This French sipping chocolate only needs 4 ingredients and 10 minutes to make! It's rich, intense, creamy, and incredibly decadent. It’s the best hot chocolate you’ll ever taste! Trust me - it tastes like heaven!
It's not a secret that the French seriously know what they're doing when it comes to food and this hot delight is no exception.
If you ask the French about the importance of chocolate, they’d say that sipping is the best way to enjoy it - it’s both a dessert and a beverage that way!
And I do have proof there - you can find the 8 eating secrets of the French here!
📃 Why it Works
Often associated with moments of comfort and softness, one of the most popular winter drinks is hot chocolate (hot cocoa, or chocolate tea as they call it in Nigeria).
It warms our body and heart in the cold season, which is why depriving ourselves of it can be a slimming resolution difficult to keep.
You are going to be fulfilled because this drink has wonderful benefits. Not only does it keep you warm, but it can also improve your overall health.
Dark chocolate itself is rich in antioxidants that help prevent heart disease and premature aging. It may even lower your risk of cancer as they fight free radicals in your body.
However, while this is primarily a cold-weather recipe, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy this luxury in the warmer months too.
I mean, you wouldn’t stop drinking tea or coffee just because it’s summer, so why give up a good, proper European hot chocolate?
🛒 Ingredients and Notes
You don’t need much, but it’s important to use good quality ingredients here. Otherwise, you just won’t get that smooth, silky luxurious feeling that real hot chocolate has to have.
- Whole milk - if you can’t have dairy or are vegan, I find that full-fat coconut milk is the best option for a similar experience. Whatever you do, don’t use water here!
- Heavy cream - If you’re dairy-free then you could try using full-fat coconut cream here, although personally, I’ve never tried this.
- Bittersweet chocolate - However, if you prefer sweeter chocolate then you can either use milk chocolate or add a little bit of sugar to suit your tastes.
- Vanilla extract - you could technically skip this, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s only a small quantity, but it does really add to the final flavor!
🔪 Instructions
*Keep scrolling to get the full (printable) recipe, and ingredient amounts, or click on the “Skip to Recipe” button at the top of the page.
Step 1
Heat the milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil!
Step 2
Add the chocolate broken in pieces to the hot milk mixture and remove from the heat.
Step 3
Whisk until chocolate is creamy and completely melted.
Step 4
Immediately pour into mugs or cups and serve hot.
🍽 How To Serve It
The proper way is to take a spoon of whipped cream and dip it into the cup with melted goodness. After each sip, cleanse your palate with sparkling water.
It’s very rich and silky, so a little sip of sparkling water every so often helps to stop it from becoming overwhelming
You could always add marshmallows as well if you're a fan. I much prefer simple chocolate shavings sprinkled over the top!
Try biscuit sticks, rolled wafers, homemade yeast buns, or some sort of shortbread-type cookies for dunking!
- Unless Ghirardelli or Godiva, I do not recommend chocolate chips as they contain stabilizers and do not melt as well.
- To benefit from all the benefits of cocoa, prefer organic dark rather than all other chocolates containing many more chemicals and less cocoa content.
- Leftovers (if you have any) can be cooled to room temperature, then refrigerated in an airtight container or a mason jar. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat.
- Are you lactose-intolerant? I recommend full-fat coconut milk for a dairy-free option that yields a similar experience. Do not use water.
- If you prefer it sweeter, add sugar to taste or use milk chocolate instead.
- For a thicker consistency, let the melted chocolate cool a bit and then pour it into the serving cups.
- If your hot chocolate is too thick, add more milk or cream.
- Cooled sipping chocolate will be very thick. It will liquefy as you heat it.
- I suggest small servings of this French sipping chocolate as it is quite rich. Espresso cups (or demi-tasse) is a suitable option.
More Creamy Drinks to try
Liked this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!
Real French Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, 60 to 70% cacao
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat the milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
- Serve warm, in demitasse or espresso cups, topped with whipped cream and with a side of sparkling water if desired.
Notes
- Unless Ghirardelli or Godiva, I do not recommend chocolate chips as they contain stabilizers and do not melt as well.
