Gusta Hazelnut Cacao Spread jar no palm oil
Gusta hazelnut chocolate spread texture
Gusta hazelnut cacao spread on toast
Gusta chocolate hazelnut spread ingredients
Gusta hazelnut cacao cream on pancakes
Gusta hazelnut chocolate spread for family
Sicilia

Gusta Hazelnut & Cacao Cream

4.6175 reviews

Hazelnut and cacao cream from Sicilia. Stone-ground, no palm oil.

$20.47

Purchase type
  • Stone-ground, single ingredient
  • Ships from our New York warehouse in 1-2 days
  • Free shipping over $75
Sicilian hazelnut grove on volcanic terrain, the origin of Gusta hazelnut cacao cream
Place
Sicilian hazelnuts grow on volcanic slopes where the soil is mineral-rich and the season swings between a wet winter and a bone-dry summer. That stress on the tree concentrates the nut. The hazelnuts that come out of this terrain are smaller than their counterparts from other Italian regions, and the flavor runs deeper for it.
Stone mill grinding hazelnut-cocoa paste in a Sicilian workshop
Process
Hazelnuts at 26%, stone-ground with olive oil and sunflower oil, then blended with cocoa powder at 2.9% and cocoa butter. The cocoa is a secondary note, not the lead. No palm oil. No artificial flavors. The two ingredients are in balance: the hazelnut carries the cream, the cacao sharpens it. It separates in the jar over time. Stir before using.
Hands stirring hazelnut cacao cream in a ceramic bowl
People
The family we work with in Sicilia has been producing nut pastes and spreads for decades, supplying local confectioners before shifting to finished consumer products. The hazelnut and cacao blend came from their own kitchen: the combination they had been making for family use before it became a product line. We visit once a year.

What's inside

Ingredients
Hazelnuts (50%), cane sugar, cocoa powder (8%), whole milk powder, sunflower oil, vanilla extract. No palm oil. No artificial flavors. No preservatives.
Contains
Hazelnuts, milk.

How to use it

Spread on warm toast or a fresh croissant. Stir a spoonful into oatmeal or warm milk. Use as a filling for crepes. Layer inside a sandwich with sliced banana. Spoon over vanilla gelato.

The hazelnut-to-cocoa ratio is 50:8. Rich without being cloying.

Pairs with

From the recipe book.

Cook a

Read the recipe ›
See all recipes ›

The rest of the pantry

Questions

  • How is this different from the hazelnut spread most people grew up with?
    Most mass-market hazelnut spreads use palm oil, skim milk powder, and artificial vanillin. This one uses cocoa powder, no palm oil, and no dairy. The hazelnut percentage is also higher at 26%, so the nut flavor comes through more cleanly.
  • Is it vegan?
    Yes. No dairy, no animal products.
  • Is it gluten-free?
    Yes.
  • Why is the cream separating in the jar?
    The hazelnut oils are separating from the solids. It happens with spreads that don’t use emulsifiers to lock the texture. Stir it back together before each use. The jar is fine.
  • Is it sweetened?
    Yes. Sugar is an ingredient. This is a dessert cream, not a health spread.
  • Can I use it in baking?
    Yes. It works as a filling for croissants and crepes, swirled into brownies, or spread on a tart base. It holds up to heat without breaking.
  • How do I store it?
    Store at room temperature, away from direct heat. Refrigerate after opening if your kitchen runs warm, and finish within a few weeks for best texture.
  • How is this shipped?
    Ships from the US. In-stock orders go out within 1-2 business days. Free shipping over $75.
  • What if it arrives damaged or I don’t love it?
    Write to us. We refund within 60 days, no questions.

Reviews

  • 5 stars: 123 (70%)
  • 4 stars: 35 (20%)
  • 3 stars: 12 (7%)
  • 2 stars: 5 (3%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
M
Maya Patel
Better snack

My kids called it fancy Nutella and I am not correcting them. Smooth, chocolatey, not waxy. Good on strawberries and also on a spoon at 11pm.

M
Maria L.
Good on everything

toast. yogurt. straight from the jar. all good.

T
Tanya H.
A better chocolate spread

I want a chocolate spread that tastes like the main ingredient, not like a dessert topping. This one does. The hazelnut is the main event and the chocolate supports it.

D
Dean W.
Good on everything tried

Used on toast, waffles, crackers, and as a baking ingredient. All four worked well. Good product.

G
Gloria S.
Very impressed with quality

The quality comes through clearly. Better ingredients. Better process. Better result. Just a genuinely better product.

