This quick + easy hot chocolate is blended up with hazelnuts for a Nutella-inspired drink perfect for warming up on a chilly day! Top with whipped cream or marshmallows for the ultimate cozy drink!
Asking for a friend: Is there a limit to how many hot chocolate recipes one person can have on their website?
I hope not, because I’m back with my third hot chocolate recipe here on Baked Greens, with no signs of stopping anytime soon. There’s a whole world of hot chocolate options out there, and I can’t be limited to just one.
Like today, when we’re blended whole roasted hazelnuts into out hot chocolate for an extra creamy, frothy, chocolate-hazelnut take on the usual sipping chocolate. The recipe is flexible, so you can use whatever milk and sweetener you love, though my personal favorites are either coconut or almond milk with either maple syrup or coconut sugar.
In the end, all roads lead to hot chocolate.
Let’s make some!
Milk gets heated on the stove until steaming (or in the microwave if you’re feeling lazy), then dumped into your blender with roasted hazelnuts (I buy them pre-roasted at Trader Joe’s, but you can toast raw ones in a skillet on the stove while the milk heats, if needed), cocoa powder, sweetener of choice, a teeny pinch of salt, and a splash of vanilla.
Blend it until frothy, pour into a mug, and prepare to enter chocolate hazelnut bliss.
Not a fan of hazelnuts? Fear not: this hot chocolate could be made with another nut you love like almonds, cashews, or even pecans! Just make sure to roast them first so they’re nice and nutty and golden.
Likewise, if your pantry is already loaded with jars of various nut butter (we legit have an entire nut butter shelf in my house…) you could skip the nuts and just us a heaping tablespoon of any nut butter you love (including this dreamy Homemade Nutella, which I have done several times and never once regretted it).
And, should you find yourself in a committed relationship with mini marshmallows, know that a handful of these cuties (<affiliate link) on top just makes the entire situation that much better.
If you make this recipe, let me know how it turns out! Leave a comment below letting me know what you think, or take a picture of your hot chocolate and share it with me on Instagram; I love seeing my recipes in your kitchen!
Toasted Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
Yields: 1 mug of hot chocolate
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk of choice (I like unsweetened almond or coconut milk)
- 1/4 cup roasted unsalted hazelnuts*
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2-1 Tablespoon sweetener of choice (maple syrup, coconut sugar, etc)
- a tiny pinch of sea salt
- a small splash of vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Heat milk in a small pot on the stove until steaming. Pour into a blender, add all remaining ingredients, and blend until completely smooth (about 1 minute). Pour into a mug and enjoy!
Notes:
*If your nuts are raw, place them in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden (about 10 minutes), or roast in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 6-8 minutes. Any nut you love can be used in place of hazelnuts in this recipe.