Chocolate Hazelnut Rice Dream is a version of Disney Epcot’s Norway popular dessert. This variation of a classic rice pudding meets whipped cream is combined with a chocolate-hazelnut spread and topped with a raspberry and strawberry sauce.
Chocolate Hazelnut Rice Dream recipe is a play…
on the beloved Rice Dream with Strawberry Sauce from Walt Disney World Epcot’s Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway. When I lived in Orlando, I spent so much time at Disney that they should have given me a job there as an Ambassador or as a Mayor or as an Expert Disney Person. Thank goodness for Florida resident season passes or mama would be as broke as a joke.
Anywho, at the end of each Epcot visit, I would stop by the Norway bakery to load up on all my favorite sweets. I would buy a lefse (to eat while walking through and out of Epcot), the school bread (to eat while walking to the car), a cloudberry horn (to eat later that night with a cup of coffee), an almond sweet pretzel (to eat the next morning for breakfast), and a rice dream (to eat the next night for dessert). Oh, the deliciously creamy rice dream with the sweet strawberry sauce. I always saved it for last and would eat it very slowly, savoring each luscious bite, while reminiscing about my fun day at Disney the day before.
The Rice Dream was my favorite Epcot treat…well, it’s really my second favorite treat if you count the Grey Goose Slushie in France. That slushie is hands down the best treat to ever grace the face of this earth. Note to self: replicate the Grey Goose Slushie for the next blog post.
The original rice dream is basically a rice pudding with whipped cream folded in and is topped with a sauce that has soften whole strawberries in it. My homemade version has a chocolate hazelnut spread mixed in and is topped with a finely mashed up raspberry and strawberry sauce. It’s super easy to make and can be made a day or two ahead of time, making it perfect for dinner parties.
By the way, if you are wondering why I didn’t name this dish Nutella Rice Dream, it’s because I used an Italian all-natural version of it, called Rigoni Di Asiago Nocciolata Organic Hazelnut Spread.
This stuff is good, real good. It’s cleaner and, in my opinion, much better tasting than Nutella. I adore it almost as much as I adore potato chips…almost ❤️
This Chocolate Hazelnut Rice Dream dessert is made with one of the Royal Basmati Rice samples I received a few weeks ago to review. The first thing I noticed after cooking both varieties of the Royal rice is that the grains stay intact and are fluffier than my normal basmati rice, so I’ll definitely seek out the Royal brand next time I go to the grocery store.
Even if you’ve never had Epcot’s version of this dessert, hope you try my recipe for Chocolate Hazelnut Rice Dream and enjoy!
- for the rice dream:
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Basmati white rice can substitute regular white rice
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2/3 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 Tb powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- for the raspberry/strawberry sauce:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
- 1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- 3 Tb sugar I used demerara sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- To make the rice dream: In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Add the rice and salt, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook the rice for 15 minutes or until all of the water has been absorbed. Stir in the milk and simmer on low heat for 20-25 minutes or until all of the milk has been absorbed and the rice mixture is creamy. Stir in the chocolate hazelnut spread and transfer to a bowl. Set aside and let cool.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cream with the sugar and vanilla and whip the mixture with a hand or stand up mixer until cream has stiffened. Using a rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream mixture into the rice, mixing until thoroughly all is combined.
- To make the raspberry/strawberry sauce: In a small saucepan, combine both fruits, sugar, and lemon juice. Place over medium-low heat, cook for about 10 minutes, then smash the fruit pieces with a masher or the back of a spoon. Continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until mixture thickens. Can strain mixture to remove the seeds, if desired.
- To serve: Divide rice mixture among 6 individual bowls, spoon desired amount of the raspberry/strawberry sauce on top of each one, cover with plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
I need this in my life! This looks so good! The chocolate, the cream, the berries, the creamy rice. Seriously?! And I’m right there with ya with all the snacks, like, der, you know you gots to have some good eats while walking around and stuff, lol. Oh, and Indian food? That’s my jam too. I don’t make a lot of indian dishes, but love it so much. So good. Note to self – get Indian food for supper. And, what’s this about a Grey Goose Slushie? I would love to see this! P.S. I see you made an error in the servings, because clearly this is just enough for me…haha. Have a great weekend, girl. xo
Thanks Dawn! You and I need to go vaca in Orlando, eating Indian food, and visiting Epcot to drink around the world 🙂
I think I win on who spent more time at Disney… only because I worked 60-80 hours a week there for 2 years. Not something I’m proud of!! 😉 I’ve had Norway’s Rice Dream and it IS soooo good! Loving your spin on it, Karrie! Obviously I’m going to have to substitute white chocolate, but I can’t wait to try this! Hazelnut with raspberry and strawberry sauce?! Gahhhh! SO YUMMMM! Totally willing to bet both my arms and legs your version is a million times better! Pinned! Cheers, sweets! xo
Thanks and you do win on spending more time at Disney 😉 White chocolate would be delicious in this and I should have thought about that as a recipe!
