If you love Nutella and iced coffee, you’re going to flip for my newest copycat recipe for Starbucks’ Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew. Featuring sweet hazelnut cold brew crowned with a thick layer of chocolate hazelnut cold foam and a sprinkling of crunchy chocolate cookie bits, it’s just the thing to put a little pep in your step.
This decadent new Starbucks hazelnut chocolate cold brew offering was just released this week (!!!), and I’ve been testing up a storm to get this stellar homemade version ready for you. After a bit of trial and error, I’m happy to report I’ve cracked the code!
Though truth be told, I kind of like my version better because I’ve amped up the hazelnut, so now it tastes like a liquid Ferrero Rocher candy! (Don’t worry though — I’ve included instructions to make it taste JUST LIKE the Starbucks version.)
Simply made with just 7 ingredients in about 5 minutes, this refreshing chocolate hazelnut coffee is my newest obsession, and I think it’s bound to be yours, too.
Jump to:
- What is Starbucks’ Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew?
- What does it taste like?
- Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Hazelnut Cold Brew Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions
- How To Make Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew
- Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Success Tips
- FAQs
- Homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew Nutrition
- Other Yummy Cold Brew Recipes
- Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew (Starbucks Copycat)
What is Starbucks’ Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew?
As the newest addition to Starbucks’ menu, this quasi-Nutella cold brew is a hot ticket item. If you get one at your local shop, you can expect a roasted hazelnut cold brew base topped with a malted chocolate cold foam that’s garnished with chocolatey cookie crumbles. YUM.
My version makes a slight adjustment, adding some extra nutty goodness by spiking the chocolate cold foam with hazelnut syrup. It is 🤌 chef’s kiss delicious.
What does it taste like?
It’s deeply chocolatey, slightly malty, and deliciously nutty, balanced by the rich undertones of your favorite cold brew coffee. Imagine if your favorite dark roast java made a baby with Nutella, poured the liquid child over ice, and the ensuing celebration included chocolate confetti. In other words, it is 🧨🔥.
Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Hazelnut Cold Brew Recipe
- Quick & Easy - People always assume you need fancy equipment and barista training to replicate popular Starbucks drinks, and it’s just not true! This delectable chocolate hazelnut cold brew can be whipped up in just 5 minutes with nothing more than a $10 milk frother.
- Completely Customizable - While Starbucks does allow for modifications on many of their signature offerings (for a hefty $0.65 upcharge for most), their cold foams aren’t particularly adaptable. When you make them at home, however, you’re in total control! So, whether you need to make this icy chocolate hazelnut bad boy decaf or vegan, I’ve got you covered. 😉
- No Lines Necessary - I don’t know about you, but I HATE waiting in line. The awkward shuffle, the people who don’t understand personal space bubbles, the wasted time. With my copycat Starbucks chocolate hazelnut coffee recipe, you can avoid all that and have your fancy coffee, too.
- Cheaper (& Nuttier!) Than Starbucks - Not to brag, but my chocolate hazelnut cream cold foam has more Nutella-inspired flavor than the OG. And you can make enough for a week with what you’d spend for just one in-store.
Ingredients Needed
As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make Starbucks’ fancy, brand-spankin’-new chocolate hazelnut drink at home. Here’s what to grab:
- Heavy Cream - You need a decent amount of fat to make the cold foam hold its shape. Heavy cream has a minimum 36% milk fat as opposed to regular whipping cream which ranges between 30-36%.
- Whole Milk - Again, we’re going for a rich, creamy consistency for the best cold foam mouthfeel.
- Hazelnut Syrup - For that warm, roasty-toasty nutty flavor we’re after. My homemade version is made with just 3 ingredients and will save you a boatload of $ over buying it from the store.
- Malted Milk Powder - I used plain malted milk, but if you’ve got a tin of Ovaltine or packets of Instant Breakfast hanging around, those will work too!
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - If possible, opt for Dutch-processed cocoa powder for the deepest chocolate flavor and least bitterness.
- Cold Brew Coffee - You’re welcome to buy it in stores, but any of my 4 homemade methods will make it cheaper.
- Oreo Cookies - This is where the “cookie” part of chocolate hazelnut cookie cold brew comes in. For reference, 1 Oreo will yield enough for about 3 servings.
Substitutions
If you need to tweak our chocolate cold brew recipe, these are some easy ingredient swaps to try:
- Heavy Cream - Coconut cream (the firm part at the top of a can of coconut milk) or vegan whipping cream will work beautifully.
- Whole Milk - Feel free to swap in a full-fat barista blend plant-based milk (e.g. oat or soy) if you’re dairy-free.
- Hazelnut Syrup - If you prefer a more authentic Starbucks recipe, use vanilla syrup instead.
- Malted Milk Powder - Rice milk powder, oat milk powder, or maca powder are all great options. Alternatively, you can use hot cocoa powder instead.
- Cold Brew Coffee - You’re welcome to use conventionally brewed coffee that has been chilled, or you can opt for espresso diluted with water instead.
- Oreo Cookies - Feel free to swap in the chocolate or nut-flavored cookie crumbles of your choice.
How To Make Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew
This DIY Starbucks stunner comes together in just a few simple steps:
Step 1: Add the heavy cream, whole milk, 1 tablespoon of the hazelnut syrup, malted milk powder, and cocoa powder to a small jar or container.