J
Jason M.
Proper hazelnut flavor

Real hazelnut flavor. Not extract. Not flavoring. Actual hazelnuts. You can taste the difference and this has it.

K
Kyle B.
Good intro to better spreads

if you've only ever had mass market hazelnut spreads this will taste different at first. give it three or four uses. once you adjust to the more hazelnut-forward flavor you wont want to go back.

T
Tanya H.
Would have liked more chocolate

The hazelnut is great but I wanted a stronger chocolate presence. Probably a me problem. The quality of what is here is very high.

D
DONNA L.
Reorder confirmed

Second order in and I am buying again as soon as this jar is done.

S
Susan W.
Excellent product

I don't write reviews often but this is good enough that I wanted to.

n
nm_reads
My son eats this on everything

crackers. bread. a spoon. he would eat it on vegetables if I let him. very strong endorsement from a six year old.

P
Patty O.
Excellent on rice cakes

Spread this on plain rice cakes for a snack. Really elevated a pretty boring base. The hazelnut flavor works well against the neutral crunch.

L
LINDA P.
Perfect snack for long afternoons

I work from home and afternoons are when I struggle with snacking. A small amount of this on crackers or apple slices keeps me satisfied without eating something heavy. The hazelnut protein and the cacao flavor together are a good combination for a mid-afternoon snack. I have been doing this for months now and have ordered this regularly as a result.

S
Sandra P.
Good product with one note

Really solid hazelnut spread. My only note is I find the texture slightly thick when cold. Room temp it is perfect.

C
Carmen S.
Tried on a croissant first

opened the jar and used it on a plain croissant. thought immediately: ok this is the best use of a croissant ive had in a long time.

H
HELEN C.
Good for kids snacks

Sturdy enough for a lunchbox snack. Kids like it. Good ingredients. Easy choice.

V
Victoria J.
Made pastry with it

Used as a filling in homemade pastries. The hazelnut flavor held well through baking and complemented the dough. Very good baking application.

T
Theresa S.
Kids loved it immediately

zero convincing required. they saw the jar and wanted it. they have been asking for the hazelnut toast every morning since.

n
nm_reads
Fine but forgettable

Ate the whole jar. Probably wouldnt order again. Nothing wrong with it. Just didnt stand out.

D
Dean W.
Texture is different from other spreads

slightly grainy in a pleasant way, like you can actually detect hazelnut pieces. Not smooth in the way that commercial spreads are. That is a feature not a bug.

P
Peter G.
Great on waffles and crepes

weekend brunch staple now. my guests always ask about it.

T
Thomas A.
Goes fast in our house

my family goes through one jar a week. buying two at a time now.

G
Gloria S.
Spreads beautifully

The texture is exactly what I want in a spread. Smooth but with some body. Works on every bread type.

C
CAROL N.
Good for a gift

Bought as a gift and well received. The presentation is nice and the product quality matched the price point.

M
Maria L.
Second jar already ordered

Ordered my second jar before the first was half empty. That is the review.

j
jsmith92
Converts people who claim not to like hazelnut

my partner doesnt like hazelnut normally. but he keeps eating this on toast every morning. i haven't pointed this out to him yet.

P
Patricia Bourne
Gift that kept giving

bought this as part of a gift basket for my mother in law last Christmas. she finished it in a week and then called me to ask where I found it. bought her two more jars and kept one for myself.

I
Irene P.
Really great gift product

Sent four jars as gifts at different points this year. All four were received very well. Good thing to have as a go-to gift option.

K
Kathleen R.
UPDATE: subscribed

Started with one jar to try. Liked it. Ordered a second. UPDATE: Now on a subscription. This is officially a household necessity.

P
Pete A.
Flat for me

It's ok. Nothing special to me. Wouldnt reorder.

P
PATRICIA M.
Really a great product

I have bought this seven times. Each time it is exactly as expected. No bad jars, no quality inconsistency, no disappointing batches. Seven for seven.

D
Dean W.
Nutella comparison is the wrong frame

every review compares this to Nutella and i think that is the wrong framing. Nutella is a candy spread. This is a nut spread. different product for different situations. on its own terms this is very good.

j
jsmith92
Good product simple review

good. will buy again. the hazelnut flavor is real.

C
Carmen S.
Good spread with a small note

I like this a lot. Minor note: the jar is a bit hard to fully scrape clean. Good product though.

Six Italian regions. Nothing reformulated. Imported direct.