This Hazelnut Hot Chocolate On A Stick is perfect for gifting! Decadent chunks of fudge infused with toasted hazelnut are placed on a stick, topped with crushed hazelnuts and then dipped into hot milk to make dreamy hot cocoa.
December is winning, you guys. Not in the “#winning!” sense, but in the “I feel like I’ve been beaten with the big heavy holiday stick, and I am not fighting back” sense. Real talk? I’m bushed.
Whining about work has got to be tied with weather talk in the competition for Things No One Cares About, so rather than complain at length about how overwhelmed I am, I’ll just share that I accidentally took a 2-hour “nap” last night at 8:30 pm. (Not recommended: I was pretty discombobulated afterward.)
I’m sure we’re all feeling varying degrees of strain and stress this month. Between family and work and school and holiday obligations, December is a pressure cooker decked out with twinkling lights. Fortunately, it’s also full of nostalgic traditions and many excuses to eat cookies and repeated viewings of Elf and lots of hot chocolate, so maybe it all equals out.
Hot chocolate on a stick isn’t a new idea, but it’s still one of my go-to’s for gifting at Christmas. Who could resist big hunks of fudge on a stick that magically turn hot milk into hot chocolate? Package them with cute mugs and hot chocolate toppers like marshmallows, candy canes, and candies or nuts, and you have a super sweet homemade gift that’s easy and cheap!
This recipe was inspired by my love of chocolate-hazelnut Ferrero Rocher candies. (Is there anything better than getting the big tray of Rochers as a Christmas gift? I think not.) I infused the milk and cream for the fudge with toasted, chopped hazelnuts overnight, to give it a strong nutty flavor before mixing it with chocolate for the fudge cubes. I also added a bit of hazelnut flavoring oil to boost the hazelnut taste, but that part is optional.
After cutting the squares and adding the sticks, I dipped them partially in chocolate and rolled the bottoms in crushed hazelnuts. This is also optional, but I think it makes them extra-polished, a little bit fancy, and perfect for a holiday party or gift-giving.
To enjoy the hazelnut hot chocolate, stir a cube into a 6 oz mug of hot milk, and whisk until it dissolves. Enjoy with a Ferrero Rocher (…or three…) on the side. Here’s to surviving the rest of the month! Cheers!
☕More Delicious Warm Beverages
- Lavender Latte
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint Affogato
- Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
- Raspberry White Hot Chocolate
- Orange Hot Chocolate
- Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate-Hazelnut Mousse Trifle
Giant Ferrero Rocher Hazelnut Mousse Cakes
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate On A Stick
Ingredients
- 1 cup hazelnuts, skinned and toasted
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 4 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
- 18 oz semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp hazelnut flavoring oil, or more to taste
- 4 oz additional chocolate , or chocolate candy coating melts for dipping
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch pan with foil, and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Finely chop the hazelnuts, or place them in a food processor and pulse them in several long bursts until they’re in small pieces, but not hazelnut dust. Set aside about a quarter of the hazelnuts for decoration.
- Combine the remaining three-quarters of chopped hazelnuts with the cream and condensed milk in a saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat, and warm the cream up until it comes to a simmer, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t scorch on the bottom. Once it simmers, remove the pan from the heat and cover it with a lid. Leave the pan to infuse the cream with hazelnut flavor for at least an hour. If you have the time, you can even infuse it overnight to give it a stronger flavor—just be sure to place the pan in the refrigerator if you’ll be infusing it that long!
- When you’re ready to make the fudge, place both chopped chocolates in a large bowl. Return the saucepan to medium heat and stir while the cream heats up again. Once it is almost boiling, pour it through a fine mesh strainer over the chopped chocolate, straining out the hazelnut pieces. Let it sit for a minute to soften the chocolate, then whisk the chocolate and hot cream together. Add the vanilla extract, salt, and hazelnut flavoring (if using). If any of the chocolate is unmelted, microwave the mixture in 10-second bursts just until the chocolate is completely smooth.
