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Nougat cream in the test: This brand even beats Nutella!
Gault&Millau chooses the best nougat creams in 2025. Test winner: Penny Nut Nougat Cream. Vegan is trendy.
Nougat cream in the test: This brand even beats Nutella!
The well-known gourmet magazine Gault&Millau determined the best products in a comprehensive blind tasting of 28 nougat creams. The jury, consisting of experts such as editor Martina Hohenlohe and chocolate expert Thomas Kovazh, evaluated the creams based on various criteria. These included taste, texture and sweetness. Particularly noteworthy: the popular Nutella from Ferrero did not make it into the final.
The test group was divided into two teams to comprehensively evaluate the variety of nougat creams. Surprisingly, a discounter nougat cream secured first place, which underlines the quality of products outside of the premium brands. According to Gault&Millau, the Penny Nut Nougat Cream was the best product with a price of €4.98/kg, followed by the vegan “Nutella plant based” for €9.98/kg and the palm oil-free organic natura Nut Nougat Cream from Hofer for €7.40/kg. The following table summarizes the results:
| rank | product | Price (€/kg) | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penny nut nougat cream | 4.98 | with rapeseed and palm oil |
| 2 | Nutella plant based (Ferrero) | 9.98 | vegan, with palm oil |
| 3 | Organic natura nut nougat cream (Hofer) | 7.40 | palm oil free |
| 4 | Darbo hazel kiss nougat cream | 14.66 | palm oil free |
| 5 | bionella nut nougat cream | 11.23 | vegan, with palm and sunflower oil |
| 6 | Alnatura hazelnut date cocoa cream | 20.79 | vegan, without added oils |
Market development of hazelnuts
The results of the tasting come in the context of a significant trend in the hazelnut market. Loud Mordor Intelligence The hazelnut market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.10% between 2024 and 2029. The market size is expected to reach $554.14 million in 2024, and demand is particularly strong in Europe, the largest market.
Turkey is the main producer of hazelnuts, accounting for about two-thirds of global production. A few years ago, in 2014, a cold snap on Turkey's Black Sea coast led to a noticeable decline in the harvest and caused a 60 percent increase in world market prices. Despite these challenges, manufacturers were able to store sufficient stocks so as not to jeopardize the production of nut nougat creams. Hazelnuts were found in quantities of up to 45 percent in the tested products so that the legal requirements could be met.
Health Benefits and Applications
Hazelnuts are known not only for their taste but also for their health benefits. They are rich in proteins, unsaturated fatty acids and linoleic acid as well as alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). These nuts can help lower LDL cholesterol levels and increase HDL cholesterol levels. There are hardly any limits to their use in food, drinks and cosmetics.
Hazelnuts play a central role in German cuisine in particular, especially in baked goods. They are a sought-after ingredient, especially in the chocolate industry, where hazelnuts make up up to 90% of total nut consumption. Products like Nutella, Ferrero Rocher or Kinder Bueno are examples of their popularity.
The tasting as well as the market development and health benefits show that hazelnuts are an essential ingredient in many foods and that the presence of plant-based alternatives in the nut cream industry is growing. In a market that is constantly growing, the competition between traditional and vegan products remains exciting.
Whether vegan or not, nougat creams are enjoying great popularity and continue to be appreciated among gourmets and in everyday life.