Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Panna Cotta

Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Panna Cotta
Panna Cotta is a silky smooth pudding
thickened by gelatin rather than egg yolks.

Ingredients:
1 ⅛ teaspoon powdered gelatin
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup Nutella
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ cups heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
¼ cup chopped, toasted hazelnuts, for serving (optional)

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk gelatin with 3 tablespoons cold water. Place chopped chocolate in another medium bowl. In a large bowl, combine Nutella and salt.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring cream to a boil. Pour half the cream over gelatin mixture and whisk gently to combine; stir in vanilla. Pour remaining cream over chopped chocolate; whisk until smooth. Combine two mixtures; whisk well.

Pour one-third of the gelatin-chocolate mixture over Nutella; beat using an electric mixer on low speed until a smooth paste forms. Pour in remaining mixture and milk; beat until fully combined.

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into six ramekins. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator until set, about six hours or overnight. Serve sprinkled with chopped hazelnuts, if desired.