French Hot Chocolate Recipe
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, and 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 whole perspective on what good hot chocolate is. 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!
Drinking Chocolate
Luxury is the 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. Thinner than chocolate fondue or liquid ganache… Yet not by much.
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
I tried using only milk, only half & half, and then only heavy cream, but found this combination of both 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 not a single unmelted speck of chocolate is present. 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.
Looking for More Decadent Drinks? Be Sure to Also Try:
French Hot Chocolate Recipe
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.
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I have being look for a long time for a hot cocoa that its creamy and amazing like the one of your recipe, so when I founded the pictures at Pinterest, holly cow! I finally made this hot cocoa and it is DI-VI-NE. Thank you SO much!!
Hi Ellie,
YAY! I’m so happy you liked it. We make it more than we should this time of year. ;)
This looks amazing! Would it work the same with white chocolate?
Hi Kala,
The consistency would be slightly different, but I don’t see why not. Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
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
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AMAZING! Smooth, silky, delicious! Perfect treat on a cold day by the fireplace.
So incredibly silky!
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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.