Tasty Nutella Pancake Sandwich

This mouthwatering fried Nutella pancake sandwich turns basic bread and hazelnut-chocolate spread into an indulgent treat that'll make your taste buds dance. The fluffy pancake coating creates a crispy, golden outside while the Nutella inside gets all warm and gooey.

I started making these for my nieces during their overnight stays, and now they ask for them every time they visit. The way their eyes light up when they taste that warm chocolate filling makes all the effort worth it.

What You'll Need

• Milk and vinegar: Works as a quick stand-in for buttermilk, adding tang and helping everything rise nicely
• Flour: Gives structure to our pancake coating
• Baking powder and baking soda: Team up for the ideal fluffiness in your outer layer
• Caster sugar: Brings just enough sweetness without going overboard
• Vegetable oil: Keeps the coating soft and moist
• Hot water: Makes the batter just runny enough for easy dipping
• White bread: Squishes down well and doesn't fight with other flavors
• Nutella: Delivers that dreamy chocolate-hazelnut center that gets all melty
• Cinnamon sugar coating: Adds a sweet spicy finish that works magic with the chocolate

How To Make It

Mix Your Fake Buttermilk:

Stir milk and white vinegar together in a small bowl and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it looks a bit lumpy. This quick trick adds a nice tang and wakes up the baking powder and soda.

Combine Your Dry Stuff:

In a big bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and caster sugar until they're all mixed up. Break up any clumps for a super smooth batter.

Whip Up The Batter:

Dump your fake buttermilk, vegetable oil, and hot water into the dry mix. Stir everything until you get a smooth, kinda thick batter without any dry spots. You want it slightly thicker than normal pancake batter so it sticks to your sandwiches.

Get Your Oil Hot:

Pour about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep pan and heat it to around 350°F (175°C). No thermometer? Just drop in a tiny bit of batter – it should bubble right away and float up.

Build Your Sandwiches:

Take two pieces of white bread and lightly wet one side of each with milk so they'll stick together. Flatten each slice with a rolling pin to make them thinner. Put a big spoonful of Nutella in the middle of one slice, then put the other slice on top. Press the edges down hard to seal them completely.

Cut Them Into Shape:

Use a round cookie cutter or cup to cut your sandwich into shapes – circles work really well. Make sure the edges are really pressed together so no Nutella escapes while cooking.

Dip And Fry:

Dunk each sealed sandwich in the pancake batter until it's fully covered but not dripping. Carefully put it in the hot oil and cook for about 2 minutes until golden, then flip and cook another minute. The outside should puff up a bit and turn a pretty gold color.

Make Your Sweet Topping:

While they're frying, mix caster sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish until well combined. This fragrant mixture will be the perfect finishing touch.

Add The Sweet Coating:

Take out your fried sandwiches with a slotted spoon and let them drain briefly on paper towels. While they're still hot, roll them in the cinnamon sugar mix until they're completely coated on all sides.

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I've been crazy about Nutella since I was a kid, and making these treats reminds me of watching my grandma fry up similar goodies during holidays. She always told me to be patient with sealing the edges – nothing ruins your day faster than filling leaking into hot oil.

Prep In Advance

You can get these ready up to the sandwich stage earlier in the day and keep them covered in the fridge. The cold actually helps the Nutella firm up, so it's less likely to leak when you fry them. Just let them warm up a bit before dipping in batter, since super cold sandwiches might throw off your cooking time.

Try Something Different

While Nutella steals the show in this recipe, you can play around with other fillings too. PB&J works great, and so does cookie butter or cream cheese with fruit jam. For a grown-up twist, try adding a thin layer of orange marmalade next to the Nutella – the citrus cuts through the sweetness really nicely.

Ways To Serve

These fried Nutella treats look fancy when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some fresh berries. The mix of hot crispy sandwich and cold ice cream creates an amazing contrast. For breakfast, add a spoonful of whipped cream and dust with powdered sugar. They go perfectly with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk.

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These fried Nutella pancake sandwiches are a total treat that'll help you create special moments with family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use store-bought pancake mix instead of making the batter from scratch?

Absolutely, grabbing a pre-made pancake mix works fine if you're short on time. Just follow what it says on the box to get the batter ready. You want it thick enough to stick to the sandwich but not too gloppy or thin. While making it yourself does taste better and feels nicer when you bite in, a good quality mix from the store will still turn out really yummy.

→ How do I prevent the Nutella from leaking out during frying?

To keep the Nutella inside, push down firmly all around the edges after you put the filling in. Flattening your bread a bit first helps it stick together better. Don't go overboard with filling - a spoonful per sandwich is plenty. The pancake batter you dip it in also works as a shield that locks everything inside while it cooks.

→ Can I make these ahead of time?

These taste way better right after cooking when they're still warm and crunchy with gooey Nutella inside. But you can get stuff ready beforehand - mix up your pancake batter (keep it in the fridge for up to a day) and mix the cinnamon sugar. You could even put the sandwiches together early and pop them in the fridge until you're ready to dip and fry them, though this might make your bread a bit soft.

→ What shape cutter works best for these sandwiches?

Circles or squares about 3-4 inches across work really well, sealing in the filling while using most of the bread. But feel free to have fun with it - try hearts for a romantic breakfast, stars for birthdays, or fun animal shapes for kids. Just make sure whatever shape you pick lets you press the edges together properly before frying.

→ What can I use instead of Nutella?

You've got tons of tasty options besides Nutella. Try other chocolate spreads, speculoos cookie butter, peanut butter, almond butter, or your favorite jam. Caramel or dulce de leche work great too, or mix things up with peanut butter and jelly together. Want something less sweet? Cream cheese mixed with a bit of powdered sugar and cinnamon or a drop of vanilla tastes amazing too.

→ What's the best oil temperature for frying these sandwiches?

You want your oil around 350°F (175°C). This lets the sandwiches cook all the way through, so the outside gets golden and crispy while giving enough time for the middle to warm up and make the Nutella all melty without burning. Don't have a thermometer? Just drop a tiny bit of batter in - it should bubble and float up right away but not turn brown instantly.