If you love Nutella or chocolate-hazelnut flavors, this healthy chocolate hazelnut milk is a delicious dairy-free alternative you’ll want to keep on hand. Unlike many store-bought chocolate milks, this recipe uses simple, nourishing ingredients with no refined sugar or artificial additives. The result is rich, creamy, and chocolatey—delicious chilled on its own, in iced lattes, over cereal or oats, in chia pudding, or gently warmed as a cozy hot chocolate.
dairy-free chocolate milk
Think of the comforting flavor of Nutella—now in a light, nourishing drink you can enjoy hot or cold. This healthy chocolate hazelnut milk delivers that flavor without dairy, refined sugar, or preservatives. With just a handful of wholesome ingredients and a few minutes of prep, you can make a silky homemade nut milk perfect for sipping, adding to coffee, or using in recipes.
What is hazelnut milk?
Hazelnut milk is a plant-based milk made by blending hazelnuts with water. It has a naturally nutty, creamy flavor that pairs beautifully with chocolate and works well in coffee, smoothies, and baking. Making nut milk at home is cost-effective and lets you control sweetness and ingredients. It’s simple: soak, blend, strain (optional), and enjoy.
Key Benefits of Homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Milk
- Dairy-free & vegan-friendly
- Naturally sweetened with dates or maple syrup
- Gluten-free & soy-free
- Customizable to your taste and dietary needs
- No additives or preservatives
How to make nutella milk
The full recipe appears in the recipe card below. The basic process is soaking the hazelnuts, blending with water and cacao, straining for smoothness, and chilling.
Tools needed
- Glass milk jug or storage jar/container
- Nut milk bag, cheesecloth, or fine mesh strainer
- High-speed blender
Ingredients you’ll need
Simple, pantry-friendly items make this recipe easy to prepare:
- Raw hazelnuts (soaked for extra creaminess)
- Filtered water
- Unsweetened cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
- Medjool dates or maple syrup for sweetness
- Vanilla extract
- Sea salt (enhances the chocolate flavor)
How to Make Chocolate Hazelnut Milk at Home
- Soak the hazelnuts.
Bring a small pot of water to a boil, remove from heat, then add the hazelnuts and let them soak for about 20 minutes. If using dates and they’re firm, add them for the last 10 minutes to soften. - Drain and rinse.
Drain the hazelnuts (and dates, if soaked) and rinse well. - Blend.
Combine hazelnuts, filtered water, cacao powder, dates or maple syrup, vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt in a high-speed blender. Blend on high for 1–2 minutes until completely smooth, tasting and adjusting sweetness as needed. - Strain.
Pour the mixture through a nut milk bag, fine mesh strainer, or cheesecloth into a bowl or pitcher, pressing or squeezing to extract as much liquid as possible. This gives a silky, smooth texture. - Chill and store.
Transfer the milk to an airtight glass jar and refrigerate. It keeps for about 4–5 days—shake well before serving since natural separation occurs.
Serving Ideas
- Enjoy cold straight from the fridge
- Warm gently with extra cacao and sweetener for hot chocolate
- Pour over granola, oats, or chia pudding
- Use in smoothies or healthy desserts
- Add to coffee or iced lattes
Tips for the Best Chocolate Hazelnut Milk
- Use raw hazelnuts for the cleanest flavor and nutrients.
- Strain for smoothness. Even strong blenders leave some pulp—straining creates a creamier texture.
- Adjust sweetness to your preference—add more dates for a sweeter drink or less for a subtler taste.
- Save the hazelnut pulp to use in baking, smoothies, or stirred into oatmeal.
Recipe variations
- Add 1 tbsp almond butter for extra richness
- Stir in 1/2 tsp cinnamon for warm, spiced notes
- Add a shot of espresso for a mocha twist
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use roasted hazelnuts?
Yes. Roasted hazelnuts give a toastier, more intense flavor, but soaked raw hazelnuts tend to yield a creamier milk.
Is this similar to Nutella?
It captures the chocolate-hazelnut taste in a lighter, healthier form—think of it as a nourishing, drinkable version without refined sugar or dairy.
Can I make this without a nut milk bag?
Yes. A fine mesh strainer or clean cheesecloth works well as an alternative for straining.
More healthy, dairy-free drink recipes to try
- Salted caramel creamer
- Banana iced coffee
- Ginger turmeric wellness shots
- Peanut butter coffee protein shake
- Chocolate banana peanut butter protein shake
- Creamy cinnamon roll protein shake
- Beauty wellness shots
If you try this recipe and enjoy it, consider leaving a rating and sharing your creation on Instagram.
Hazelnut chocolate milk (nutella milk)
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw hazelnuts
- 3 medjool dates, pitted
- 4 cups filtered water
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cacao powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions
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Bring a small pot of water to a boil, then remove from heat. Add the hazelnuts and allow them to soak for 20 minutes. If your dates aren’t soft, add them for the last 10 minutes.
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Drain and rinse the hazelnuts (and dates). Add them to the blender with the filtered water.
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Blend until completely smooth, a few minutes depending on your blender.
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Strain the mixture through a nut milk bag, fine mesh strainer, or clean cheesecloth, pressing to extract all the liquid. Discard or repurpose the pulp.
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Rinse the blender, return the strained milk to it, add cacao, sweetener, vanilla, and salt if you haven’t already, and blend briefly to combine. Taste and adjust.
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Pour into a glass container and refrigerate for 4–5 days. Shake well before using.