Chocolate and Hazelnut Custard Recipe

We're going to show you how to prepare a quick and easy chocolate and hazelnut custard that's sure to be a hit with your guests.

Written and verified by the nutritionist Saúl Sánchez Arias.

Last update: 04 May, 2023

Chocolate custard is one of the most popular desserts in the world. There are different ways to prepare it, although homemade ones are always the ones that give the best organoleptic results. However, it’s advisable to choose recipes with fewer added sugars to reduce this sweet’s metabolic impact. Here’s a great twist on this recipe: chocolate and hazelnut custard.

Keep in mind that it’s no problem to include desserts with sugar in the diet from time to time, as long as it’s generally varied and balanced. It’s best to prioritize the presence of fruit and fermented dairy products after the main meals, but you can alternate with some sweets occasionally without this being harmful.

Chocolate and hazelnut custard ingredients

If you want to prepare a delicious chocolate and hazelnut custard, you will need the following ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 750 milliliters of milk
• 70 grams of dark chocolate
• 5 tablespoons of cocoa powder
• 80 grams (3 oz) of crushed hazelnuts
• 200 grams (8 oz) of whipping cream
• 1 apple
• 6 spoonfuls of sugar
• Mint leaves

Step-by-step instructions

1. Dissolve the cornstarch in 50 milliliters of milk to thicken the custard.
2. Then heat the remaining 700 milliliters of milk in a saucepan and melt the chopped dark chocolate in the liquid.
3. Once it’s melted and well mixed in, add the 5 tablespoons of sugar and the cocoa powder. Cook over a medium heat until it comes to a boil.
4. At this point, add the cornstarch dissolved in the milk, stirring constantly.
5. Cook for one minute and remove the saucepan from the heat. The mixture should gradually take consistency and body.
6. At the same time, toast the crushed hazelnuts in a frying pan without oil or any type of fat. When they have colored, add them to the saucepan with the custard.
7. All that remains is to whip the cream with the rest of the sugar and mix it with the contents of the saucepan.
8. Finally, divide the dessert portions into individual glasses and put them in the refrigerator. They should be well chilled before serving.
9. Serve with mint leaves and apple slices.

Benefits of cocoa

Discover the benefits of one of the main ingredients of this custard recipe, cocoa. It’s a plant-based food that’s consumed throughout the world and it’s able to exert positive effects on your health.

Reduces blood pressure

According to research published in the journal The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, regular consumption of cocoa could lead to a reduction in blood pressure. The modification of this physiological parameter is associated with protection against the development of complex cardiovascular pathologies.

It’s important to note that there are other ways of exerting effective control over blood pressure. These include regular physical activity and the avoidance of stressful situations. The emotional state can have a determining influence on the body’s health by increasing the predisposition to many diseases.

Can help prevent aging

Cocoa stands out for its content in phytochemicals. These compounds exert an antioxidant effect; that is, they neutralize the formation of free radicals and their subsequent accumulation in the body’s tissues. According to a study published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, this mechanism helps delay the appearance of the signs of aging.

Improves mental health

One of the foods that influences mood is cocoa. Its intake is related to the synthesis of neurotransmitters related to happiness, which would reduce the risk of suffering depression. This is evidenced by research published in the journal Depress and Anxiety. However, the data aren’t conclusive and, therefore, more studies would be necessary.

In addition, we must be careful. While it’s true that cocoa has a positive effect on mental health, industrial chocolates may have the opposite effect. They have an excessive concentration of simple sugars, elements with inflammatory capacities that can alter the functioning of the central nervous system in the medium term.

Prepare chocolate and hazelnut custard easily at home

As you have seen, it’s really easy to prepare chocolate and hazelnut custard at home. The recipe is carried out quickly and the results are spectacular. It’s perfect to surprise guests or to enjoy on an occasional day. Remember that you can change the hazelnuts for another type of nut if you prefer, such as almonds.

Finally, always keep in mind that in order to improve your health, it’s essential to keep the presence of simple sugars in your diet under control. It’s all right if they appear from time to time in your diet, but, as a general rule, it’s necessary to prioritize the consumption of fresh foods with high nutritional density. Regular exercise will also be necessary.