This creamy and thick French hot chocolate is easy to make, silky, rich in chocolate flavor, and will make you feel like you're in a Parisian cafe.
You will only need 10 minutes to make this Parisian-style hot chocolate and a few simple ingredients.
This hot chocolate recipe is super easy to make and tastes unbelievable. Trust me on that. We like to top our hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream and top it with cocoa powder.
You can top your hot chocolate with your favorite toppings like mini marshmallows, or marshmallow fluff, or just leave it plain!
For more drink recipes, check out my sweet cream cold foam, hot chocolate recipe with cocoa powder, and mango pinapple smoothie.
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Why this recipe works
- Chocolate flavor- this delicious and comforting drink has a strong chocolate flavor that is perfect for chocolate lovers!
- Texture- this delish drink is thick and creamy and has a luxurious texture that you find in European cafes, especially in Paris.
- Ease- this hot chocolate is surprisingly easy to make! You will need simple ingredients, a saucepan, and a whisk.
- Time- this entire recipe comes together in under 20 minutes from start to finish, it's perfect when you are craving a rich hot chocolate.
What is French hot chocolate?
French hot chocolate is also known as Parisian hot chocolate or "Le Chocolate Chaud" and is not your everyday hot chocolate.
It's hot chocolate for real chocolate lovers. This hot chocolate is rich in chocolate flavor, creamy, and silky smooth from the heavy cream addition. This hot chocolate feels luxurious and fancy and will remind you of coffee shops in Paris.
Ingredients
Before you start to make this recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the cooking process will go smoothly and easily.
Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
Chocolate- use the best quality semisweet or dark chocolate bars for the best flavor. using the best quality dark chocolate is very important in this recipe.
The chocolate is what gives this hot chocolate the flavor so it's very important to use high-quality dark chocolate.
Heavy cream- use full-fat heavy cream for this recipe. the heavy cream makes this hot chocolate extra creamy and silky.
Milk- you can use your favorite type of milk. It can be whole milk, almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, cashew milk, and more!
Vanilla extract- vanilla extract adds extra flavor to this hot chocolate recipe, and it makes this recipe come together into the perfect hot chocolate.
Powder sugar- we used powder sugar for this recipe, but you can use caster sugar or granulated sugar instead. If you don't like your hot cocoa extra sweet, simply skip the sugar.
Instructions
This recipe comes together fairly quickly, so have all your ingredients measured out and ready.
Place a medium-sized saucepan on the stovetop on medium heat and pour in the milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and sugar if desired.
Heat the mixture until it's slightly bubbling and add the chocolate. We cut our chocolate into cubes, but you can feel free to chop it as well.
Mix the mixture constantly with a whisk until it's creamy and smooth. Remove the saucepan from the stovetop and pour the mixture into 2 large glasses or 3 small ones.
Top with whipped cream or marshmallows and sprinkle cocoa powder on top for the best experience!
Expert Tips
- Use the best quality semisweet or dark chocolate bars for the best flavor. using the best quality dark chocolate is very important in this recipe. The chocolate is what gives this hot chocolate the flavor so it's very important to use high-quality dark chocolate.
- Don't skip the heavy cream in this recipe! The heavy cream in this recipe makes this hot chocolate extra creamy and a true Parisian hot chocolate. The heavy cream gives this hot chocolate a silky smooth texture and makes this hot chocolate unbelievable.
- Don't replace the milk with water! or don't use water in this recipe at all! Using water in hot chocolate can be okay when you make a hot chocolate mix packet.
Faq's
Use the best quality semisweet or dark chocolate bars for the best flavor. using the best quality dark chocolate is very important in this recipe. The chocolate is what gives this hot chocolate the flavor so it's very important to use high-quality dark chocolate. You will need 60%-70% cocoa dark chocolate.
You can keep this hot chocolate in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve, heat it on the stovetop or In the microwave.
You sure can! this recipe makes 2 cups of hot chocolate. Feel free to double, or triple this recipe If you are serving many people.
Storing
If you have leftovers, transfer the drink to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Freezing
This recipe is great for freezing! If you have some leftovers and want to freeze them, transfer the remaining hot chocolate into a freezer-friendly airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.
Serving tips
We love serving this hot chocolate with a big addition of homemade whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder. Another way to serve this hot chocolate is with mini marshmallows or marshmallow fluff.
My favorite way to drink this hot chocolate is by dipping a French croissant in the hot chocolate.
Substitution
Dairy-free- you can easily make this recipe dairy-free, simply replace the heavy cream with plant-based heavy cream and use plant-based milk like almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
Variations
Chocolate- replace the dark chocolate with your favorite chocolate like milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate, white chocolate, etc.
Topping- top this drink with mini marshmallows instead of whipped cream.
Spices- add your favorite spices to this drink. We love adding cinnamon and nutmeg!
Tools
- Mixing bowl (set of 3)
- Whisk Set (pack of 3) to whisk the ingredients together
- Saucepan to brown the butter.
More holiday recipes
Nutella tart- This Nutella tart is incredible. Made with an easy hazelnut tart crust, filled with a decadent and creamy Nutella filling, and topped with chopped toasted hazelnuts.
White chocolate cranberry cookies- These white chocolate cranberry cookies are soft, chewy, have crispy edges, and are the perfect cookies for Christmas and the holiday season.
Oreo balls (oreo truffles)- These oreo balls are made with only 3 ingredients! These oreo balls are covered with chocolate and are perfect for Christmas or any other day!
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📖 Recipe
French Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Milk of your choice
- ½ cup Heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon Powder sugar
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 230 g Dark chocolate
Instructions
- This recipe comes together fairly quickly, so have all your ingredients measured out and ready.
- Place a medium-sized saucepan on the stovetop on medium heat and pour in the milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and sugar if desired.
- Heat the mixture until it’s slightly bubbling and add the chocolate in. We cut our chocolate into cubes, but you can feel free to chop it as well.
- Mix the mixture constantly with a whisk until it’s creamy and smooth.
- Remove the saucepan from the stovetop and pour the mixture into 2 large glasses or 3 small ones. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows and sprinkle cocoa powder on top for the best experience!
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