Can you believe that I’ve never been to Disney, Epcot, etc.? So obviously I’ve never had the Norway Rice Dream either, but your version is way kicked up and i’m sure better than the original! And that’s quite the menu of to-go items you had!
No, I can’t believe that but you can just make this and pretend you are there! lol! 🙂
„Sweet dreams are made of this; who am I to disagree?” 🙂 This lyrics were the first thing that came into my mind when I saw the pictures of this wonderful dessert 🙂 And then I red the recipe and I sang again 🙂 It really is a dream – a very yummy one, of course ❤❤❤
Love it Simona and thank you so much!
They should have made you ambassador! I’m loving all the treats you ate on your trips to Disney Land and am so glad you are sharing this one! Woowee! It sounds like an amazing treat.
Hahaha! Thanks Kathy and I totally agree with you that I should be a Disney Ambassador (with free forever park passes) 🙂
I just mentally assessed the state of my cupboards to try to figure out if I had what I needed to make this… I DON’T!!! And what’s missing? The most fundamental of all ingredients… the rice. Disaster!!
I’ve never been to Disney World/Land/Epcot? (Really showing my ignorance here… 😛 ) So I don’t actually know what Norway would mean in this context, but I’m imaging basically a little village with shops like the one Anna goes to when she’s looking for Elsa in Frozen… with the sauna!! And imaging getting a rice dream there… am I anywhere NEAR correct with this??!
WHAT?!?!?!? I can’t believe you don’t have rice, girl! Disney Norway is like a cute little village with Viking stuff and a really cool water ride. You made me happy out loud with the Elsa comment! lol! Hope you make it to WDW one day 🙂
I want this right now 🙂 Looks amazingly delicious. I am in love with the recipe. WOW!
Thank you Kushi! I’m in love with it too 🙂
Yum this looks so good! I can’t eat any of the ingredients except strawberries, but that doesn’t stop me drooling! 🙂
Thank you Amy and wish you could eat it, but guess the strawberries will just have to do 🙂
You lived in Orlando? Who knew? I know you mentioned being from Florida, but so cool to learn that you lived near Disney World. I lived in SoCal for awhile, so I was probably your West Coast counterpart, visiting Disneyland on the regular. 😉
Omigosh, your walking food tour sounds amazing. Um, can we plan one of these trips to Disney World? Cuz, I would be right by your side, eating that cloudberry horn, the school brea, the almond sweet pretzel and everything in between.
Meanwhile, this Chocolate Hazelnut Rice Dream sounds soooo good. Just as dream-like as the name denotes.
Okay, and please msg me on FB when you make the Grey Goose Slushie (oh. my. gah!)
Would it be alright to eat two gallons of this? I mean, hazelnuts and rice sounds pretty healthy… 😉 Pinning this for sure Karrie. <3
Thank you Demeter! Yes, grew up in South Fl and lived in Orlando for 8 years. I loved living close to WDW and to all the theme parks because I’m a big theme park kind of person 😉 One day, we will plan a trip to Orlando and Disney World and eat/drink around Epcot! And I will most definitely tag you when I make the Grey Goose Slushie 🙂
That looks like such a creamy and comforting dessert. It’s a nice twist on traditional rice pudding, which is one of my favourite desserts.
Thanks Dannii and I love rice pudding too. Warm or cold, it’s a comfort food dessert 🙂
Never been to Orlando, or Florida, or Disney. But we could go and you could be our tour guide… how fantastic! This rice dream pudding is outrageously delicious, love it love it love it! And want it! 🙂 . As for the Rigoni chocolate hazelnut spread, I know it (how couldn’t I?) and ate it countless times. I think it is phenomenal. You’re right, it tastes better than Nutella (in a cleaner way 😉 ) .
Let’s go Nicoletta! Thank you so much and of course you know Rigoni. I love it and could eat the whole jar in one sitting 😉
Wowza! You definitely earned the right to be called Mayor of Disney! I so get it…if I lived there, I’d do the same! And I have to thank you for this post as we’re taking a vacashe to Disney this summer! I can’t wait – and now I have my dessert and drink 😉 menu planned! This is a lovely pudding! I too have had the Rigoni hazelnut spread – love it!!
Lucky you going to Disney this summer! Can I go with you? 😉 Epcot is so much fun so plan on spending one whole day there, if you can.
