Tipsy Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

Just last night a friend came to me for some professional advice on a cocktail to serve at his holiday party. He wanted something that could be served warm and had that "Irish" quality we all love. Well fellow party givers, here is a tasty treat from Chow.
Tipsy Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
Total time 10 minutes
Makes 2-4 servings
Very Easy Recipe

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of whole milk
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of Nutella
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1/4 cup of hazelnut liqueur such as Frangelico
2 tablespoons of brandy

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the milk, Nutella and 2 tablespoons of the cream in a saucepan over medium heat and whisk until the Nutella has melted and has been incorporated into the milk and cream.
2. Reduce the heat to low, add 3 tablespoons of the hazelnut liqueur and the brandy and stir to combin. Heat until the mixture is hot. Do not boil. Turn the heat off.
3. Place the remaining cream in a medium bowl and whisk until the cream is stiff and forms peaks. (about 2 minutes). Add the remaining liqueur and whisk it in. Pour the hot chocolate into cups and top it with a dollop of whipped cream.

I doubled the amount of liqueur when I made this drink. It was a bit strong, but I prefer it that way. Happy Holidays!
You can find many great holiday ideas and recipes at Chow (click here)