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We’re well into winter and in Canada that means hiding inside and sipping on a hot drink to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside! Ever since I’ve come to Canada, winter truly is hot chocolate time! I quite enjoy going to coffee shops or the Beavertails station to pick up a nice hot chocolate! In my opinion, the more chocolate the better!
What’s a step up from just a classic hot chocolate? A hot chocolate with Nutella, of course! I’ve had chocolate hazelnut hot chocolates from other coffee shops and I knew it would always be fun to make! I discuss in more detail how going out to eat (or drink!) can inspire you to get creative in the kitchen in my free motivational guide Make Cooking Fun!!. If you need motivation to enhance your cooking, check that out!
I’ve meant to share this recipe for years, but other hot beverage recipes always took priority. I made it a personal goal of mine this year to finally make this chocolate hazelnut spread hot chocolate, and here we are! Probably one of the best hot chocolates I’ve ever had! If you’ve got some Nutella (or whatever chocolate hazelnut spread) on hand, then I recommend you check this hot chocolate with Nutella recipe off your bucket list as part of Live to Cook one-month challenge! You can download these free guides by signing up to my email newsletter, plus all of my latest recipes will be sent straight to your inbox so you’ve always got something new on your radar to try out!
Check out the video at the bottom of this post to see the making of this life-changing hot chocolate recipe in action! If you have not already, it would mean a lot to me if you would please subscribe to my YouTube channel! Please also press the bell button so you’re notified when all of my video recipes are live! Let’s get started!
Tools Needed to Make This Hot Chocolate
Tips for Rich Hot Chocolate
- Be careful not to overheat the milk with the Nutella otherwise the ingredients within the Nutella might split and separate. Overheating can also cause the nutella to change its texture and turn it and the hot chocolate gritty.
- While not required to be delicious, roasting the marshmallows with a torch is truly recommended.
- You don’t really need sweeteners in this drink since Nutella is plenty sweet - unless you’re insane.
Ingredients for Chocolate Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
For all ingredient quantities and to save the recipe for later, then scroll to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD, or press the “Jump to Recipe” button. You can also scale the recipe based on how many portions of this hot chocolate you want to make so that everyone gets a full cup!
- Milk: Whole milk is my favourite choice to make the most delicious hot chocolate! Of course milks lighter in fat will work, but you won’t get the same results. For an even richer hot chocolate, try using half and half (10%) cream.
- Nutella: You can use your favourite “off-brand” of chocolate hazelnut spread if you want, but for me Nutella is the tastiest option!
- Vanilla extract: Always a must when making something sweet! I love vanilla to enhance the flavors!
- Salt: If you’ve used salt for baking, then you know that salt brings out the flavours of the sweet ingredients here! You only need a pinch!
- Marshmallows: Mini marshmallows are the best choice for a hot chocolate, but if you want to be creative, you can go for large ones or even the colorful ones!
How to Make Hot Chocolate with Nutella
Add milk to a saucepan and turn the heat to medium.
Add the Nutella to the milk and gently whisk until combined.
Stir the milk occasionally until it starts to steam.
Add the vanilla and add a pinch of salt. Continue to warm until the milk comes to a simmer. Immediately take off the heat.
Pour into your serving cups and top with marshmallows.
Optionally, torch the marshmallows using a baker's torch and serve right away.
Can I reheat This Hot Chocolate With Nutella?▼
Nothing beats the taste of fresh hot chocolate, but if you let it sit around because you get distracted then I understand - I’m the same!
In that case, of course you can reheat the hot chocolate! The easiest way to do this is in the microwave, reheating for 30 second intervals. If you’re reheating with the marshmallows that have melted, you probably will want to add more on top!
Or you can add it back to your pot and reheat it that way. If you’ve left your hot chocolate with the marshmallows, chances are they’ve melted, so you can top with more marshmallows if desired!
What Else Can I Add To This Hot Chocolate Recipe with Nutella?▼
I’ve kept this recipe quite simple to allow the Nutella to really shine! However, feel free to play around with different variations so you can make the best hot chocolate based on your preferences!
- More chocolate: Add some cocoa powder or even some chocolate chips or a chocolate bar to get a deeper flavour.
- Extract: You can’t go wrong with a simple vanilla extract, but you can really change up the flavour profile with other extracts! Try almond extract, peppermint extract, banana extract, maple extract, or even lemon extract.
- Sauce: For extra flavour, add in a tablespoon or so of Cafe Mocha Sauce, Caramel Sauce, or even Pumpkin Sauce!
- Salt: The salt I used here was Himalayan pink salt. If you want a different flavour, add in some sea salt. If you like a good sweet and salty mix, then feel free to add coarse sea salt instead of finely ground.
- Spike it: Add in your favourite booze from rum, bourbon, or whiskey at the last step right before serving the hot chocolate.
- Toppings: Top with whipped cream and/or some shaved chocolate! For whipped cream, I do recommend you make your own with the help of a whipped cream dispenser! If you're starting out with a whipped cream dispenser, check out this article on How to Use a Whipped Cream Dispenser! You could even make Chocolate Whipped Cream!
- Vegan: To make this recipe dairy-free, simply use your favourite plant-based milk (bonus points for making your own almond milk!), and use a plant-based chocolate hazelnut spread, in addition to other toppings. If you really want to step it up, my Homemade Nutella recipe is actually vegan!
Can I make This Hot Chocolate in the Microwave?▼
Yes, if you want a single portion then making your hot chocolate in the microwave can be a great option to do that! Simply heat the milk first. Then, add and stir in the Nutella, and place the cup back in the microwave until the Nutella has completely melted. Take the cup out of the microwave and add the vanilla extract and pinch of salt and mix. Top with our marshmallows and torch if desired, then enjoy!
How Can I Make this hot chocolate For a Crowd?▼
Certainly! You’ll just need to make your hot chocolate in a large pot to hold all the contents. For best results, my recommendation to make a big batch of hot chocolate would be to use a Dutch oven, or even a wok! I personally love my wok since it retains heat very well, making it the perfect candidate to make hot chocolate for a crowd!
How to Store This Hot Chocolate?▼
Simply keep it in the saucepan, a serving cup, or in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Allow the hot chocolate with Nutella to completely cool down before placing in the fridge. I would not recommend keeping your hot chocolate for longer than three days.
Other Delightful Nutella Recipes!
- Strawberry Banana Nutella Crepes
- No-Bake Nutella Cream Cheese Pie
- How to Make Nutella Stuffed Cookies
- Double Chocolate Hazelnut Oatmeal
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