Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur

Frangelico is the canonical hazelnut liqueur — toasted hazelnut, vanilla, cocoa, and a soft herbal undertone from the natural infusion. It's sweet but not cloyingly so, and unlike most flavored liqueurs it tastes like the thing it's named after. It's made in northern Italy from Italian Tonda Gentile hazelnuts roasted then macerated, blended with cocoa, vanilla, and a proprietary herb blend. The signature monk-shaped bottle is part of the appeal — the bottle was modeled on Christian friars from the area, and the rope tied at the neck completes the look.

The two essential Frangelico cocktails are the Frangelico Affogato (1 oz Frangelico poured over a scoop of vanilla gelato, then topped with hot espresso) and the Nutty Irishman (1 oz Frangelico, 1 oz Irish cream, served over ice). Frangelico also works beautifully as a 1/4-oz float on an Espresso Martini for added nut character, or stirred into a Manhattan as a hazelnut variation. For a dessert-cocktail program built around Frangelico and similar liqueurs, see our Dessert Cocktail Guide.

Frangelico is Italian hazelnut; Disaronno ($31-ish) is Italian almond. Frangelico is rounder and more cocoa-forward; Disaronno is brighter and more marzipan-leaning. Both are sweet but Frangelico has more body. Kahlua is coffee-based and bitter; Frangelico is nut-based and sweet. The three are not interchangeable in cocktails — Frangelico for hazelnut depth, Disaronno for almond brightness, Kahlua for coffee bitterness. Browse the full Cordials & Liqueurs collection for the broader category.

Frangelico is shelf-stable at room temperature for 12-24 months after opening — the high sugar content and 40-proof ABV act as preservatives. It's not necessary to refrigerate. That said, if you primarily drink it in summer dessert cocktails, refrigeration produces a noticeably better cold-pour result and the liqueur thickens slightly when cold, which is a nice texture for the Affogato and the Espresso Martini float. Don't freeze — sugar will eventually crystallize at freezer temperatures.

Yes — Frangelico is one of the most versatile baking liqueurs. Substitute it for vanilla extract in chocolate cake recipes (use a 3:1 ratio — 3 tablespoons Frangelico for every tablespoon of vanilla), brush it on tiramisu instead of espresso, or add 2 tablespoons to a brownie batter. The hazelnut character holds up well at oven temperatures and the alcohol mostly cooks off. The herbal undertones add complexity that vanilla extract alone won't deliver. Pairs particularly well with chocolate, coffee, and stone fruits.

Yes — the iconic monk-shaped bottle is a striking gift presentation, and at $38.09 it sits in the sweet spot for a dinner-party host gift or a thank-you bottle. Frangelico is also one of the few bottles that works equally well as a gift to a serious cocktail enthusiast (for the cocktail program) and to someone who doesn't typically drink (for the baking and dessert use). For a complete dessert-liqueur gift set, pair Frangelico with Kahlua and Disaronno — three bottles that cover the full nut-and-coffee dessert cocktail spectrum.