French Hot Chocolate
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Aug 27, 2025 
This simple 5-ingredient French Hot Chocolate Recipe, AKA Drinking Chocolate, is a Parisian favorite and a must-make for the holidays!
Why You’ll Love This French Hot Chocolate Recipe
Several months ago, I had the opportunity to spend a week in Paris with a few friends. Traveling with a group of sweet tooths, I noticed that hot chocolate is a thing in Paris.
It’s everywhere… Cafes. Bakeries. Sandwich shops. Chocolatiers. Tea shops. If you need a warm, luxurious mug of French Hot Chocolate while in Paris, you can find one within a block or two, no doubt.
And if you have ever had a cup of hot chocolate from France, you are in luck. It will change your entire perspective on what constitutes good hot chocolate.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Good hot chocolate is made with real, quality chocolate, cream, and a little brown sugar for good measure. This hot chocolate recipe is for real chocolate lovers only!
I tried using only milk, only half-and-half, and then only heavy cream, but I found that this combination of whole milk and heavy cream provides just the right consistency to rival any mugful I tasted in Paris.
The key is to gently simmer and stir the ingredients until no unmelted speck of chocolate remains. The mixture must simmer until entirely smooth. Then it will thicken just a touch to the perfect velvety texture.
This French Hot Chocolate Recipe is the perfect after-dinner drink for your holiday feast. Sip it by the fire for a romantic ending of a day (hopefully) filled with love and laughter.
Ingredients You Need
My French Hot Chocolate Recipe requires only five simple ingredients:
- Good quality semisweet (or bittersweet) chocolate
- Milk
- Cream
- Brown sugar
- A little vanilla extract
What Is Drinking Chocolate?
Luxury is a prominent feeling when experiencing French Hot Chocolate for the first time. It’s not thin and cocoa powder-based, like most American hot chocolates.
The Parisian variation, known as Chocolat Chaud, is most definitely a dense Drinking Chocolate. It is thinner than chocolate fondue or liquid ganache, yet not by much.
It’s rich, bitter-sweet, and pours off a spoon in thick dark ribbons.
Looking for More Decadent Drinks?
French Hot Chocolate Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 8 ounces quality chocolate bars, semisweet or bittersweet
- 1 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a sauce pot. Set the pot over medium-low heat and add the milk, cream, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Stir until the chocolate comes to a low simmer and the drinking chocolate is completely smooth and slightly thickened.
- The drinking chocolate should be substantially thicker than classic hot chocolate, but not as thick as chocolate fondue. If it is too thin, simmer a little longer. If it is too thick, add another 1/4 cup milk. Ladle into mugs and enjoy immediately.
Thank You for this delicious recipe. I also added 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder along with Giant bowl of whipped cream, for serving to it and it was a lip smacking one.
I have tried your mini banana cream pie and it was too good that my daughter Miya ask me to make it often.
Last week I tried a chocolate brownie, and everyone loved it. I am sharing the link here if you wish to try the chocolate brownie:
http://www.nestle-family.com/kids/recipes/english/chocolate-brownies_16607.aspx
AMAZING! Smooth, silky, delicious! Perfect treat on a cold day by the fireplace.
So incredibly silky!
This looks like pure chocolate deliciousness! Pass a glass my way!
Hot chocolate is a must have most days for me in the winter. It keeps me sane. This looks amazing!!
Melted chocolate is my weakness! This looks SO delicious!
Wow, so decadent!
I’m all about everything French! Bring on the hot chocolate!
That looks so nice and thick and chocolaty and good! I want a cup right now!
There is nothing like a good cup of hot chocolate like this one!
Sounds like the perfect treat to make for your Valentine! So gorgeous!
I make this all the time but leave out the vanilla essence and heat cream for daily use. I do top it with a dollop of cream sometimes. It is absolutely delicious! Be sure to use a very good quality dark chocolate for the most authentic taste.