French Hot Chocolate - Authentic Parisian Recipe (2024)

Practising the art for over three decades living in Paris, we've mastered the epitome of winter indulgence - genuine French hot chocolate.

Le chocolat chaud (pronounced 'sho-ko-lah show') isn't your average cocoa; it's a lusciously thick, velvety elixir crafted from high quality dark chocolate tablets. It's the kind of of pleasure you'll find in the best Parisian tea salons and yet, the recipe born from years of sipping perfection, can be whipped up magically at home. Get set to recreate the ultimate experience.

I fixed this hot chocolate last night for my husband and myself. It was fabulous. He could not stop talking about the flavor. I had added the vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt. The flavor went on forever. This is a treat for us. I have had the hot chocolate at Angelina’s in Paris. Comparable. Thanks Jill

Marilyn

What Kind of Chocolate?

Cafés, salons de thé (tea salons) and chocolate shops use only good quality dark chocolate. The higher the cocoa content, the less sweet and more intense the flavour is.

The best kind of chocolate to use is one with 65-70% cocoa solids. I like to use Barry or Valhrona dark chocolate (noir), but from the supermarket, Nestlé have a good Corsé one at 65% and now a new Absolut at 70% - both are ideal for this recipe.

Do the French Drink Hot Chocolate From a Bowl?

There are two types of our favourite Parisian hot chocolates: the rich and creamy afternoon treat served from a jug with cup and saucer; and the much lighter version with more milk we drink from a bowl at breakfast.

As my French children were growing up, they loved starting the day off with chocolat chaud for breakfast when they were little. In France, we normally drink out of oversized bowls - for either coffee or hot chocolate.

In fact, the bigger the bowl, the more chance we have to dunk in a wedge of fluffy brioche or a simple tartine, a buttered slice of fresh baguette. Needless to say, it gets deliciously messy so I've spared you a photo of this one!

Famous Paris Hot Chocolate

When most people think of Paris, they generally think of one or two establishments, such as les Deux Magots and Angelina with their famous Chocolat Africain. However, there are so many more to choose from, that I'm compiling a list to help you out.
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French Hot Chocolate Ingredients

For this authentic recipe of a typical hot chocolate in Paris, it requires just 4 ingredients. That is, good quality dark, bittersweet chocolate, full cream milk (not half and half or any skinny versions), vanilla and a pinch of salt. Hang back on any sugar to recreate the authentic experience as the vanilla does all the work.

If you like yours with a hint of nutmeg or other spice, then I've added this option in the recipe card below.

How to Make the Ultimate French Hot Chocolate

Once you've assembled the simple ingredients, it's so quick to make.

The secret is to heat the milk first with the vanilla, salt and spice, if using - without letting it boil. Whisk in the dark chocolate pieces and continue to whisk for at least 5 minutes. The longer you whisk, the thicker the result will be, just like the ones in Paris.

Troubleshooting - How to Make French Hot Chocolate like in Paris

• Be careful not to boil the milk. Avoid leaving it without whisking, as we don't want a skin forming.
• Unlike a typical French chocolate mousse where a little coffee is added to bring out the intensity of the chocolate, for the drink we normally add a little vanilla or spices. What's more, both recipes are intense and rich but don't contain any cream.
• Sweetening with vanilla: avoid vanilla essence, as the flavour is usually synthetic. Either use a good quality extract, vanilla powder - or the best, a sticky vanilla bean/pod (read how to store vanilla pods at their best).
• No need to add any sugar. With the naturally sweet addition of vanilla, you'll discover that this is just like the ones we enjoy in Paris and is sweet enough to enjoy the quality of the hot chocolate.

How to Serve

As this is so rich and thick, serve your hot chocolate simply on its own, like we do in Paris. So many of the salons in Paris serve this in a little porcelain jug, which is easy to find in Parisian stores and so cheap too! So recreate the Parisian ambiance at home at a fraction of the price.

However, if you a partial to a little something, that quelquechose to go with it, enjoy with a salted caramel macaron, a mini coconut macaroon or financier cake or a French tuile cookie or two.