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.
Leslie says
OMG, this sounds so indulgent & yummy. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Jann Olson says
A friend gave me a jar of this for Christmas. It's still in the fridge and we haven't tried it yet. Guess we need to. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Kathleen Rupp says
Pinned that! Looks delicious Jas. Saw your post through the sew it cook it craft it party:)
Jas says
Thanks so much, Kathleen! Really appreciate it. 🙂
Deanna Piercy says
My husband and I indulged in cups of hot chocolate in Paris a few years ago. Divine! He would be thrilled if I were to recreate that for him at home. 🙂
Jas says
I hope you do and I hope it evokes nice memories. 🙂
Natalie A says
Wow, just the way you describe it sounds amazing! I could go for a cup right now! Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
Jas says
Thanks, Natalie! It really is an exceptional treat.
Sandra L Garth says
Life is too short not to enjoy good chocolate and I'm not going to miss out on this one. I'll eat more veggies next week. Thanks for linking up with us at Celebrate Your Story!
Jas says
You're absolutely right, Sandra! I'm stacking up veggies too, lol. 😉
Jan says
That looks delicious and certainly worth it! I'd love for you to share over at a new party called Let's Party!
Jas says
Thanks so much, Jan! Heading over there now. 🙂
Lisa says
Sipping chocolate seems like a decadent treat perfect for Valentine's Day. I'll make it for my sweetheart. Thanks for the recipe!
Jas says
So true, Lisa! Hope you and your sweetheart enjoy it. 🙂
Alisa Infanti says
This looks amazing! So bad on my waistline I bet yet I bet they taste oh so good!
Jas says
I hear you, Alisa! 😀 It's like eating half a bar of chocolate in one sitting, but it's soo yummy!
Akaleistar says
That sipping chocolate looks heavenly!
Jas says
Trust me, it is. 😉
Smiling Notes says
Wow! That looks absolutely delicious!! Such a gorgeous treat... will definitely try it out 🙂
Jas says
Thank you so much! I'm thrilled you like it. 😀
Sue Ready says
Generally the French are in good shape and capable of sipping a decadent chocolate treat and still manage to keep their weight in check. I've read a little dark chocolate now and then has redeeming health benefits. This recipe is on my list.
Jas says
You're so right! This is definitely not an everyday treat, but on occasion, it's not worse than other sweet junk we consume (well, at least I do, ha!)
Clare @Budget Mums says
Oh my goodness! That looks like heaven in a cup.
Jas says
Thanks, that's precisely how it tastes, LOL.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
What a decadent treat! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party!
Jas says
Thank you, Helen! It surely is and I wouldn't suggest making it in a large mug, lol.
Laura says
It's not enough, is it, that I told you I love your blog/emails? Did you really think posting this recipe about sipping chocolate was necessary to keep me lured in? Okay, fine. Will you be my sister?
I have all I need to make this drink and I will be having it tonight. I love the darker chocolates, 85% at least, so I think I'll add a bit of sugar to the whipped cream, but only a bit. Nothing needs to come between me and my chocolate, unless it wants to die a slow and lingering death, that is!
Thanks again, Jas. You had me at chocolate...
Jas says
Haha, nope, I need more proof! 😉 I can't have enough sisters, so yes, I'll be yours too. Thank you, Laura, for your kindness! I really appreciate it. And if anyone comes between you and your chocolate, I'll help you hide the body, bwahahaha. Have a super rest of the week!
Mrs Shoes says
Wow, yum. And Mr Shoes has been saved by candy a time or 2 also.
This is what I imagine they were serving in Versailles, hundreds of years ago.
Jas says
Haha, you get me 😉
I bet they did and still do! And now we can too, ha!