16 Alternatives to Nutella: Sugars, Sweeteners & Additives Compared
We researched 16 chocolate spread labels so you don't have to.
Here's one chart comparing added sugars, total sugars, sugar alcohols, other sweeteners, dairy, and additives — for the ingredient-conscious chocolate lover.
Who This Chart Is For
This chart exists because the usual options — and many of the alternatives — still aren’t meeting everyone’s needs.
I created Delessa around 2005, out of necessity…survival really! There was nothing rich, chocolatey, and delicious that didn’t come with some form of sugar and other ingredients I couldn’t tolerate. I was in constant danger of giving in to sugary desserts. Even the raw vegan artisans making beautiful handcrafted truffles were still using coconut sugar, agave, dates, or honey — and even small amounts of those still elevate blood sugar and feed things like candida.
Over the years, healthier options improved a great deal and I started to see chocolate spreads similar to my homemade spread. But none of them responded to my need — as it turns out, a need more and more people share. Those of us who can’t tolerate any sugars, including fruit, dates, and honey, and who also can’t tolerate sugar alcohols or fiber additives without serious digestive discomfort, still had no option.
Fast forward to today: I researched more than a dozen chocolate spreads on the market and mapped out the ingredients that matter to many people with restricted diets. Even though several of these products are conscientiously made and completely fine for a lot of people — they still don’t work for the growing number of outliers like me. The chart below covers what I found.
We love many of these brands. But some of us — and our kids — still react to sugar in any form, including the natural sugars in honey, agave, coconut sugar, dates, and fruit. When even the cleanest options on this list aren't the right fit, you need another option. If that sounds like you or your family, Delessa might be what you've been looking for.
📋 This table has 9 columns — scroll right to see all of them.
OR:
| Brand | Sugar Alcohols | Added Sugars | Sugar Content | Fiber Additives | Whey / Dairy | Palm Oil | Sweetener | Natural Flavors | Ingredient Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutella | None | 19g | 21g | None | ✓ (skim milk) | ✓ | Sugar | None | 7 |
| ★Delessa | None | None | 1g†† | None | None | None | Monk fruit | None | 4 |
| Good Good | ✓ (maltitol) | None | 3g | None | ✓ (skim milk + whey) | ✓ | Maltitol + stevia | ✓ | 8 |
| Pongo | ✓ (maltitol) | 1g | 5g | None | ✓ (whey + skim milk) | None | Maltitol | ✓ | 9 |
| ChocZero | None | None | 0g | ✓ (resistant dextrin) | ✓ (skim milk powder) | ✓ | Monk fruit | None | 8 |
| Fine & Raw Sugarless | ✓ (erythritol) | None | 2g | None | None | None | Monk fruit + erythritol + lucuma | None | 7 |
| Pyure | ✓ (erythritol) | None | 2g | ✓ (soluble tapioca fiber) | None | ✓ | Erythritol + stevia | None | 8 |
| Nutilight | ✓ (erythritol) | None | 0g | ✓ (soluble corn fiber) | None | ✓ | Erythritol + stevia | None | 8 |
| CRAVERS | None | None | 5g | None | None | None | Dates | None | 3 |
| Elavi† | None | 0g† | 4g | None | None | None | Dates + monk fruit | ✓ | 8 |
| Rawmio | None | 6g | 7g | None | None | None | Coconut sugar | None | 3 |
| Bonne Maman | None | 17g | 17g | None | ✓ (skimmed milk powder) | None | Sugar | ✓ | 8 |
| Nocciolata | None | 16g | 16g | None | None | None | Cane sugar (organic) | None | 7 |
| 88 Acres | None | 4g | 5g | None | None | None | Cane sugar | None | 6 |
| Peanut Butter & Co | None | 15g | 15g | ✓ (soluble corn fiber) | ✓ (skim milk powder) | ✓ | Cane sugar | None | 8 |
| Chocolate Granola Butter‡ | None | 3g | 3g | None | None | None | Maple syrup | ✓ | 15 |
† Elavi: <1g added sugar from coconut sugar in dark chocolate ingredient; rounds to 0g on FDA label. Also contains alkalized cocoa powder and sunflower lecithin.
‡ Chocolate Granola Butter by Oat Haus (formerly Kween). Oat-based rather than nut-based, but widely cited as a Nutella alternative for those with nut allergies.