- Scrape the chocolate into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer. Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes. Once it’s hard, remove the fudge from the pan using the foil as handles. Cut into 24 rectangles. Stick a skewer or lollipop stick into each stick.
- If you want to decorate them with chocolate and hazelnuts, melt the additional 4 oz of chocolate or candy coating in a small bowl. Dip each rectangle halfway into the chocolate, then roll the bottom in crushed hazelnuts. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set.
- To gift these, wrap them individually so they don’t dry out. To make hot chocolate, mix one cube with about 6 oz of hot milk and stir or whisk until dissolved.
Measuring Tips
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Want to learn more about baking measurements and conversion?
Nutrition
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This sounds decadent. Unfortunately I’m lactose intolerant. Do you think this would work somehow with coconut milk instead of the cream and condensed milk? I know it would alter the flavour some, but a coconut hazelnut hot chocolate sounds good too ๐ It’s the thickness that I’m not sure about. Thanks!
Hi Buffi! Sorry for the delayed response to your question. I don’t think that a straight substitution would work, because of the thick texture and sugar content of the condensed milk. I think you’d be better off starting with a coconut milk fudge recipe (or other non-dairy fudge) and seeing how that worked as a hot chocolate base and experimenting from there. Sorry!
Well I’ve never heard of hot chocolate on a stick, so thank you for introducing me! It’s always lovely to get acquainted with a new kind of dessert. Especially this time of year ๐
Thanks June! I think I first heard of it a few years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since–it’s just such a nice easy gift for people. And who doesn’t love hot chocolate?
Incredible! I love this idea, can’t believe it turns into hot chocolate. I’d love to receive a gift like this!
Thanks Jessica! It’s a pretty crazy idea, right?!
Oh my goodness, yes!! I feel more stressed in December than any other month of the year. Maybe it’s the cold, maybe it’s the darkness at 4 pm, maybe it’s the “I-have-to-bake-everything-under-the-sun-and-photograph-it-all-for-the-blog” feeling… But regardless, relaxing with a cup of hot chocolate inspired by Ferrero Rocher candies (my favorite!) sounds like the perfect way to start the holiday season! Pinned!
Oh my gosh, I agree with everything you wrote. Especially the dark at 4pm part–that makes it hard to find motivation to do anything! Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Amy!
This is such a BRILLIANT idea!!!!!!!!! <3 Love it! Something tells me that I'm going to be making an extra batch just for myself and maybe nibble on the fudge while the milk heats up? hehehe! Pinning! <3
Thanks Samina! Definitely smart to make a double batch!
Oh god these look delicious. I definitely would make the recipe but I have absolutely no self control when it comes to the combination of chocolate and hazelnut… so I think I will just ogle the images and pin them instead!
Thanks Thalia! They’re definitely hard to resist. ๐
My brother and I used to eat an entire box of Ferrero Rocher in one sitting (oops). This is such a great way to recreate that scrumptious truffle, but on a stick! ๐
Haha, I’ve been there too. It’s not our fault they’re ridiculously addicting and pop-able!
These hot chocolate on a stick are just what i need in my Holiday Cocktails. I will definitely being making them for my numerous Christmas parties that have already started in November! Merry Christmas
Sounds like an awesome plan! Thanks Dan!
I think they’re just too beautiful to put into a cup of hot milk! I’m loving the perfect edges and the how you dipped them in chocolate on an angle. Gorgeous <3
Thanks Giselle! They also work as fudge squares if you don’t want to do the milk thing. ๐
Looks amazing!! I love this idea!! Yes December is stressful because there is normally loads to be done before Christmas day but the older I get the better I get at it (I sound like my grandmother..lol)
ps. I saw you won Danguoleยดs book! Lucky girl! Iยดm sure itยดs “jam packed” with fantastic recipes ๐
xoxo
Haha, you’ll have to share some of your Christmas wisdom with me, because I struggle every year! ๐ And yes, D’s book is gorgeous. Wish there was an easy way to share it!
She needs to convert it into an ebook! ๐ ๐
Happy week!! xoxo