French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)

French hot chocolate in a white cup with another cup and a blue bowl of chocolate in the background.

French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French, Parisian

Diet: Gluten Free

Keyword: chocolat chaud, French hot chocolate

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings: people

Calories: 266kcal

French hot chocolate, or chocolat chaud, is thick and ultra-chocolaty and easy to make with just two ingredients. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to a powdered mix again!

Print Recipe

US Customary - Metric

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
5 oz high-quality bittersweet chocolate

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, warm the milk over low heat.
Remove from heat, then add the chocolate and whisk until melted and fully incorporated.
Return the sauce pan to the stove and bring to a low boil. Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until mixture thickens.
Some kind of magic happens in the pan during this part of the process. I can’t explain how it all of a sudden gets so thick and rich. But we shouldn’t question these things. Just let it be magic and leave it at that.
Allow to cool slightly, then pour into cups. If desired, add a few flecks of coarse salt on top.

Notes

Now be careful – this is hot and it’s THICK. So that means burning your tongue or your throat is easy to do. So sip slowly and enjoy it.
This recipe is adapted from The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz. If you plan to visit Paris, I highly recommend it. It's an indispensable guide to Parisian customs and all of its idiosyncrasies.
Another must-have book is The New Paris by Lindsey Tramuta. I found all of the amazing chocolate shops featured in this story in her book, along with all of the hot new restaurants, bars, patisseries, and retail shops.

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Nutrition