†† Delessa's 1g sugar content consists entirely of matrix-bound sugars naturally present in raw hazelnuts. Learn why matrix-bound sugars behave differently →
Why These Columns Matter
Not every chocolate spread is made for every body. The columns in this chart reflect the specific ingredients that lead some consumers — particularly those managing glycemic load, digestive sensitivities, or dairy intolerance — to keep looking even after they’ve tried the “better-for-you” options. Here’s a brief guide to what each one means.
Sugar Alcohols
Sugar alcohols like maltitol and erythritol are widely used in reduced-sugar products as a way to add sweetness without raising the sugar count on a nutrition label. For many people they work well. For others, they can cause significant digestive discomfort — bloating, cramping, and other unpleasantries — particularly at the amounts found in a serving of chocolate spread. Maltitol in particular has a glycemic impact closer to regular sugar than most people realize. We’ve written about sugar alcohols in more depth if you’d like to keep reading. → The Sugar Substitute Reality Check
Added Sugars
Added sugars are sugars introduced during manufacturing — as opposed to sugars that occur naturally in the ingredients themselves. They appear on FDA nutrition labels as a separate line item. For people managing glycemic load, following a low-carb or ketogenic diet, or simply trying to significantly reduce overall sugar intake, this number matters regardless of what form the sugar takes.
Sugar Content
Even when a product contains no added sugar, the total sugar content can be meaningful. Honey, maple syrup, dates, coconut sugar, and certain nut butters all contribute naturally occurring sugars. For most people this is a non-issue. For those who react to fructose, follow strict ketogenic protocols, or are managing conditions like candida, even small amounts of any sugar can be a consideration.
Fiber Additives
Ingredients like resistant dextrin, soluble tapioca fiber, and soluble corn fiber are sometimes added to chocolate spreads to improve texture, reduce net carb counts, or boost the fiber content on the label. These are generally recognized as safe, but because they are processed ingredients rather than whole-food sources of fiber, some individuals find them difficult to tolerate in larger amounts, often experiencing effects similar to sugar alcohols. They’re worth knowing about if you’re reading labels carefully.
Whey / Dairy
Several spreads in this chart contain skim milk powder or whey — both dairy derivatives. This matters for people who are lactose intolerant, managing a casein sensitivity, following a vegan diet, or avoiding dairy for other health reasons. It also matters for parents navigating food allergies in children. Long ago, at a friend’s strong suggestion, I tried meal replacement shakes made with the cleanest whey available — and every time, I felt headachy and feverish. Sensitivities take many forms.
Palm Oil
Palm oil is a common ingredient in chocolate spreads because it creates a smooth, stable texture at room temperature. Many consumers choose to avoid it for environmental reasons — its production is a leading driver of deforestation and habitat loss. Some also avoid it for health reasons: unlike coconut oil, which is rich in medium-chain triglycerides that the body converts to energy quickly, palm oil is predominantly long-chain fats that follow a slower metabolic route. For consumers who have made the switch to coconut oil specifically for that reason, finding it in a chocolate spread is a dealbreaker.
Sweetener
This column names the primary sweetening agent in each spread — whether that’s cane sugar, coconut sugar, dates, maple syrup, erythritol, maltitol, stevia, monk fruit, or a combination. It’s the fastest way to understand how a product achieves its sweetness and whether that approach is compatible with your dietary needs or preferences.
Natural Flavors
“Natural flavors” is an FDA-regulated term, but it’s also a broad one it can encompass a wide range of flavoring compounds derived from natural sources, without requiring full disclosure of what those compounds are. Because the term requires no further disclosure, it’s impossible to know exactly what you’re consuming. For those who are sensitive to specific ingredients or who prefer full label transparency, it’s worth noting which products rely on them.
Ingredient Count
Fewer ingredients generally means less processing and fewer opportunities for something to show up that you’d rather not have. This column is a simple at-a-glance measure of complexity. It doesn’t tell the whole story — a four-ingredient product sweetened with dates may be perfect for some but may not work for everyone — and it’s a useful signal when you’re comparing products side by side.
Our Hazelnut Blend has Only Four Ingredients.
Raw hazelnuts, organic raw cacao, organic virgin coconut oil, and pure monk fruit extract. Delessa — for those of us who needed a chocolate spread where nothing on the label requires a second look.
Try Concordia's Sweet Chocolate Profusion →