This Nondairy Milk Makes Your Hot Chocolate Taste Like Nutella

Craving a cozy mug of hot chocolate to warm up during the cooler temperatures? Why not put a luxurious spin on your cup of cocoa to make a creamy, Nutella-like beverage that will warm your soul in the best possible way? And, what if we told you that this indulgent drink is free from any dairy? That's right! You can whip up a decadent delight by using a plant-based milk made from the key ingredient that gives Nutella its quintessential taste: hazelnuts.

Hazelnut milk has a rich, nutty undertone that perfectly complements the deep cocoa notes of hot chocolate, creating a flavor profile remarkably similar to everyone's favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread without requiring any animal-based ingredients. Its natural sweetness and velvety texture create a hot cocoa worthy of gourmet status. For extra decadence, stir in Nutella, or any dairy-free chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella contains skimmed milk powder) to your drink to keep it plant-based. So, if you're seeking a creamy vegan base for your cocoa that doesn't compromise on taste, consider adding hazelnut milk to your list of hot chocolate hacks to transform a simple comforting classic into an innovative indulgence, completely fueled by plants.

If you can't find hazelnut milk at your local grocery store for your fancy hot chocolate, don't worry — making plant milks at home is surprisingly simple and requires minimal equipment. All you need is a good-quality blender, fine cheesecloth, the right ingredients, and time. With that, you can stock up on your favorite nondairy milk at a fraction of the cost of store-bought brands. For folks who'd rather not deal with the manual tasks of making plant milk from scratch, investing in specialized equipment like the Almond Cow, a revolutionary plant milk maker with over 300,000 happy customers and a mission rooted in planet-friendly practices, is a convenient option.

These foundational techniques apply to almost any nut or seed-based milk. Soak the nuts and seeds overnight, allowing them to soften and making them easier to blend with water until nice and smooth. Then, all that's left is to strain the mixture through a fine cheesecloth or muslin cloth, squeezing to extract maximum liquid. Feel free to play around with different water ratios to land on the perfect consistency for your preferred plant milk, but a standard ratio of 4 cups of water per cup of nuts is a good place to start for a thick, creamy consistency. If you prefer oat milk to almond milk or any other dairy-free option for your homemade vegan cocoa, additional measures like not pre-soaking the oats, avoiding over-blending, and double-straining the mixture can prevent a slimy or gritty result. You can also incorporate other flavors into your plant milk, like vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, dates for sweetness, or spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cocoa powder to make your at-home plant milk projects a more creative, delicious venture.