Hazelnut Hot Chocolate! Warm up to this amazing Hazelnut Hot Chocolate, a wonderful spin on your regular hot chocolate! Rich, chocolatey and delicious!
Here in Wisconsin, I’ve learned there’s a lot to do to prepare your yard for winter, or the first real snow fall. Leaves need to be raked up, bushes and certain plants trimmed and you need to make sure your snow blower has a full gas tank. On a day where my husband spent HOURS sucking up leaves and trimming the bushes, I trimmed our hydrangeas and my kids were even helping us with some yard work, we came back in from a very cold afternoon and happily sipped on this delicious Hazelnut Hot Chocolate, a delightful twist on your average hot chocolate!
Last week, I told you guys about a recent trip to Chicago for ALDI. On the first day, we started with a visit to ALDI headquarters, where we visited their test kitchen and participated in a blind tasting of several food products. Each station featured an ALDI brand versus a leading national brand. We sampled everything from orange juice to yogurt to granola bars and tortilla chips and I chose the ALDI brand 9 out of 10 times. Tastes better and costs less? Pretty great if you ask me!
We then moved on to our Sensory Pairings session, where we participated in a joint food and wine pairings presentation and demonstration. Spending the afternoon sampling wine and eating food was pretty fun and filling. We ended the day with a dinner prepared by the ALDI Test Kitchen chefs and left full and happy.
On the next day, we visited an ALDI grocery store in Illinois. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some of the photos and the video of this store. Now, this ALDI is a lot bigger than the one I go to in Madison so I had to capture it on video. What I love about ALDI stores is their philosophy: Cutting back on certain things like credit card machines and not having any plastic or brown bags (forcing you to bring in your own reusable bags, which I think is brilliant!), so they are able to offer you high quality products at super LOW prices.
ALDI also offers great, seasonal and organic produce and dairy. To find out if your local ALDI carries organic products, click here to reach out to Customer Service, where you can inquire on specific products at your local ALDI store.
If you haven’t shopped at an ALDI before, here is what you need to know:
The Carts: They keep their carts in one convenient place. You put a quarter in the cart, shop and then return the cart to get your quarter back. This helps to keep prices low because they don’t spend time retrieving carts.
Checkout: Credit card processing fees are expensive. By only accepting cash, debit and EBT cards, it helps to keep their prices low.
Bags: Bring your own bags or purchase reusable ones at checkout.
Saving Green: Everything they do from their smaller, energy-saving stores to recycled bags and cartons capture the very essence of conservation. As a result, you can save up to 50% on the majority of your needs.
Our Brands: ALDI brands are made of the same, or even higher, quality than national brands. Plus, they’re backed by ALDI’s Double Guarantee.
Select Assortment: While a typical supermarket carries about 30,000 items, ALDI sells only about 1,400 of the fastest-moving grocery items – most of which are their high-quality brands. Smaller inventory means smaller stores, which leads to lower rent and electricity costs. This allows ALDI to pass the savings on to you.
Select Hours: A typical ALDI store stays open during the most popular shopping hours. Staying open later would simply add labor costs.
Switch & Save: Switching to ALDI-exclusive brands saves you up to 50%* over national brands on the things you buy the most. What could be easier?
As we enter the holiday season and the end of the year, it’s all about spending wisely so you have enough saved up for other things. If you have an ALDI store close to you, stop in for a visit! I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving and I hope your table is filled with family, friends and some great food! And if you’re already experiencing some really cold weather, like we are here in Wisconsin, you need to warm up to some of this delicious, rich and creamy Hazelnut Hot Chocolate. I hope you enjoy!
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk whole or 2%*
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons chocolate hazelnut spread
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup Irish cream optional
- whipped cream and chocolate shavings for fun
- candy canes peppermint sticks or pocky sticks (found at most Asian markets)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium to medium-high heat, combine the milk, cocoa powder, sugar, hazelnut spread, ground cinnamon and irish cream (if using). Stir occasionally until sugar and hazelnut spread are dissolved and the mixture is evenly heated through.
- Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings and serve with a candy cane, peppermint stick or a fun chocolate covered pocky stick. Enjoy!
Recipe from ALDI Test Kitchens.
Disclosure: This post is in partnership with ALDI’s Holiday Blogger Ambassador Program. This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
Joanne says
November 26, 2014 at 6:35 amUGH I want an Aldi near me!! It would make my life so much cheaper. I also need this hot chocolate. That will just make my life better.
David @ Spiced says
November 26, 2014 at 9:51 amThis hazelnut hot chocolate sounds delicious, Alice! They’re calling for our first big snow of the year here today, and I could definitely see a mug of this hot chocolate in my future this afternoon. Thanks for sharing, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Liz says
November 26, 2014 at 9:59 amI need one of these gorgeous cups of hot chocolate this morning…it sure is chilly outside! I haven’t been to Aldi in ages, but your post has intrigued me and I’ll have to stop by soon 🙂 Have a terrific Thanksgiving, Alice!!! xo
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
November 26, 2014 at 10:04 amI live in Illinois, so we have to prepare for winter pretty much the same as you! 🙂 This hot chocolate sounds wonderful, Alice! I love the hazelnut flavor! I could totally go for a cup of this right now, seeing as it’s so cold here! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Linda+|Brunch+with+Joy says
November 26, 2014 at 11:04 amI think all I want for Christmas is Aldi. The cards, the organic section, their mission…sound like a fun place to shop. While I dream of having Aldi store around here, let me take a sip of your hazelnut hot chocolate. ..with pocky sticks, for sure. Have a lovely Thanksgiving, Alice and send me some snow. 🙂
Samina+|+The+Cupcake+Confession says
November 26, 2014 at 11:25 amAfter reading this post, I wish I had access to ALDI or something similar of that sort here! Sour cream and mascaporne cheese are so highly priced and Greek Yogurt is way too expensive and I have to travel about 2 hours and go to gourmet stores to buy them! 🙁
But this hazelnut hot chocolate just brightened my day 102973 times! LOVE it and can’t wait to spend the upcoming festive month sipping on these warm, cozy hot chocolates!