Not only do I want to plan another trip to Disney after reading this post, but I definitely want one of these rice dreams right about now! Chocolate and hazelnut is a weakness of mine, and that Nocciolata spread is calling my name! Looks divine!
I wanted to go on a Disney visit right after I wrote this post too Michelle. I miss Epcot so much, eating and drinking around the world. You gotta get some of that Nocciolata spread. It’s delish.
Disneyland is the happiest place on the earth, BUT sadly I have never been there, I have planned so many times, but never materialized. May be someday SOON!!
I love rice pudding, what a great way to make it completely different!
Thanks Rahul and hope you get to go to Disneyland/WDW soon. It’s so much fun 🙂 I love rice pudding too. The perfect comfort food.
First of all I am so jealous that you lived in Orlando! If I lived there I would never leave Disney. I would have a hard time having a job if I lived that close to the parks! I have never tried this dessert when I was there though. I will have to make it and be sure to try it the next time we visit to compare!
FYI, we should take a “Research” trip to Disney and then make a bunch of’ inspired by’ recipes when or if we ever return…LOL
I never wanted to leave Disney every time I visited it Cara. Love that place! I am totally all in on a “research” trip to Disney. Business write off!!! lol!
I just spent the last couple days at Disney in Orlando and sadly couldn’t make it to Epcot this time. But now I totally have an excuse to come back!! I hadn’t heard of the Norweigian bakery but I am totally going to have to check it out when I go back. 🙂
What?!? I am so jelly that you just got back from Disney. I haven’t been there for 3 years, ever since I moved from Florida to NH. That makes me sad 🙁 You have to go back Ashlyn and spend a whole day at Epcot. You’ll love it! 🙂
Omg…. I love everything about this! Rice pudding has always been a childhood favorite, but I’ve never had it with chocolate and hazelnut!!! Drooling! And that fruit topping is like a gem colored blanket – love it! Some serious sharing is about to happen!
Btw, going from FL to NH must have been a shock to the system! 😉
Thanks Kathleen and I remember eating lot of rice pudding when I was little. Chocolate and hazelnut makes it so much better 🙂 I love the phrase “gem colored blanket”! lol! Yes, moving from Fl to Nh was a shock to my system that I still haven’t recovered from, especially every winter 😉
I love that you loved Disney so much that you went all the time! As a fellow fan, I’m hugely jealous! This chocolate hazelnut rice dream looks, if you’ll pardon the expression, mega dreamy! 😉 Bonus that it’s easy to make cause at the moment that’s my go-to. Rice pudding always takes me back to being a kid – it must have been something I used to eat a lot of but not so much anymore. I clearly need to rectify that with these grown up versions. PS. If I ever visit, will you cook me some Indian food?! Pretty please?
Hahahaha! Rice pudding is so easy and I never make it anymore either. Yes, if you visit, I will cook you some Indian food, although I’m sure you have pretty darn great Indian food where you live 🙂
Oh hey good looking! Hey! I would dig you with a spoon – tee he he!
A big spoon, I’m sure…
Thanks Karrie for this post – thanks to you I know I have to avoid this Norway Bakery or I will end up buying all these things (or even more!) Cloudberry horns? Oh my goodness, I’m so jealous:) This dessert looks and sounds fantastic too! Have you considered a position in that bakery?:) Well done!
If you ever visit WDW, you HAVE to go to the Norway bakery because it is the bomb! And those cloudberry horns are outta control.
I loveeee rice pudding, and this definitely looks like a dream!! I’ve never heard of this dessert at Disney, but that’s also probably because I’ve never been to Disney World. I’m loving your version with the chocolate hazelnut spread – it looks so incredibly tantalizing…with that raspberry/strawberry sauce…heaven!!!
Thanks Beeta! If you love rice pudding, then you’ll really love this. ps: you need to go to Disney/Epcot
You might be obsessed with Indian food, and I’m obsessed with your recipes! This looks so scruptious! I’m so in love with it! I’ve made the Indian simpler version of this ( known as Kheer ) before, but this is so damn much better! I’ll have to try this! ??
Thanks so much Shreya!
Hi Karrie,
This looks so delicious! I see myself having it as breakfast, the rice is filling up and the chocolate will give energy for the rest of the day. Needless to say that I adore raspberries and strawberries! Thank you for this amazing recipe!
Zaria
Thanks Zaria. I love your idea of having this for breakfast! Chocolate is the best in the morning
Ahhh! Already the title of the recipe caught my attention, and then once I saw the photos….that was it! I CANT WAIT TO TRY THIS!!!