I hope it is still 'let's wrap ourselves in warm blankets and stay cosy' weather on your side of the world because I have a wonderful recipe for hazelnut praline hot chocolate to share with you today.
My hot beverage of choice is usually a mug of three mints tea but let's face it, I will never say no to a delicious hot chocolate, especially if it is made with really good dark chocolate (no sugary instant chocolate powder for me). I have shared a recipe for cognac and hazelnut hot chocolate here before. The following recipe is as rich and indulgent.
Using only four ingredients, the result is a wonderfully rich hot chocolate sweetened by the homemade hazelnut praline (I have included the recipe separately below). You could even make the praline with different types of nuts depending on your liking. I chose hazelnuts because they are my favourites but I can imagine that almonds, pecan nuts or even pistachios would also make for an equally delicious praline hot chocolate.
Using only four ingredients, the result is a wonderfully rich hot chocolate sweetened by the homemade hazelnut praline (I have included the recipe separately below). You could even make the praline with different types of nuts depending on your liking. I chose hazelnuts because they are my favourites but I can imagine that almonds, pecan nuts or even pistachios would also make for an equally delicious praline hot chocolate.
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Are you a hot chocolate drinker? If so, do you prefer it plain or do you like adding flavours?
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Are you a hot chocolate drinker? If so, do you prefer it plain or do you like adding flavours?
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Hazelnut Praline Recipe (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian, Vegan)
Ingredients (make 200g praline)
100g blanched hazelnuts
100g caster sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160ºC fan). Place the blanched hazelnuts on a baking tray on the middle shelf of the oven and roast for 10 minutes until they are light brown. After cooking, let them cool down completely.
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Put the sugar and roasted hazelnuts in a small saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir the hazelnuts with the sugar until it caramelises to an amber colour and the nuts are all coated. Transfer quickly (but delicately, a burn caused by caramel is extremely painful) onto the baking paper and let the caramelised hazelnuts cool down completely.
3. After the caramelised hazelnuts have cooled down, put them in a food processor and mix until you get a fine praline powder (if you keep mixing, you will get praline paste instead). Pour into a small bowl and use for dessert recipes or for the following hazelnut praline hot chocolate.
Ingredients (make 200g praline)
100g blanched hazelnuts
100g caster sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160ºC fan). Place the blanched hazelnuts on a baking tray on the middle shelf of the oven and roast for 10 minutes until they are light brown. After cooking, let them cool down completely.
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Put the sugar and roasted hazelnuts in a small saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir the hazelnuts with the sugar until it caramelises to an amber colour and the nuts are all coated. Transfer quickly (but delicately, a burn caused by caramel is extremely painful) onto the baking paper and let the caramelised hazelnuts cool down completely.
3. After the caramelised hazelnuts have cooled down, put them in a food processor and mix until you get a fine praline powder (if you keep mixing, you will get praline paste instead). Pour into a small bowl and use for dessert recipes or for the following hazelnut praline hot chocolate.
Hazelnut Praline Hot Chocolate Recipe (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)
Ingredients (for 2 people)
400ml milk
50g chopped dark chocolate (70% minimum cocoa content preferably)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons hazelnut praline
To serve: whipped cream, chocolate shavings.
1. Put the milk, chopped dark chocolate, cocoa powder and hazelnut praline in a small saucepan over a low to medium heat. Stir well with a whisk to dissolve the ingredients and cook until the hot chocolate is heated through (do not let it boil). Whisk the hot chocolate until it is lightly foamy on the surface.
2. Pour the hot chocolate through a sieve* into two mugs or cups. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings.
Notes: * I recommend pouring the hot chocolate through a sieve if you want a smooth beverage. Otherwise, you will have tiny piece from the hazelnut praline which really depends on your taste if you want them in your drink or not.
Bon appétit!
Ingredients (for 2 people)
400ml milk
50g chopped dark chocolate (70% minimum cocoa content preferably)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons hazelnut praline
To serve: whipped cream, chocolate shavings.
1. Put the milk, chopped dark chocolate, cocoa powder and hazelnut praline in a small saucepan over a low to medium heat. Stir well with a whisk to dissolve the ingredients and cook until the hot chocolate is heated through (do not let it boil). Whisk the hot chocolate until it is lightly foamy on the surface.
2. Pour the hot chocolate through a sieve* into two mugs or cups. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings.
Notes: * I recommend pouring the hot chocolate through a sieve if you want a smooth beverage. Otherwise, you will have tiny piece from the hazelnut praline which really depends on your taste if you want them in your drink or not.
Bon appétit!
