Rich, decadent, and creamy, this French Hot Chocolate is for the serious chocolate lovers out there. Best of all, you can make this dreamy beverage in under 10 minutes.
You’ll see this hot chocolate (Chocolat Chaud) on outdoor café menus throughout France during the holiday season, along with the classic adult beverage, Vin Chaud. Both are super warming on a chilly winter’s day.
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Why Make This Recipe
I will never forget my first sip of Angelina hot chocolate in Paris—and the looks on the faces of my young daughters. True chocolate heaven! Every time we return to Paris in the winter, Angelina is a required stop. But as those trips are not frequent, I developed my own version of this Parisian hot chocolate—just as deep and dark as the original.
Here’s why you need this recipe in your life:
- the richest, most chocolatey hot chocolate you’ll ever drink
- easy to make, with just a few simple ingredients
- leftovers can be refrigerated!
🥗 Ingredients
- Milk: I prefer 2% milk, but you can also use whole milk. Your results won’t be as creamy with nonfat or skim milk.
- Heavy Cream: This will give you the richest hot chocolate, but you could sub in light cream or half and half if you’d like a slightly lighter version.
- Dark Chocolate: 60% cacao preferred. Semisweet chocolate will also work. Good quality chocolate is essential!
- Maple Syrup: This melts beautifully into the hot chocolate, but you could substitute powdered sugar, brown sugar, or honey.
- Instant Coffee/Espresso: This just gives the chocolate flavor a boost rather than making the drink taste like coffee, but feel free to omit if you don’t have any.
🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
Combine 1 cup 2% milk and ½ cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stirring frequently, heat until milk is just bubbling on the edges.
Turn down to low heat and whisk in 4 ounces finely chopped dark chocolate, stirring until all of the chocolate has melted into the liquid.
Now whisk in 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder. Remove from heat. Transfer into a large measuring cup or pitcher with a spout to pour into small mugs.
Top with a dollop of whipped cream and some chocolate shavings, if desired. Or try a handful of mini marshmallows.
Storage Tips
This hot chocolate is super rich! If you don’t finish it in one sitting and want to save some for later, just put it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove before serving.
🧐 Recipe FAQs for French Hot Chocolate
French Hot Chocolate is thicker and richer than typical hot chocolate. And, it is always made with milk and/or cream rather than water, so it makes the most creamy hot chocolate. It’s like drinking pure chocolate, in the best way—perfect for true chocolate lovers. Once you try it, you may never open a packet of Swiss Miss again!
You can, but make sure to reheat it slowly and carefully to avoid curdling the milk or creating a skin across the top.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
Make sure to keep an eye on the heat as you make this hot chocolate. You never want the milk/cream mixture or the finished hot cocoa to boil. Keep it at a slow simmer, which is enough to melt the chocolate and heat it slowly.
Make sure to whisk from the bottom of the pan to incorporate any melted chocolate stuck down there.
Chocolat Chaud is thick and rich, and my version is no exception. I love to pour this into small espresso cups to serve. This recipe will easily serve 4 people if you use small cups.
Speaking of espresso, this hot chocolate makes a delicious addition to a cup of coffee or a latte. A DIY mocha!
Want an easy way to make chocolate shavings to garnish your cup of hot chocolate? I use a vegetable peeler, and pull it over a block or square of chocolate. Do it right over your mug, so the shavings fall right into your drink.
Other Winter Drink Recipes
If it’s cold outside, you might want to try some of my other favorite drink recipes to warm you from the inside out. Start with a classic homemade vanilla latte, then try one of these:
If you try this French Hot Chocolate recipe, I would love to hear from you! Please rate this recipe and leave a comment below—your feedback is invaluable to me.
And please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter. I’d love to inspire you with more delicious, healthy, and seasonal recipes!
📖 Recipe
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French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)
Ingredients
- 4 ounces dark chocolate
- 1 cup 2% milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon instant coffee/espresso powder
- Whipped cream and chocolate shavings to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Finely chop dark chocolate.
- Combine milk and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stirring frequently, heat until milk is just bubbling on the edges.
- Turn down the heat a little and whisk in dark chocolate, stirring until all of the chocolate has melted into the liquid.
- Now whisk in maple syrup, vanilla extract, and instant coffee. Remove from heat.
- Transfer into a large measuring cup or pitcher with a spout to pour into small mugs.
- Top with a dollop of whipped cream and some chocolate shavings, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Instagram Users: Now that you've made this Chocolat Chaud recipe, tag me @vanillabeancuisine or #vanillabeancuisine because I’d love to see your results!
More About Molly
Cooking healthy(ish) meals with seasonal ingredients is my passion. Trained as a French pastry chef, I spent over 10 years as a personal chef. Here you'll find well-tested recipes that you and your family will love!
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