Hazelnut & Chocolate Ice Cream: Top Picks

The combination of chocolate and hazelnut is a sure bet in the world of frozen desserts. It's a timeless classic that everyone loves. But once you're standing in front of the freezer aisle, it's a different story: the selection is so vast it can be overwhelming. Crispy cone or crunchy bar? Intense flavour or subtle balance?

Don't worry. To help you navigate the options and find the perfect treat to delight your taste buds, we've sifted through the best chocolate-hazelnut ice creams available today.

Cone or Bar: How to Choose the Right Chocolate-Hazelnut Ice Cream?

Before we dive into our selection, here are a few key points to keep in mind to ensure you make the right choice for a memorable tasting experience.

Cone or Bar: It's All About the Experience

The format isn't just a detail; it defines the entire tasting experience.

• Team Cone: Do you love contrasts? The cone is made for you. It combines the crunch of the wafer (sometimes lined with chocolate to keep it dry!) with the creaminess of the ice cream, often enhanced with hazelnut pieces or a decadent topping. Every bite is a new discovery.
• Team Bar: This one gets straight to the point. The pleasure lies in that famous "crack" of the chocolate shell as it breaks to reveal a soft ice cream core. It's a format that focuses on efficiency and intensity, with a simple but formidable duo of textures.

The Balance of Flavours: The Hunt for Real Ingredients

A great gourmet ice cream is, above all, a perfect balance between chocolate and hazelnut. To spot high-quality products, there's one simple rule: check the ingredients list. The presence of hazelnut paste or hazelnuts near the top of the list is an excellent sign, guaranteeing an authentic taste far from simple artificial flavourings. For the chocolate, look for recipes that mention cocoa mass or cocoa butter for a rich and intense flavour.

The Game-Changing Detail: What Turns a Good Ice Cream into a Great One

Sometimes, the difference comes down to one detail. It's that little extra something that elevates an ice cream from a simple refreshment to an exceptional dessert. A molten caramel core, roasted hazelnut pieces, a crunchy chocolate disc on top, or a double-layered coating... Be on the lookout for these indulgent touches that promise an even more memorable experience.

Hazelnut-Chocolate Ice Cream Picks

Enough theory, let's get to the tasting! Here are the products that caught our attention, each with its own unique personality.

Magnum Hazelnut & Chocolate Ice Cream Cone

What makes it stand out: Magnum applies its expertise to a cone format that incorporates all the brand's hallmarks: the cracking chocolate, pure indulgence, and a dual flavour. It features both hazelnut ice cream and chocolate ice cream, topped with the famous Magnum-stamped milk chocolate disc.

Highlights:

• Dual Ice Creams: The combination of a hazelnut ice cream and a chocolate ice cream for twice the enjoyment.
• Molten Core: A salted hazelnut sauce that adds an original touch.
• The Famous "Crack": The chocolate top disc and caramelized hazelnut pieces deliver Magnum's signature crunch.
• Flawless Wafer: The inside is lined with chocolate to guarantee it stays crispy to the very end.

Who is it for? For die-hard fans of the Magnum experience who want to enjoy that cracking chocolate pleasure in a generous, multi-textured cone format.

Kinder Bueno Ice Cream Cone

What makes it stand out: Mission accomplished for this frozen adaptation of the famous chocolate bar. The Kinder Bueno cone faithfully captures the unique taste of the original, with its hazelnut ice cream, sauce-filled core, and indulgent disc.

Highlights:

• True to the Original: You can easily recognise the unique taste of the Kinder Bueno bar.
• Milky Sauce Core: A molten hazelnut centre, just like in the confectionery.
• Crunchy Topping: The hazelnut-flavoured top disc is sprinkled with cocoa nibs for extra texture.
• Guaranteed Creaminess: The hazelnut ice cream is particularly soft and creamy.

Who is it for? For the ultimate fans of the Kinder Bueno ice cream who have been dreaming of finding their favourite treat in a frozen version. Mission accomplished.

Popelino Piedmont Hazelnut Ice Cream Bar

What makes it stand out: No frills here. This ice cream bar is all about the quality of its ingredients, starting with the star of the show: the Piedmont hazelnut. Renowned for its intense aroma, it's the heart of an ice cream coated in crunchy milk chocolate and hazelnut pieces.

Highlights:

• Exceptional Hazelnuts: The use of Piedmont hazelnut paste (6%) guarantees an authentic and powerful taste.
• Crunchy Coating: A generous shell of milk chocolate and hazelnut pieces.
• Back to Basics: A simple and effective bar format that highlights the quality of the ingredients.
• Carefully Crafted Recipe: The ingredients list is reassuring, with whole milk and cream featured prominently.

Who is it for? For purists seeking an intense and authentic hazelnut flavour, who prioritise the quality of ingredients over an excess of toppings.

Still Hungry for More?

Has our selection whetted your appetite, but you're curious to discover other flavours or formats? The world of frozen desserts is vast. To expand your gourmet horizons, take a look at our complete category dedicated to chocolate cones, where a multitude of other gems await.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hazelnut-Chocolate Ice Cream

What's the difference between an ice cream cone and an ice cream bar?

It's all about the experience! The cone focuses on the contrast between the crispy wafer and the creamy ice cream. The bar, on the other hand, offers simple, direct pleasure: a chocolate shell that cracks under your teeth to reveal a frozen core.

How should I store ice cream at home?

To prevent ice crystals and maintain a perfect texture, there's one golden rule: store your ice cream at -18°C (0°F), preferably at the back of the freezer where the temperature is most stable. Also, remember to seal the packaging tightly to protect it from the air.

Can you find ice creams with hazelnuts from a specific origin?

Absolutely. Some quality-conscious brands highlight the origin of their ingredients. Piedmont hazelnuts, for example, are highly prized for their powerful and refined flavour. This information, a guarantee of quality, is always mentioned on the packaging.