Frangelico Substitute – 9 Alternatives For Your Next Recipe

You’ve probably already heard of Frangelico liqueur, a famous Italian liqueur you can drink on its own or mixed into sweet cocktails.

Not only you do find Frangelico in cocktails, but in your favorite baked goods like cakes, muffins, frosting, and more!

Being a famous liqueur, you may have a bottle (or two) of them at home. But what if you don’t? Gasp! What can you use instead of Frangelico?

Don’t worry, folks, because the world isn’t ending.

You can use notable replacements to still nail the flavor you want in your food and drinks.

Read on to learn more about the best Frangelico substitute!

What is Frangelico Made of?

This is a pale gold-colored liqueur made with Tonda Gentile hazelnuts for those who aren’t familiar with what Frangelico is. It is produced in Northern Italy, specifically in the Piedmont region.

The process of making Frangelico begins by infusing crushed toasted hazelnuts in water and alcohol. This infusion will be distilled and blended with natural flavoring extracts and distillates like coffee, cocoa, and vanilla.

It will then be completed by mixing the flavored distillate with water, sugar, and pure alcohol, resting for about 6-8 weeks in vats for marrying and mellowing the flavor.

Learn more: What Does Frangelico Taste Like? Know The Facts Now!

Where To Buy and Find Frangelico?

You can find Frangelico in many liqueur stores or supermarkets worldwide, as it’s a well-known brand.

But in the off chance you can’t find it or have no time to go to the store, you can always use a Frangelico replacement, like:

The Best Alcohol Substitute For Frangelico (Including and Non Alcohol)

We’d recommend using the following replacements for Frangelico based on their flavor profiles and alcohol content.

Here’s a quick summarize table to help you decide which substitute would work best for your needs:

1 –  Disaronno

Disaronno is a nutty liqueur with similar characteristics as Frangelico, though it has a higher alcohol content. Furthermore, it’s made of cherries and almond paste, coming in an amber color.

That said, it’s still worth a shot, and you can drink this straight up or mixed with cocktails. Disaronno also works well with ginger ale, fruit juices, ice cream, and Italian desserts.

2 –  Kahlua

Kahlua is one of the most popular coffee liqueurs worldwide, made of Arabica coffee and sugarcane.

Its mixers are usually cola, club soda, ginger ale, Irish cream, ginger beer, and other beverages. With all that, you might ask: Is Frangelico similar to Kahlua? You can expect a sweet flavor and coffee taste, which is a bit different from Frangelico but works just the same.

If you have no Kahlua, you can use other brands of coffee liqueurs for your drinks or desserts.

We love this popular coffee liqueur in tiramisu and Irish coffees!

3 – Amaretto

We believe that Amaretto is the closest and best Frangelico replacement for excellent reasons. This is also a classic and popular Italian liqueur and also has the nutty flavors you’ll appreciate.

However, Amaretto is a bit more bitter than Frangelico with a milder flavor. Even then, you can enjoy this drink in coffee and cocktails, along with baked goods.

Learn more: The Best Substitutes For Amaretto

4 – Ratafia

Ratafia is another great Frangelico liqeur substitute, having an excellent blend of fruits, herbs, and nuts. As a result, you get a sweet flavor and strong flavor best mixed with cocktails or consumed straight up!

Ratafia has a lower alcohol content than Frangelico, so if you’re looking for something with a less intense alcoholic content, this liqueur is the way to go.

5 – Nocello

Nocella and Frangelico aren’t that different when talking about the content.

They are made of hazelnut ingredients, making Nocello a good Frangelico substitute .

We love how Nocello has a combination of light sweetness yet bitter aftertaste, working well in cocktails and coffees.

Nocello is an Italian walnut liqueur made of high-quality Italian walnuts, thus having that smoky, nutty flavor.

It also has many uses in the kitchen, not just in cocktails or beverages. That said, it has a huge kick to it, as Nocello’s alcohol content is almost double that of Frangelico.

6 – Sambuca

Sambuca is another great replacement for Frangelico, an Italian liqueur made of star anise infusions, giving the liqueur a strong licorice flavor. It also contains a lot of black licorice and sugar, though it still has a similar flavor to Frangelico.

Note that Sambuca has a higher alcohol content, though!

You can drink it on the rocks, with coffee beans, or infuse it in your baked goods.

7 – Praline Liqueur

Praline liqueur is inspired by the infamous French sweet treat! This is made of cream, sugar, and vanilla, along with roasted and chopped pecans. It’s pretty sweet, like Frangelico, and the presence of cream makes it even better, tasting like candy! (*)

We recommend using Praline liqueur in chocolate drinks and pastries. Since it has a similar nutty flavor and alcohol content as Frangelico, you can drink it straight, too.

The Best Frangelico Substitute (Non Alcohol)

8 – Almond Extract

Almond extract gives off the nutty flavors from Frangelico but does take note of its strength. Only a few drops will do in your cocktails, drinks, and baked goods. It contains small amounts of almond liqueur but not too much to affect.

Learn more: What Is a Good Substitute for Almond Extract?

9 – Hazelnut Paste or Butters

Hazelnut paste or hazelnut butter are non-alcoholic substitutes for Frangelico, though take note that they can change the texture of your recipe. These substitutes are better off with baked goods or smoothies, as mixing this in cocktails will result in a peculiar consistency!

10 –  Hazelnut-Flavored Coffee Syrups

If you’re looking for another non-alcoholic alternative for Frangelico, then Hazelnut-flavored coffee syrup is the way to go! It’s perfect when making coffee or baked goods, giving off the coffee and hazelnut flavors you desire.

Learn more: Hazelnut Substitute

Frequently Asked Questions

For those who still have a question regarding Frangelico, here are informative, frequently asked questions and answers to look into:

Wrapping It Up

Finding a Frangelico substitute doesn’t need to be so difficult, whether you’re making food or drinks. From Disaronno to appropriate extracts, there are ways you can emulate the flavors you need in your recipes.

Next time you’re in a pickle with Frangelico, go back to our list and see if you’ve got any of these ingredients in your kitchen.

Enjoy your recipes!