The Perfect Chocolate Hazelnut Iced Coffee #RedCupShowdown

This Chocolate Hazelnut Iced Coffee makes the perfect treat for a hot day. Grab this easy recipe and try it out this summer!

Seattle’s Best Coffee is is teaming up with celebrity chef Jeff Mauro to launch the Red Cup Showdown – a coast-to-coast search at state fairs and on Facebook to find the most imaginative new coffee drink. The grand prize winner will win $10,000 and the chance to have their coffee drink featured at Seattle’s Best Coffee locations across North America. How fun is that?

I’m a huge fan of State Fairs and have lived in three towns that host them {Sedalia, Missouri; Sacramento, California; Phoenix, Arizona}. I worked at the Missouri State Fair almost every summer during high school – cooking corn dogs, sweeping trash, and making cotton candy. I have fond memories of being paid for my 10 days worth of work in $1 bills. Such fun for a 14 year old! So when I was given the chance to help promote this contest with my own unique coffee recipe, I was pretty thrilled!

I started by researching iced coffees. I was surprised to learn that I shouldn’t be using my hot-brewed coffee for iced coffees! Who knew? Turns out a cold-brewed coffee is preferred for iced coffees because it takes some of the acidity out of coffee and you need less sugar to make it taste good! To make a cold-brew coffee, just soak your coffee grounds in water overnight. I used my French Press. Worked great!

Once I figured out how to brew the perfect coffee, I had to think about how to flavor it. I looked around my kitchen and  the chocolate hazelnut wafer cookies on top of my fridge served as my inspiration.  At Walmart, I picked up Seattle’s Best coffee {I wanted their Fair-Trade Organic coffee but my Walmart didn’t have it},  sweetened condensed milk, Nutella and whipping cream.  My kids helped me with the recipe by  picking out their favorite chocolates {okay, maybe they were my favorite chocolates…you got me}. You can see pictures from my shopping trip here.

And then I put it together. First, I melted one TBS of Nutella with a small splash of oil. Then I drizzled the Nutella inside of a pint sized Mason jar with ice cubes I made out of leftover coffee {so my coffee won’t get watery…}.

I added filled the jar about 3/4 full of coffee so I’d have room for the other ingredients.

Sweetened condensed milk is the secret ingredient. I was skeptical, honestly. But, YUM! I added probably 2 TBS of the milk. Then I topped it with some whipped cream and shaved chocolate. I chose frozen Ghirardelli’s Baking Chocolate – it shaved very nicely.

As it turns out, this iced coffee was so good, there was no time for the ice cubes to melt ~ I could have skipped the coffee ice cubes, but they are a nice touch anyway. {And don’t tell anyone, but I stuck my mug back in the freezer so I can have seconds…} Hehe!

 If you live near one of these State Fairs and would like to win the $10,000 grand prize, you can meet Jeff Mauro and submit your recipe on these dates: {Of course, Iowa’s last because we ROCK and an Iowan will win this contest! All in fun, right?}

California State Fair, Sacramento
Seattle’s Best Coffee Exhibit and Free Iced Coffee: Friday, July 13-Sunday, July 15
Red Cup Showdown with host Jeff Mauro: Saturday, July 14
Ohio State Fair, Columbus
Seattle’s Best Coffee Exhibit and Free Iced Coffee: Friday, July 27-Sunday, July 29
Red Cup Showdown with host Jeff Mauro: Friday, July 27
Wisconsin State Fair, Milwaukee
Seattle’s Best Coffee Exhibit and Free Iced Coffee: Friday, Aug. 3-Sunday, Aug. 5
Red Cup Showdown with host Jeff Mauro: Sunday, Aug. 5
Illinois State Fair, Springfield
Seattle’s Best Coffee Exhibit and Free Iced Coffee: Thursday, Aug. 9-Saturday, Aug. 11
Red Cup Showdown with host Jeff Mauro: Friday, Aug. 10
Iowa State Fair, Des Moines
Seattle’s Best Coffee Exhibit and Free Iced Coffee: Monday, Aug. 13-Wed., Aug. 15
Red Cup Showdown with host Jeff Mauro: Wednesday, August 15

 If you don’t live near a State Fair, rest assured you can still enter via the contest’s Facebook competition. The Facebook competition call for entries will run through July 27. The contest is open to all US and Canadian residents 18 years or older. For more information on how to enter and official rules, visit their Facebook page and follow them ontwitter.