Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Shake Recipe

If you’re anything like me and have a serious sweet tooth, then you’re going to absolutely love this Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Shake Recipe. It’s creamy, nutty, and packed with rich chocolate flavor — basically, dessert and a shake all rolled into one dreamy sip. When I first tried making this at home, I couldn’t believe how simple it was to whip up a frosty treat that tastes like something you’d order at a fancy café. Trust me, once you try this, you’ll want to make it your go-to shake for any time you need a little indulgence.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic in this Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Shake Recipe comes from a few simple, wholesome ingredients that marry beautifully together. Make sure to grab toasted hazelnuts for that deep nutty flavor, and good quality cacao powder to get the rich chocolate notes just right.

• Toasted Hazelnuts: Toasting brings out their natural oils and this boosts flavor intensely — it’s worth toasting if you can. If you prefer, cashews or walnuts work great too.
• Non-Dairy Milk: I usually use almond milk, but oat or coconut milk add great creaminess, especially if you want it extra lush.
• Cacao Powder: Use raw cacao for a more intense, slightly bitter chocolate taste or regular cocoa powder for a milder flavor.
• Chia Seeds: They give the shake a nice thickness and add fiber — plus, they’re packed with nutrients.
• Medjool Dates: The natural sweetener of choice! They’re chewy and caramel-like. If you don’t have dates, honey, maple syrup or even stevia are good alternatives.
• Vanilla Extract: Just a splash adds warmth and rounds out all those flavors beautifully.
• Pinch of Salt: This helps balance the sweetness and brings out the chocolate’s richness — a small but powerful step.

Variations

One of the things I love most about this Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Shake Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. Whether you want it lighter, richer, or tweaked for your diet, there’s always a tasty way to customize.

• Dairy-Free & Nut-Free: I switched to hemp seeds instead of hazelnuts once when nut allergies were in play, and it tasted surprisingly just as creamy and delicious.
• Add a Coffee Kick: If you love mocha flavors, add a shot of cold espresso for an adult twist — my husband can’t get enough of it that way.
• Boost the Protein: Blend in a scoop of your favorite plant-based protein powder to turn it into a post-workout treat.
• Seasonal Twist: In winter, a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg warms it up nicely — I discovered this trick around the holidays and it’s a game-changer.

How to Make Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Shake Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients

Start by gathering your toasted hazelnuts, non-dairy milk, cacao powder, chia seeds, pitted medjool dates, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. If you don’t have a powerful blender, I recommend soaking the hazelnuts in warm water for 20-30 minutes beforehand — this helps make the shake ultra smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Blend It Up

Dump all the ingredients into your blender and blend on high speed until everything is smooth and creamy — about 30 seconds usually does the trick. Watch for any nut chunks or date bits, and keep blending if needed to get that perfect velvety texture.

Step 3: Add Ice and Final Blend

If you like your shake chilled and a bit frosty, toss in some ice cubes now and blitz again quickly just until the ice is crushed. I love doing this because it turns the shake into a refreshing frozen treat perfect for warm days.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve

Pour your shake into a tall glass and top with a cloud of coconut whipped cream, chopped toasted hazelnuts, and a few shavings of dark chocolate. It looks beautiful and adds that extra layer of decadence my family goes crazy for.

How to Serve Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Shake Recipe

Garnishes

I usually top mine with light coconut whipped cream and a handful of chopped toasted hazelnuts. The creaminess combined with the nut crunch truly elevates each sip. Sometimes, I sprinkle a few dark chocolate shavings on top for that extra fancy look and taste — it’s simple but adds so much visual and flavor wow-factor.

Side Dishes

Since this shake is pretty rich and filling on its own, I like to pair it with something light, like fresh fruit salad or crunchy biscotti. For a cozy night in, homemade almond shortbread cookies are a fantastic sidekick — my guests always ask for the recipe.

Creative Ways to Present

For special celebrations, I’ve served this shake in cute mason jars with striped paper straws and added edible gold dust sprinkled on the whipped cream — it’s super festive and makes for great Instagram snaps! You can also layer it in parfait glasses with crushed hazelnuts and dark chocolate chunks for a deconstructed shake parfait.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers (not that it often happens!), keep your Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Shake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I always give it a good stir or shake before drinking because it can separate slightly, but it’s just as tasty as when freshly made.

Freezing

Freezing this shake isn’t my favorite because the texture changes after thawing, but you can freeze it in ice cube trays to use as flavor-packed ice cubes for smoothies or cold coffees — bonus hack I discovered!

Reheating

Since this is best enjoyed cold, I don’t usually reheat leftovers, but if you do, just let it come to room temperature and give it a quick whisk to re-blend the ingredients. It won’t be the same as fresh, but still tasty enough not to waste.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I truly love how this Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Shake Recipe comes together in just minutes, yet tastes like such a luxurious treat. It’s one of those recipes that feels fancy but is incredibly approachable, perfect for whenever you want a little moment of indulgence without the hassle. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do — and trust me, your mornings, afternoons, or even dessert time will thank you for it!

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