Nutella Hot Chocolate

I still remember the day I first had Nutella. I thought that I had died and gone to heaven. It was like something I have never had before so I couldn’t compare it with anything else. All I knew that this love that started was not gonna end anytime soon. Nutella has been with me since then, grad school days, single but being married to work days, to now. I have used it as a sandwich spread, to make mocha, crepe fillings, ice cream topper, in cakes and many a times straight from the jar as an indulgent in itself!

There is nothing more comforting in the cold winter season than a nice hot cup of cocoa. Now combine that with your other favorite, Nutella, you just cannot ask for more. Top with some marshmallows or crushed candy cane or sprinkle some cinnamon or top with some whipped cream, make it your drink, just the way you like it! Ohh yeah, feel free to spike it up with some Irish Cream Liqueur or Kahlua or some spiced Rum. I added some hazelnut syrup to enhance the nutella flavor and some vanilla extract too.

Nutella Hot Chocolate – The Recipe

• 2% milk – 2 cups
• Unsweetened Cocoa powder (i used a blend of dutch processed and natural, use whichever ones you usually use) – 2 tbsp
• Nutella – 2 tbsp
• Hazelnut Syrup – 1 tsp or per your taste
• Vanilla Extract – 1 tsp
• Granulated Sugar – 2 to 3 tsp
• Mini Mashmallows, Crushed Candy Cane etc to top

Heat the milk in a sauce pan, after reserving a 1/4 cup. Add the cocoa powder, using a whisk mix well into the milk. To the reserved milk, add the nutella and mix in the nutella well into the milk, making sure it is dissolved well. Add this to the remaining milk in the sauce pan. Once the milk comes to a boil, reduce the heat, add the hazelnut syrup, vanilla extract and sugar. Stir to combine.

Strain and pour into individual serving glasses. Top with some mini marshmallows and crushed candy cane. Serve hot!

This is my entry to Christmas Delicacy, Julie’s event on her blog Erivum Puliyum.