Rich and Decadent French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)
Make authentic, velvety French hot chocolate at home. This recipe uses high-quality dark chocolate and cream for a luxurious sipping chocolate texture that rivals any Parisian café.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 ounces high-quality dark chocolate (60-70% cacao), finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Place the chopped dark chocolate into a medium saucepan.
- Pour the whole milk and heavy cream over the chocolate.
- Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon. Do not let it boil.
- Continue heating and stirring until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and steaming. This process takes about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Whisk in the sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until fully incorporated.
- For the thickest, most velvety texture, you can use an immersion blender or a regular blender to briefly blend the mixture until it is frothy and uniform. Alternatively, whisk vigorously by hand for one minute.
- Pour the Chocolat Chaud immediately into mugs. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use chocolate bars broken into small pieces rather than chips for the best melt and flavor.
- For an extra decadent experience, top your serving with fresh whipped cream or a dusting of cocoa powder.
- If you prefer a thinner consistency, substitute up to 1/4 cup of the heavy cream with more whole milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 100