I have the natural remedies ready as it appears that we may be in for a really cold winter where I live.
How do I know?
Local hunters and farmers are all saying it based on the extra fat on the animals, the animal experts are all saying it based on the way animals are behaving, and the Farmer’s Almanac said something about wooly bear caterpillars and their stripes.
But the way I really know that it will be a cold winter? It’s not even winter yet and it’s already unseasonably cold here! It’s a balmy 18 degrees outside today and even with the heat on, it is pretty cold inside.
My kids are hoping for some serious snow (which we don’t get that often) so they’ll have a chance to use their sleds. I don’t quite share their enthusiasm about snow, but I have a feeling they will get their wish. Which brings me to hot chocolate …
Hot Chocolate When it Snows
We avoid sugary treats most of the time, but have a universal rule in our house that when it snows, we make hot chocolate (and snow cream, but that isn’t really a warming drink 🙂 ). Of course, that usually works out well because it doesn’t snow that often and the kids are so tired from their sledding and fort making that no amount of chocolate can keep them awake.
We love our go-to superfood hot chocolate recipe but I’ve recently discovered an even easier recipe that I wanted to share with you. It also has the added deliciousness of hazelnut!
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Recipe
This hot chocolate has the rich flavor of hazelnut and can be dairy-free and sugar-free. Using a pre-made organic chocolate hazelnut spread makes this recipe faster and easier to make (and keep reading for a sugar-free option too!).
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Recipe (with No Sugar Option)
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk of choice
- ½ cup organic chocolate hazelnut spread or make your own
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or make your own
- ½ cup heavy cream for a creamier hot chocolate optional
Instructions
- Warm the milk to a simmer in a small saucepan, but do not boil.
- Add the hazelnut spread and whisk until combined.
- Add the vanilla and cream and stir until heated.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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Sugar-Free Hazelnut Hot Cocoa
The recipe above doesn’t contain much sugar, but if you are on a keto diet or just avoiding sugar in general, there’s a great way to make hazelnut hot cocoa without any sugar at all. It doesn’t use any nasty alternative sweeteners or additives and you can get all the taste without the junk.
Here’s what to do:
- Heat 4 cups of unsweetened almond or coconut milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it starts to steam.
- Add 1/3 of a cup of pure organic cocoa powder and ½ cup heavy cream (optional, but it improves the texture a lot) and whisk in until combined. Stir constantly until it starts to simmer and remove from heat.
- Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 20 drops of hazelnut stevia extract or more to taste.
- Enjoy!
What is your favorite way to make hot chocolate?
Love your Hazelnut Hot Chocolate recipe and this article, I have tried before and it was great, but I was worried about the water…What really concerns me more and more is the WATER QUALITY in OC cities. Horrible chemicals in our tap water.
I checked my city ( Aliso Viejo) and found Fluoride is added. Uggh.
If you want to check your city, Google your local water quality report . I used this site, it had all of Socal and OC cities listed : https://aqualistic.com/water-quality-in-your-city/
I never thought about using a chocolate spread before. I usually just make it with hazelnut milk and cocoa. Will have to try it this way! I adore hazelnut chocolate..in every form. I never get sick of it 🙂
Katie, thank you for including a sugar free version for those of us who think the pre-made hazelnut spread has too much sugar. Still love your “superfood hot chocolate” recipe BTW!!! Merry Christmas!