- To benefit from all the benefits of cocoa, prefer organic dark rather than all other chocolates containing many more chemicals and less cocoa content.
- Leftovers (if you have any) can be cooled to room temperature, then refrigerated in an airtight container or a mason jar. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat.
- Are you lactose-intolerant? I recommend full-fat coconut milk for a dairy-free option that yields a similar experience. Do not use water.
- If you prefer it sweeter, add sugar to taste or use milk chocolate instead.
- For a thicker consistency, let the melted chocolate cool a bit and then pour into the serving cups.
- If your hot chocolate is too thick, add more milk or cream.
- Cooled sipping chocolate will be very thick. It will liquefy as you heat it.
- I suggest small servings of this French sipping chocolate as it is quite rich. Espresso cups (or demi-tasse) is a suitable option.
- This recipe yields four ½-cup servings or eight espresso-cup servings.
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Ron says
We love french sipping chocolate and luckily can get it at a cafe in a nearby city, but it's expensive. I can't wait to supprise the wife with a cappacinno size cup of your sipping chocolate. We always have Lindt 70% chocolate around, so I'll give it a go with that. Thanks for sharing this one as I would have never thought of making it at home.
Jas says
I had it the first time in Portland, OR. It was at a little shop where they make their own chocolate and it was amazing! Since I can't buy it anywhere here (and ordering the mix from the shop is also expensive when you add shipping), I just had to recreate it. Lindt chocolate is perfect for it and I hope you'll enjoy it many times this cold season. 🙂
Maya says
wonderful recipe and looking very yummy and delish. I will try once to make . thanks for sharing
Jas says
Thank you, Maya! 🙂
Sharon@bluewillowhouse says
Looks delicious ! Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle. I'm featuring your recipe at Snickerdoodle party tomorrow.
Jas says
You made my day, Sharon! Thank you!!
Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal says
Halo Jas! Oh, my! I'm excited to find your hot chocolate recipe and have pinned to several of my Pinterest boards for you. {Plus shared to my French Ethereal FB page.} I had the great pleasure to visit Deutschland und Holland back in 1981 and my husband went with an old girlfriend and her family to Italia und Österreich around the same time. We both LOVE European chocolate and are looking for a good espresso maker to be able to indulge a little with some European flare. Thank you for this chocolate recipe! Can't wait to try it this weekend when we get back home to Texas!!!
Bisous,
Barb 🙂
Jas says
Hi, Barbara! Welcome to my humble blog, so glad you're here. 😀 There's nothing better than European chocolate, although I might be biased, ha! Enjoy your espresso maker when you find one. Thanks for stopping in!
Christina Makri says
Your photos are always so realistic that I think I can have everything through my screen! Yummy!
Jas says
Thank you for your compliment, Christina! It really means so much. Have a great weekend!
Debbie Kitterman says
Uhm, Hello! Yes please, this drink sounds heavenly! Thanks for sharing at #tuneInThursday last week, I look forward to what you will share this week. Yum and I love your pictures - I just can't wait to go buy all the ingredients to make this!
Jas says
Thank you, Debbie! Much appreciated. Have a blessed day!
Sheri says
This looks amazing! Thanks for joining the To Grandma's House We Go link party! Hope to see you next week.
Jas says
Thanks, Sheri!
Miz Helen says
I will sure enjoying sipping your French Chocolate, oh my! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Jas says
Will definitely do. Thanks, Miz Helen!
April J Harris says
Your French Sipping Chocolate is a gorgeously indulgent treat, Jas! We definitely all need a treat from time to time! Thank you so much for sharing it with the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Jas says
Thank you, April, and thanks for the 5-star review. I truly appreciate it. XO
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
This is some legit sipping chocolate! The French definitely are doing it right 🙂 Thanks for linking up at Friday Frenzy Link Party! Pinned!!
Jas says
They sure are, Kelly. Thank you for stopping in.
Roseann Hampton says
This does look decadent! So glad you mentioned the coconut milk alternative! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger's Pit Stop! Roseann
Jas says
Thank you, Roseann! 🙂