Step 2: Froth for 10-20 seconds with a milk frother, until the mixture is well combined. Set aside.
Step 3: Add the remaining tablespoon of hazelnut syrup to a tall glass.
Step 4: Stir in the cold brew coffee and top with ice.
Step 5: Top the hazelnut cold brew with the chocolate hazelnut cold foam.
Step 6: Sprinkle on the crushed Oreo cookies, then drink up!
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
The best part about being your own barista is you can make your hazelnut chocolate cookie cold brew however you dang well please. Here are a few common dietary adaptations to consider:
- Dairy-Free/Vegan - Swap out the malted milk powder for rice milk powder, oat milk powder, maca powder, or dairy-free hot cocoa powder and use the plant-based cream and barista-blend milk of your choice.
- Gluten-Free - Swap out the malted milk powder for any of the substitutions above, and either omit the cookie crumbles or use your favorite gluten-free cookies. Chopped toasted hazelnuts would also be delish!
Serving Suggestions
Want your cold brew with a bougie twist? Here are some fun ways to step up your game:
- Cookie Rim Garnish: Crush some extra chocolate or hazelnut cookies. Rim your glass with chocolate syrup, then dip the edge into the cookie crumbles for extra crunch and sweetness.
- Chocolate Syrup Art: Use chocolate syrup to create decorative patterns on the inside of the glass before adding the cold brew. PRO TIP: If you start with a cold glass, the decorations will hold better.
- Ice Cubes with a Twist: Freeze chocolate hazelnut milk or coffee in ice cube trays instead of using regular ice. As they melt, they'll add flavor to the drink and prevent it from getting diluted.
- Pirouline Stir Stick: For a little extra flair, use a chocolate hazelnut Pirouline cookie as your stir-stick. As a bonus, it doubles as an edible straw!
- Perfect Pairings: If you’re looking for something delicious to serve alongside your chocolate hazelnut iced coffee, try chocolate chip waffles, chocolate peanut butter overnight oats, or Nutella on toast.
Recipe Success Tips
- To keep the layered effect, make sure to wait and pour the hazelnut chocolate cold foam on top of the ice cubes. They’ll help keep it afloat!
- Make your hazelnut syrup ahead of time so it has time to cool. Store it in a squeeze bottle for easy measurement and to keep your fridge free from sticky messes.
- Invest in a milk frother. It’ll make the process of creating the chocolate hazelnut sweet cream cold foam so much easier and speedier!
FAQs
Cold brew in general is renowned for being super smooth. The reason is that since no heat is applied, the acidity is much lower than conventionally brewed coffee (up to 65%!). If you want to make your cold brew the Starbucks way, opt for their special cold brew blend and steep it in cool, filtered water for 20 hours before straining.
However you please! I personally like to drink about half of the cold brew before I swirl in the cold foam so I get the different tastes and textures.
You’re certainly encouraged to make your cold brew and hazelnut syrup ahead of time. You can also pre-sweeten your hazelnut cold brew, then use a separate container to add all the chocolate hazelnut cold foam ingredients.
That said, you’ll want to wait to froth up the cold foam until just before serving, otherwise it’ll deflate over time. I also don’t recommend assembling the drink until you’re ready to slurp, or you’ll miss out on the pretty ombre/layered effect.
Homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew Nutrition
Each serving of this luscious hazelnut and chocolate cold brew packs about 250 calories, which is pretty light considering how flavorful it is. It's got a moderate amount of fat, about 13 grams, thanks to the yummy hazelnut cream cold foam.
Protein-wise, it's on the lighter side with just 3 grams per serving — if you want to boost this, feel free to either add more milk (dairy or soy) to the cold brew layer. You're also welcome to blend in your favorite protein powder. Sodium is pretty low at 90 mg—great news for those watching their salt intake.
The big kicker is the carbs, which come in at 30 grams. 22 grams of those carbs come from sugar. Yes, it's a treat, but I consider it my version of a mother's little helper! To cut back on the added sugars, you're welcome to use sugar-free hazelnut syrup.
So, while this chocolate hazelnut cookie cold brew is a bit of an indulgence, it's not too over the top. It's perfect for those days when you need a little extra oomph to get you going!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 250 calories
- Total Fat: 13 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Carbohydrates: 30 grams
- Sugar: 22 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Other Yummy Cold Brew Recipes
Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew (Starbucks Copycat)
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate Hazelnut Cold Foam
- 2 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 tablespoon hazelnut syrup (or vanilla syrup for more authentic Starbucks recipe)
- 1 tablespoon malted milk powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Chocolate Hazelnut Cold Brew
- 1 ½ cups cold brew coffee
- 1 tablespoon hazelnut syrup
- 1 tablespoon crushed Oreo cookies
Instructions
- Make the chocolate hazelnut cold foam: Add the heavy cream, whole milk, 1 tablespoon hazelnut syrup, malted milk powder, and cocoa powder to a small jar or container. Froth for 10-20 seconds with a milk frother, until the mixture is well combined. Set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon of hazelnut syrup to a tall glass, then stir in the cold brew coffee. Top with ice.
- Top the hazelnut cold brew with the chocolate hazelnut cold foam.
- Sprinkle on the crushed Oreo cookies, then drink up!
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
Heather says
This was a dream! Seriously the best flavor combo and my new favorite drink!
Megan Byrd says
Awww I'm so glad! Thank you for sharing 🙂