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4.92 stars (24 reviews)
12 minutes mins
Posted by Sommer Collier on Dec 9, 2017 (last updated Jan 20, 2024)
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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 ofsweet-tooths, andnoticed 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 andcocoa 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:
- Drinking Caramel
- Toffee Caramel Latte
- Best Chai Tea
- Horchata Recipe
- Hot Chocolate Bombs
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4.92 stars (24 reviews)
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French Hot Chocolate Recipe
Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes minutes
French Hot Chocolate Recipe (Chocolat Chaud) Rich, dark, and silky, this Parisian style Drinking Chocolate is a thick, gourmet hot chocolate that is hard to put down!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
US Customary – Metric
- 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.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 4ounces, Calories: 346kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 43mg, Potassium: 323mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 425IU, Calcium: 120mg, Iron: 2.4mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: French
Author: Sommer Collier
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64 comments on “French Hot Chocolate Recipe”
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Lisa G — Reply
My 17 year old granddaughter made this for us for Christmas this year. Oh my goodness! It is soooo…. good! I’m adding it my family recipe collection. I’d give it ten stars if I could. Thank you for sharing the t3cipe.❤️
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Sophia — Reply
What brand of chocolate do you use?
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Sommer Collier — Reply
Hi Sophia,
There’s not one specific brand I buy, but I do buy the good chocolate bars in the candy section rather than buying “bakers chocolate”.
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Juan Vilella — Reply
Outstanding. Reminds me of the Chocolat Chaud I had when I visited France. I added to the pan all the ingredients except the chocolate. Also added 2 sticks of cinnamon. Brought to a light boil and then simmered for 10 mins for the cinnamon to infuse the milk. After this the chocolate went in and stirred until lightly thickened. Wow, this is absolutely delicious.
If you want you can make the full recipe and store the hot chocolate you will not consume immediately in the refrigerator. Just reheat when you are ready. Taste just as good as just made. -
Linda T — Reply
This was delicious, and as close as I’ll get to the hot chocolate I had at Angelina’s and Lauderee without actually boarding a plane to Paris. I paired it with freshly made whipped cream. Magnifique!
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Criestiano — Reply
Thank you
And you recipe is good and yummy
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Vanessa — Reply
Thanks for sharing! Does it separate very quickly?
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Sommer Collier — Reply
Hi Vanessa,
No, if you follow the directions it will not separate at all. :)
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Suzanne — Reply
This looks so good! What a fun drink to make when you are trying to get cozy at home!
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Linda — Reply
Will this recipe work with almond milk, coconut milk.
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Sommer Collier — Reply
Hi Linda,
Coconut milk would be a good choice! :)
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みゆ —
So i’m deathly allergic to coconut would the almond milk work?
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Sommer Collier —
It won’t be as thick, but should still taste delicious!
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Marcia Formica — Reply
This. Is. Spectacular. I have been trying to find a drinking chocolate like this for, literally, YEARS. I made it with Ghirardeli bittersweet chocolate chips. It was perfect. Thank you so much!!!
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Dana Shaw — Reply
You can do this same thing but much easier if you have a French press. Just process good quality chocolate in a small food processor I told fine and pour a little hot water over it to melt, then add the other ingredients into a mug.
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PineBoughCottage — Reply
I happened to have all of the ingredient when researching this recipe. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. Keep you eye on the pan at all times. It can boil over very quickly. It is VERY RICH and a teacup even a demitasse would suffice as a serving rather than a mug.
Will definitely be making this one again and again.Thanks for sharing.
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Colleen — Reply
I noticed the serving size was only 4oz but made sense since it’s so richm
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Nicole Tune — Reply
Great hot chocolate! I used semi sweet morsels instead of bars. Was still wonderful!
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Hollis Ramsey — Reply
i read the comments till i found what i wanted — an addition of 1/2 tsp. espresso powder is what i’ll be adding. most of the recipes i’ve seen use only milk, but i’m the kind of person who’s more likely to have heavy cream in the fridge than milk, so …
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Constance — Reply
I just stumbled upon this recipe, I tried it immediately and as a French person… I loved it!
I rarely had such nice hot chocolate before! I usually make hot chocolate with only chocolate, milk and sugar but the cream definitely adds a little something.
I’ll make some again, for sure! -
mou eskimo — Reply
I appreciate the effort you made to share the post. The topic here i found was really effective to the topic which i was researching for a long time. Thank you for sharing.
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Shirley L Taylor — Reply
Hi, I was just hoping for some clarification as I’m dying to try this. Higher up you say what’s needed and it says ‘good quality semi-sweet chocolate’ and then in the actual recipe you call for ‘bittersweet chocolate’…which is it actually, as they are rather different things. Thanks!
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Sommer Collier — Reply
Hi Shirley,
Honestly, you can use either. Go with bittersweet chocolate, if you don’t have a huge sweet tooth, as it will cut down on the sugar. :)
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Heba — Reply
It was definitely too sweet for me next time I’ll use dark chocolate and cut back on the sugar. But I loved it!! Perfect for this time of the year!
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Diane — Reply
What chocolate do you recommend? I don’t normally buy it fir baking so I’ve no idea what yo buy.
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Sommer Collier — Reply
Hi Diane,
Just buy good quality bars, whatever brand you prefer. :)
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