Is Bonne Maman's New Chocolate Spread Better Than Nutella's?
Last month, Bonne Maman, the brand known for its cute red and white checkered jars of preserves, debuted its very own hazelnut spread, to compete with the beloved Nutella. Although it won’t hit store shelves until August, the new spread is available online through their website. And there are some major differences. I picked up a jar of each to compare and take the guesswork out of your next sandwich-making marathon. Here’s my honest review of Bonne Maman Hazlenut Chocolate Spread versus Classic Nutella.
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What’s the difference in ingredients between Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread and Nutella?
While this may not come as a surprise, both brands list sugar as the first ingredient. Bonne Maman lists hazelnuts as the second ingredient in their spread, but it’s the third ingredient in Nutella. Bonne Maman also uses skimmed milk powder, sunflower and rapeseed oils in place of Nutella’s skim milk and palm oil. Bonne Maman’s spread proudly proclaims on its label “Palm Oil-Free” (since palm oil has been a controversial ingredient in the past). Bonne Maman also uses cocoa butter in their blend.
What about the different nutrition facts?
The two are pretty comparable when it comes to nutrition facts. Nutella has 200 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 21 grams of sugar per 2 Tbsp; Bonne Maman clocks in at 180 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 17 grams of sugar for the same amount, so we have to give it to Bonne Maman on the "slightly healthier" scale—by a margin.
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What does the new Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread taste like compared to Nutella?
I tried the spreads in two ways—straight off the spoon and on a piece of toast. The Bonne Maman spread smells and tastes way more like hazelnut in a side-by-side comparison. It’s fresher tasting with a heavy Ferrero Rocher taste, which is funny since the Christmas candy is actually owned by the same company that owns Nutella. The viscosity is a bit lighter than Nutella, which may be due to the difference in the type of oil they use (sunflower and rapeseed versus the palm oil in Nutella). And while the texture of Nutella is very smooth, the Bonne Maman is even silkier. The Bonne Maman spread is a bit richer-tasting than Nutella too. In my opinion, the whole experience of dipping into a pretty, heavy glass jar as opposed to opening a screw top of a plastic tub also contributed to the superior tasting experience.
Where to buy Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread
Bonne Maman explains that their company was “founded in a small village nestled in a beautiful region in the Southwest of France” (I’m already sold) while Nutella’s North American products are made in Ontario, Canada. Bonne Maman will be available nationwide starting this summer, but for right now, they are selling jars in select markets and also on their website, where you can purchase two 8.8 oz. jars and a tiny silver spreader for $16.99.
Nutella, at around $5.79 for 13 oz., is more widely available and can be found everywhere from your local grocery store to 7-Eleven. They also have different products available such as the Nutella Friends Edition (a big jar with 21 mini jars nestled inside) and Nutella & GO!
Nutella Hazelnut Spread with Cocoa for Breakfast, 35.3 oz Jar
Related: Nutella Flan Is the Mexican Dessert You'll Be Making Long After Cinco de Mayo
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The Bottom Line: Bonne Maman or Nutella?
Bonne Maman has always been a favorite of mine, and not only because their glass jars are oh-so-fancy and adorable, but because their preserves are my absolute favorite. I was skeptical that there could be a discernable difference between the two, but the Bonne Maman chocolate hazelnut spread will now join the lineup in my house because I’ll officially be converting from Nutella.
If you really love a forward hazelnut flavor (like Ferrero Rocher), you’ll appreciate the Bonne Maman spread more. And if you’re more of a chocolate fan, serving it to kids, or want to pick up a jar a bit more conveniently, go with Nutella. Bottom line: not only did the hazelnut taste of Bonne Maman far outshine the flavor in Nutella, but I really liked the fact that it tasted fresher and a little less sweet and processed than the original. It’s worth the extra couple of dollars to have this one in your cabinet.
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