Jocelyn+(Grandbaby+cakes) says
November 26, 2014 at 11:27 amYes I need these hot chocolates stat girl!
Arpita@+The+Gastronomic+Bong says
November 26, 2014 at 12:09 pmWow! this hot chocolate looks incredible!! I have just posted a hot chocolate recipe my self.. Isn’t it a perfect drink during this cold weather.. Love it.. 🙂
Nancy+@+gottagetbaked says
November 26, 2014 at 3:54 pmYou guys have the best stores in the US! I wish I had an Aldi near me. I wish I were also enjoying a cup of this delicious hazelnut hot chocolate with you right now. Have a very happy Thanksgiving with Paul, the girls and your family!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
November 26, 2014 at 3:59 pmI LOVE a good steamy cup of anything chocolatey! And you can’t go wrong with the hazelnut either. We literally do nothing to prepare our yard for winter… I’m terrible at the whole outdoor maintenance thing!
Jessica+@+Jessica+in+the+Kitchen says
November 26, 2014 at 5:16 pmThis hot chocolate looks so warm and comforting – seriously want to make one tonight! Aldi looks like the perfect grocery shopping store!
Amanda says
November 26, 2014 at 10:59 pmThis looks like a perfect mug of hot chocolate!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
November 27, 2014 at 12:19 amI love to curl up by the fire with a big mug of this hot chocolate! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🙂
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits says
November 27, 2014 at 10:05 amI wish there was an Aldi near me! I know the weather in Northern California is nothing like what it is in Wisconsin, but I’ve been feeling chill to the bone sometimes. This looks like the perfect drink to warm me up!
Marissa+|+Pinch+and+Swirl says
November 28, 2014 at 11:18 amI love nuts and chocolate together – this looks like a big improvement to standard hot chocolate!! Yum!
Kelly says
November 28, 2014 at 3:03 pmWish we had Aldi near us, it sounds awesome! This looks like the perfect cup of hot chocolate. Love the chocolate hazelnut spread in here and the chocolate pocky sticks are the perfect touch! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and have a great weekend!
Kelsey @ Snacking Squirrel says
November 28, 2014 at 5:52 pmI AM SUCH A SNOB FOR HOT CHOCOLATE! i have it 4 times a week on average. This looks killer 🙂
Kelsey+@+Snacking+Squirrel says
November 28, 2014 at 5:53 pmi just cant stop staring at it!
Judit + Corina @ Glamorous Bite says
November 28, 2014 at 6:33 pmThis hot chocolate with a little hazelnut spread is just the thing for the coming winter months!
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
November 28, 2014 at 8:52 pmI almost wish they would ban plastic bags here…I always mean to bring my reusable ones but always forget. This hot chocolate looks amazing, and I don’t think there is any better flavor combo in the world than chocolate and hazelnuts 🙂
Phoebe @ Feed Me Phoebe says
November 28, 2014 at 9:38 pmThe use of irish cream is such a nice touch! Would love to have this for dessert in December!
Gilly says
November 29, 2014 at 2:28 amThis looks absolutely delicious! I love chocolate hazelnut and putting it in hot chocolate for the winter sounds amazing! I never realized you’re in Madison, me too!!!! Would love to hear more local tips!
marcie says
November 29, 2014 at 11:41 amThis hot chocolate sounds divine! I’d have never thought to add chocolate hazelnut spread to hot cocoa — love it! 🙂
nicki says
November 29, 2014 at 12:38 pmI really miss Aldi since I moved to Seattle. I hope they expand this way at some point.
CakeSpy says
November 29, 2014 at 3:23 pmI thought I had already left a comment but I see I didn’t! Basically what I want to say is : AWESOME. DELICIOUS. NEED IT IN MY LIFE.
Carolyn+Ketchum says
December 12, 2014 at 10:32 amYou know, I’d never even heard of ALDI until Blogher Food last year! But it looks like a great store and your hot chocolate looks delicious!
hipfoodiemom says
December 15, 2014 at 10:34 amThanks so much, Carolyn!!!
Karen says
December 16, 2014 at 11:04 amI shop at Aldi and Trader Joe’s (same family, different company, same limited assortment concept). In fact, they are across the street from each other here. I fill in things I can’t get there at a small regional chain.
Aldi has certainly come a long way from my childhood 40 years ago. We shopped there because it was cheap but the quality, especially of the produce, was questionable. Nowadays it has both the price and quality advantage on most things.
Kiyanna says
December 29, 2014 at 11:03 amAldi is a german store, and they follow the same things. it is a really good store.