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French hot chocolate – chocolat chaud in France – is far more than a hot chocolate from a powder. It’s a deeply chocolatey, thick hot chocolate – a proper treat. Unlike typical hot cocoa made with powder, French hot chocolate uses real chopped chocolate, whole milk, and a saucepan to create a rich, silky texture.
In Paris, sipping chocolat chaud is part of the café ritual and many cafés serve theirs like this – as a thick, indulgent beverage (sometimes nearing the consistency of a light pudding) rather than a thin sweet drink. In this post, you’ll get a perfect French hot chocolate recipe, tips, variations and FAQs to make the perfect mug of hot chocolate.
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- It’s really easy to make in one pan but has the most delicious texture and flavour for a hot chocolate.
- It uses a lot of store cupboard ingredients so you may have a lot of the ingredients on hand already.
- Easy swaps mean you can make this plant-based or dairy-free if you like.
- I love to serve this as a delicious dessert to friends or for an indulgent mid-afternoon drink.
Ingredients:
Full recipe can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, just scroll down!
Milk – I like to use whole milk but use your favourite kind. You can also use a plant based milk too.
Chocolate – I like 54% cocoa solids dark chocolate (semi-sweet) but you can darker chocolate or milk chocolate even, but it will be very sweet! I would advise chopping up a bar of chocolate, not using chocolate chips. You might also like to try making hot chocolate bombs.
Cocoa powder – unsweetened Dutch processed or natural cocoa powder, not hot chocolate powder.
Double cream – also known as ‘heavy cream’.
Substitutions and Variations:
Cream: cream is obviously very indulgent in a hot chocolate but it gives it a lovely thickness. If you like, you can skip the cream and just make it with milk.
Caster sugar: known as superfine sugar in some parts of the world, you could also use granulated sugar.
Marshmallows: of course, a hot chocolate is made even better with marshmallows on top. My easy homemade marshmallows would be incredible here!
Make it plant-based/dairy-free : Swap the milk for your favourite plant based milk and cream. Then make sure to use a vegan chocolate. Most dark chocolates are vegan/dairy free!
Here’s how to make easy French hot chocolate:
Here’s a step by step guide for what you need to do, but you can find the full recipe at the bottom of the page for detailed instructions.
ONE: Pour the milk into a saucepan and add the cinnamon stick (and vanilla if using). Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then remove from the heat. Cover and let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse.
TWO: Remove the cinnamon stick, then whisk in the cocoa powder, chopped chocolate, sugar, and a pinch of salt.
THREE: Return the pan to a low heat and whisk continuously until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened.
FOUR: Stir in the double cream and continue to heat gently for another minute, taking care not to let it boil.
Cooking Tips:
Don’t let the milk burn – when it comes to infusing the milk with the cinnamon or whisking the chocolate milk together, you don’t want it to boil at any point. A gentle simmer at the most. Letting the milk boil will scald it and it won’t taste as great.
Thickening the hot chocolate – whisk gently and keep over a low heat. The chocolate and the cocoa powder together will thicken it eventually but be patient and don’t turn the heat up too high to speed it up. It will take around 5 to 10 minutes to thicken. The dash of cream helps this too.
If it forms a skin, don’t worry! Just whisk it back into the pan and it should dissolve again. If it’s really been left to sit too long and it’s a bit too thick to re-whisk, just use a spoon to gently lift it from the pan and discard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aim for 54-72 % dark chocolate. I like a chopped up bar of chocolate so it melts easily, rather than chocolate chips you use for baking.
Always melt chocolate over low heat and then whisk constantly. If you see grainy bits or slight separation, immediately remove from the heat, then pass through a fine sieve. Then gently re-whisk while warming.
French hot chocolate often has double cream and real chocolate, melted into it, which thickens it up rather than it just being milk and hot chocolate powder.
Other recipes you might enjoy:
If you like this recipe for a French hot chocolate, you might like my other French recipes on my website like my French chocolate mousse, clafoustis aux cerises (it’s a delicious custardy dessert with a crispy top and cherries), or my courgette gratin, if you want something savoury.
Easy Baking Recipes
Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Brownies
Easy Baking Recipes
Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Easy Baking Recipes
Raspberry and Chocolate Cake
Puddings
Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding
If you tried this French Hot Chocolate or any other recipe on the site, please do leave a rating or comment and let us know how it went!
Easy French Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 500 ml whole milk
- 200 g chocolate, chopped (I like 54% dark)
- 100 ml double (heavy) cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp caster (superfine) sugar, or granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Pour the milk into a saucepan and add the cinnamon stick (and vanilla if using). Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then remove from the heat. Cover and let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse.
- Remove the cinnamon stick, then whisk in the cocoa powder, chopped chocolate, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Return the pan to a low heat and whisk continuously until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened. This will take 5-10 minutes.
- Stir in the double cream and continue to heat gently for another minute, taking care not to let it boil.
- Pour into mugs and serve immediately – thick, rich, and perfectly luxurious. For an extra touch, top with softly whipped cream, marshmallows or a sprinkle of cocoa powder. My easy homemade marshmallows would be incredible here!
- The video below will help with this recipe.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
OMG, SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC EXPEDOCIOUS
I do a 1/4 less chopped chocolate so it’s not AS rich (still rich though!) I’ve made it several times this holiday season and it’s been a hit every time!
Hi, the taste turned out delicious, however my chocolate never thickened and I followed the recipe exactly. Could you advise on what may have gone wrong?
Oh that is weird! Glad it was still delicious. It maybe didn’t get quite hot enough, it needs to stay over low heat but will take a good 5-10 minutes to full heat up and thicken. It could also depends on the chocolate you used.
This was so delicious! Because my cocoa powder is 100% dark chocolate, I used only 100g of a 100% dark chocolate bar; because we couldn’t find a 54% and I knew it would be too much chocolate for us. I also increased the sweetness by adding maple syrup. Now we will try your marshmallow recipe.
Sounds and looks like this would be my new go to!!! Can’t wait to try this.
So decadent and rich! Definitely a new family favorite.
So happy to hear this! Thank you x
What is double cream & caster sugar?
Heavy cream and superfine sugar – it’s common in the UK but not always in other parts of the world. You can use granulated sugar too.
Clearly, using homemade marshmallows in the photographs and videos and not mentioning them at all in the recipe?
Hi Lynette, they are linked in the post but I’ve just added to it to the recipe card to so you can find the link easily!
Wow!! Just wow! This is the most amazing hot cocoa I have ever had!
Wow this French hot chocolate is one of my favourites! It’s thick and luxurious, full of chocolate. You need to try it this winter!