Mascarpone Cream (Easy Brunch Recipe)

These Nutella pancakes with mascarpone cream are a weekend brunch dream!

This delicious recipe comes together quickly and gives you rich, chocolatey pancakes topped with a creamy, lightly tangy mascarpone spread that takes the whole thing to another level.

Serve them with your favourite fresh fruit and chopped nuts for a brunch recipe that everyone will look forward to!

A tall stack of Nutella pancakes topped with mascarpone cream, sliced bananas and finely chopped hazelnuts on a beige plate.

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Recipe Highlights

Servings: Makes 14 pancakes.
Time Commitment: About 30 minutes.
Effort Required: Minimal, most of the work is in the batter.
Special Equipment: Non-stick skillet or griddle, large mixing bowl, hand mixer (optional).
Ingredient Complexity: Simple pantry ingredients, plus Nutella (or chocolate-hazelnut spread) and Mascarpone cheese.
Dietary Notes: Contains gluten, dairy, and hazelnuts.

"I just made this for two out of three kids... My two kids LOVED it and I thought it was really good. Don't skimp on the marscapone topping. That was heaven. Will have to make for the hubby on a weekend. Thank you for the recipe."
- Bonnie

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Recipe Highlights
Cook's Notes
Ingredients & Substitutions
Variations
How To Make Nutella Pancakes
Tips for Success
Common Questions
Recipe Card

Cook's Notes

At my house, pancakes are a weekend brunch tradition. Weekday mornings call for something quick, like a granola parfait, but weekends are for fun recipes we look forward to all week.

This Nutella pancake recipe happens to be one of my favourites.

These are not your regular pancakes. Unlike traditional fluffy pancakes, these turn out a bit denser because of the hazelnut spread. The texture is more like a thick crepe.

But they are so tasty!!!

Yes, this recipe is made from scratch. And while it takes a bit more effort than using pancake mix, it's really not difficult to make.

For me, the mascarpone cream is what makes this recipe extra yummy. The cheese adds just enough acidity to cut through the sweetness of the chocolate hazelnut spread.

If you prefer, you can skip the mascarpone and serve the pancakes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead, or just maple syrup and butter.

Looking down at a stack of Nutella pancakes topped with slices of fresh banana and finely diced hazelnuts, sitting on a beige plate on a dark grey table.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This Nutella pancake recipe can be easily customized to suit your preferences.

Bowls of ingredients needed to make Nutella pancakes.

Nutella: Nutella is a hazelnut spread made with cocoa. If you can't find Nutella, use your favourite hazelnut cocoa spread or chocolate-hazelnut spread.
Mascarpone Cheese: Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese made from heavy cream. It can be found in the specialty cheese section of most grocery stores. It is not the same as regular cream cheese.
Milk: I used 2% milk in this recipe. Whole milk also works well and will give you a slightly richer batter.
Hazelnuts: Toasted hazelnuts can be substituted for any nut or omitted entirely.
Bananas: The bananas are optional. Substitute your favourite fresh fruit or omit entirely.

This recipe has not been tested with all possible substitutions or variations. Making changes may alter the taste, texture, or overall outcome. If you try a different ingredient, please share in the comments!

See the recipe card for the complete ingredient list and recipe instructions.

Variations

Here are a few ways to change things up with this recipe:

Mini pancakes: Use a smaller amount of batter per pancake to make mini pancakes. These are a fun alternative option for serving a crowd or brunch with kids. They also make great finger food!
Vanilla ice cream topping: Skip the mascarpone cream and serve the warm pancakes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead. The ice cream melts slightly over the warm pancakes, creating a sauce-like effect that is really delicious.
Different nuts and fruit: Toasted almonds and slices of strawberries would make a delicious alternative to the hazelnuts and bananas.
Extra chocolately: Warm up a couple of spoonfuls of Nutella in a small microwave-safe bowl, so you can have an extra Nutella drizzle over the top of your pancakes.

How To Make Nutella Pancakes

This recipe comes together quickly, but there are a few things to keep in mind to get the best results.

Milk being added from a measuring spoon into a white mixing bowl that already has mascarpone cheese and Nutella in it.

Step 1: Add the mascarpone cheese, ¼ cup of hazelnut spread, and 2 tablespoons of milk to a small mixing bowl.

A white mixing bowl with a hand mixer beater laying on top of mixed mascarpone cream.

Step 2: Mix until well incorporated, then store in the fridge until you're ready to serve.

A large mixing bowl full of Nutella pancake batter with a whisk sitting in it.

Step 3: Make the pancake batter. Combine all of the pancake ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk until smooth with no lumps.

A Nutella pancake cooking in a white non-stick frying pan. Bubbles on top of the pancake indicate that it's time to flip it.

Step 4: Cook the pancakes. Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat and pour in the batter. When bubbles form on the surface, flip the pancake. The second side takes about a minute.

A large stack of Nutella pancakes on a beige plate on a grey wooden table.

Step 5: Stack the cooked pancakes on a plate as you make them. Use parchment or waxed paper in between each pancake if they seem to be sticking to each other.

A large stack of cooked Nutella pancakes topped with mascarpone cream, sliced bananas and chopped hazelnuts.

Step 6: Top the pancakes just before serving. Spread the cold mascarpone cream over the warm pancakes, then add banana slices and crushed toasted hazelnuts.

Tips for Success

Make sure to whisk the Nutella into the batter thoroughly. You don't want lumps of hazelnut spread in the finished pancakes.
Use a large mixing bowl for the batter so you have enough room to whisk without making a mess.
Do not use high heat. The sugar in Nutella causes these pancakes to burn faster than regular pancakes. Keep your heat at medium-low and watch them carefully.
For the mascarpone cream: A hand mixer makes quick work of it, but a whisk or wooden spoon also works. The cheese will be stiff at first and will loosen up as you mix.
Never microwave the mascarpone cream! It will melt and ruin the texture. Use it cold, straight from the fridge, and it will soften naturally when spread over warm pancakes.
If the pancakes stick together while stacking, place pieces of parchment paper or wax paper between each layer.
For a brunch party: Put the mascarpone cream and crushed nuts into small bowls with spoons and let your guests build their own pancakes. That way, everyone can have as much or as little topping as they like.

Common Questions

How do I know when to flip the pancakes?

When bubbles form on the surface of the pancake, and the edges start to look set, that's your cue to flip. The second side cooks faster, usually about a minute.

Can I serve these without the mascarpone cream?

Of course! Try serving it with maple syrup and butter for breakfast. For dessert, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream are great options.

That's everything you need to know to make this delicious Nutella pancake recipe!

If you make these pancakes for a special breakfast or brunch with friends, I'd love to know how they turn out!

Do you have a favourite way to eat Nutella (or other hazelnut cocoa spreads) for breakfast or brunch? Let me know in the comments!

Recipe Card

This blog post was originally sponsored by Nutella in 2015. It has since been updated to include alternative brand options and includes more information to help you successfully make this recipe.

Nutella Pancakes with Mascarpone Cream