Hazelnut Hot Chocolate


Recipe Source: FOOD WINE SUNSHINE

Nothing beats a cup of hot cocoa, especially when you feel a little down and need a little kick of serotonin. This hazelnut hot chocolate recipe is the best for you! Who doesn’t love the combination of chocolate and hazelnut? Candies, spreads, brownies, ice cream, and cookies… You really can’t go wrong! It’s truly a delicious sweet treat that can make you happy on the inside!  

Cocoa Makes Your Healthy and Happy

Cocoa is rich in antioxidants known as flavonoids that have been connected with plenty of health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, lowering the risk of heart disease, combating LDL cholesterol, increasing blood flow, reducing blood clotting, and boosting immune systems.

Researchers from Cornell University claim that cocoa contains three times as many antioxidants as green tea and twice as many as a glass of red wine. These antioxidants have been associated with a longer life, weight management, cancer prevention, and more. 

Chocolate contains many secrets to happiness. Not only does it taste delicious, but it has quite a positive effect on your brain. It releases certain neurotransmitters that make you feel comfortable and happy and can even reduce pain and stress. 

A lot of studies found out that chocolate can make you feel good because it contains energy-boosting caffeine, relaxing tryptophan: a naturally occurring essential amino acid, which has been advocated as an innocuous health food for the treatment of depression, insomnia and stress; and mood-lightening serotonin: a neurotransmitter that produces feelings of happiness.

This hot chocolate has the rich flavor of hazelnut, and it can be dairy-free or sugar-free, depending on what you like! This recipe can even be made healthier, more quickly, and simply by using your preferred brand of organic chocolate hazelnut spread. Try this yummy hazelnut hot chocolate recipe now and you will get to enjoy a guilt-free treat!

How to Make Hazelnut Hot Chocolate?

Ingredients

2 cups milk 

¼ cup of any brand of chocolate hazelnut spread

1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder

½ tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tbsp sugar

1/8 tsp salt

For toppings: whipped cream and chocolate hazelnut wafers 

1 tbsp chopped toasted hazelnuts (optional)

Cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Split vanilla beans in half lengthwise. With a sharp knife, scrape the beans to remove the seeds. Set the seeds aside; discard the beans.
  2. In a large saucepan, heat the milk and 3/4 cup of cream over medium heat just until the mixture comes to a simmer. Chop 15 ounces of chocolate. In a large heatproof bowl, combine the chopped chocolate, Nutella, sugar, salt, and vanilla seeds. Pour the warm milk mixture over the chocolate mixture. Let it stand for 1 minute.
  3. Meanwhile, whip the remaining cream and shave the remaining chocolate. Whisk chocolate mixture until smooth; stir in liqueur. Serve with whipped cream, shaved chocolate, and chopped hazelnuts. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired.

Extra Tips:

  • The key to the healthiest hot cocoa is to use unsweetened cocoa powder or 85% dark chocolate. 
  • For a lower-fat version, use plant-based milk.
  • Instead of sugar, you can sweeten to your taste with natural sweeteners like honey and pure maple syrup.

Tom Mabe

Tom Mabe is a video creator, comedian, and sobriety advocate. He was an alcoholic and is now sober. He talks and interacts with others live on Facebook and YouTube about addiction, recovery, and sobriety. He created Sober Talk to allow people to tell their stories, ask for help, celebrate their accomplishments, share their struggles, and connect with real people going down the same path.

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