Nutella Melt—Easy Entertaining Recipe and a Winter Cocktails Giveaway

Imagine a chilling evening, you’re curling up on the couch with your favorite blanket next to the fire place;  cuddling with your loved ones while catching up your favorite TV soap, or chatting about what happened during the day; holding and sipping a cup of warm, chocolate-y, packed with wonderful hazelnut flavor and a little boozy Nutella Melt this winter.  Isn’t that picture perfect? 



If the heat from the Nutella Melt didn’t warm you up, the little booze in the drink definitely will.  I bet you all know how much I love Nutella, and more so after trying this Nutella Melt!  It’s not overly sweet, but the flavor is simply amazing.  With a little toasted and chopped nuts sitting on top of the foamy and creamy espresso whipped cream, the combination of flavor and the contrast of texture simply blew me away.



This easy, entertaining and scrumptious cocktail recipe came from the book, Winter Cocktails.  As you all know, I do enjoy a cocktail here and there, especially when I have companies over.  This is the book you want in your kitchen if you want to learn more about Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks.  Author and professional food stylist Maria del Mar Sacasa offers more than 50 recipes for cold-weather cocktails and mixed beverages. 



I absolutely love the tutorial, techniques in step-by-step pictures illustration.



Check out the picture below, recipes of Infused Liquors and different Simple Syrups are also included in this book.  I can’t wait to give them a try. 



You’ll also get to learn how to make some Small Bites and appetizers pairing with some of your cocktails.  Drooling!



I simply can’t take my eyes off this Golden Hog.  And guess what?  It’s paired with a piece of Candied Bacon!!!  How can I resist?  Oink Oink...




You can purchase your copy by clicking here.  Or, try your luck in winning a copy of “Winter Cocktails”, courtesy of Quirk Books. 

This Giveaway is now Closed!

Here are the details on how to enter this giveaway.
One lucky uTry.it reader (with an U.S., Canada or U.K. mailing address) will win a copy of “Winter Cocktails”.


To enter, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me what’s your all time favorite cocktail (mine is apple martini). Deadline to enter is November 30th, 2013 by mid-night PST.  Winner will be selected through Random.org and announce shortly after the giveaway is closed.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following (leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1)  Add me to your Google+ circle here
2) "Like" uTry.it's Facebook Page, click here.
3) Pin a picture from this post onto your Pinterest board.
4) Share this giveaway on Facebook (with a link back to this post please)
5) Share this giveaway on Twitter (with a link back to this post please)

That’s all and Good Luck everyone!  Please stay warm and cheers!






Disclaimer:  I received a copy of “Winter Cocktails” for the purpose of this review and I was not compensated in any way to write this post.  Quirk Books is providing a copy of the book for the giveaway.  As always, all comments and opinions are 100% my own. 

Please drink responsibly.  Health and General Disclaimers.




Nutella Melt (recipe from Winter Cocktails):
Serves: 4
4 cups whole milk
1/4 cup Nutella
pinch salt
6 ounces hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico
1 cup heavy cream, chilled
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped, for garnish
toasted coconut flakes, for garnish

Bring milk, Nutella, and salt to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until Nutella is completely dissolved.  Stir in liqueur.  Turn off the heat but leave the pot on the stove while you whip the cream.

Using an electric mixer, beat cream, confectioners’ sugar, and espresso powder on medium speed in a large, chilled bowl until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.  (Alternatively, beat by hand using a large wire whisk.)

Ladle drink into warm cups and top with whipped cream.  Sprinkle with hazelnuts and coconut.