There is NOTHING like rich, decadent French hot chocolate! This Parisian-style hot chocolate is thick and velvety–like drinking liquid chocolate!

A spoon dipping into rich French hot chocolate

I love hot chocolate basically any way I can get it, from classic hot chocolate, to peppermint hot chocolate, to hot chocolate cookies(!!!), but there is absolutely nothing like drinking this French Hot Chocolate recipe. Mostly because…

French Hot Chocolate Basically Beats All Other Hot Chocolate

French style hot chocolate (le chocolat chaud) has a silky, creamy texture that feels like drinking liquid chocolate or liquid ganache. It’s got deep, rich chocolate flavor you’ll LOVE on a cold winter day!

🫖 EASE: Just 5 simple ingredients and no fancy skills required! If you can chop & stir, you can make this easy recipe.

🍫 FLAVOR: In every sip of this cozy, warm drink, you’ll get deep chocolate flavor, with richness from cream and a kiss of vanilla.

☕ TOP TIPS: If your chocolate bar isn’t melting perfectly smoothly, a quick pulse with an immersion blender will quickly do the trick!

Happy sipping! xo, Emily

Gather Your Ingredients

Another reason to love this creamy French hot chocolate? It starts with a simple ingredients list! Let’s take a look:

Chopped Chocolate. Instead of cocoa powder, we’re using actual chopped chocolate. I prefer bittersweet chocolate, or dark chocolate here for the best flavor. I usually choose a good-quality bar of chocolate in the 60-70% chocolate range, for the best flavor. Semisweet chocolate and milk chocolate will be too sweet for this recipe.
Heavy Cream. Yep, we’re doing it. Use heavy whipping cream adds richness, and helps the chocolate melt beautifully.
Milk. Again, we’re really going for it, so you’ll need some whole milk. If you choose to use a lower fat option, like 2% milk, 1% milk, etc., the flavor will still work, your hot chocolate just won’t have the desired rich, thick texture.
Powdered Sugar. Different French hot chocolate recipes use different sweeteners, but in my tests, I actually preferred powdered sugar over granulated sugar or pure maple syrup. The tiny bit of cornstarch in it helps you achieve that lovely, creamy texture.
Vanilla Extract. Last, but not least, you’ll need some vanilla. I love the way it elevates and enhances the chocolate flavor!
Whipped Cream, For Serving. Then, if you really want to go for it (and why not!?), you’ll top your hot chocolate off with a dollop of Chantilly (whipped cream!). It’s LOVELY!

How To Make French Hot Chocolate, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

Making French hot chocolate, step by step

Chop Chocolate. To start, finely chop the chocolate into very small pieces. The smaller you chop the chocolate, the easier it will melt!
Combine Cream Mixture. In a small saucepan, combine heavy cream, whole milk, and powdered sugar. Heat over medium-high heat until it’s steaming, but not yet simmering or boiling.
Melt Chocolate. When the cream mixture is steaming, stir in the chopped chocolate and stir over medium heat or medium-low heat to melt. A whisk is a great option here!
Adjust The Texture, If Needed. If your chocolate isn’t melting perfectly smoothly, an immersion blender or even a milk frother can help. It usually only takes 1-2 pulses to immediately make the mixture smoother!
Finish With Vanilla. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Serve & Store. Enjoy small cups of hot chocolate topped with dollops of whipped cream and grated chocolate, as desired. Cool leftover French hot chocolate and store in a mason jar or an airtight container in the fridge 3-4 days. Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat, or in the microwave in 15-20 second intervals until heated through.

Pouring thick French hot chocolate into a white cup

What Makes French Hot Chocolate Different From American Hot Chocolate?

There are a few differences between Parisian hot chocolate (French hot chocolate) and typical hot chocolate.

Chocolate Over Cocoa Powder. Many French hot chocolate recipes use ONLY melted chocolate, rather than cocoa powder or a mixture of cocoa powder and melted chocolate. After your first sip, you’ll be able to taste the difference!
Rich Texture. French hot chocolate is THICK! Since its made with melted chocolate, and other rich ingredients, like cream and whole milk, French hot chocolate is much thicker and creamier than American hot chocolate. You’ll want to serve small portions rather than a giant mug!
Rich Flavor. All that richness *also* means that French hot chocolate has a deeper, richer chocolate flavor than American hot chocolate, which runs sweeter.

In summary: French hot chocolate is the perfect treat for true chocolate lovers! (Especially paired with a buttery croissant!)

A cup of French hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, next to gluten-free croissants

FAQ + Tricks For The Best French Hot Chocolate

Use The Best Chocolate That Fits Your Budget! Most good quality chocolate bars are made without too many additives or extras that can prevent it from melting well. We’ve had good luck with Guittard, Ghirardelli, and Lindt brands! (Stay away from candy bars or cheap chocolate chips, for best results!)

Chocolate Not Melting Smoothly? Try This! Pulse the hot chocolate quickly with an immersion blender. It works like a charm to nail that signature velvety texture we’re going for!

Extras To Try. It’s not *strictly* necessary, but I do love to add a tiny pinch of salt along with the vanilla. It enhances the flavor beautifully! Or, you can add a splash of amaretto or almond extract, a tiny pinch of cinnamon, or a little pinch of espresso powder.

Serve Small Portions! This velvety French hot chocolate recipe is rich and thick, so you’ll want to serve small portions, rather than large mugs. I recommend small cappuccino cups or small tea cups for best results! (We use the small teacups from this tea set.)

More Recipes For Hot Chocolate Lovers

homemade hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup

Classic Hot Chocolate (American-Style)

Overhead view of a gluten-free hot chocolate charcuterie board with toppings and mix-ins

20+ Ideas For a Hot Chocolate Bar

Gluten-Free Hot Chocolate Cookies

Vegan Peppermint. Hot Chocolate

🌟 Did You Make This Recipe?

Tell me all about it! Leave a star rating below when you try our classic French Hot Chocolate recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

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French Hot Chocolate

5 from 1 vote

Author: Emily Dixon, Sweets & Thank You

This decadent French hot chocolate is what other hot chocolate recipes aspire to be. It's rich and creamy, with a deep chocolate flavor you'll LOVE!

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 20

Print Pin Rate

Servings: servings

Ingredients

For The French Hot Chocolate

6 ounces Good-Quality Dark Chocolate or Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped (60-70% chocolate!)
½ cup Heavy Cream
1 ½ cups Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar (15 grams)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

For Serving

Whipped Cream
Chocolate Shavings or Chopped Chocolate (optional)

Instructions

Chop Chocolate. To start, finely chop the chocolate into very small pieces. The smaller you chop the chocolate, the easier it will melt!
Combine Cream Mixture. In a small saucepan, combine heavy cream, whole milk, and powdered sugar. Heat over medium-high heat until it's steaming, but not yet simmering or boiling.
Melt Chocolate. When the cream mixture is steaming, stir in the chopped chocolate and stir over medium heat or medium-low heat to melt. A whisk is a great option here!
Adjust The Texture, If Needed. If your chocolate isn't melting perfectly smoothly, an immersion blender or even a milk frother can help. It usually only takes 1-2 pulses to immediately make the mixture smoother!
Finish With Vanilla. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Serve & Store. Enjoy hot with dollops of whipped cream and grated chocolate, as desired. Cool leftover French hot chocolate and store in a jar or an airtight container in the fridge 3-4 days. Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat, or in the microwave in 15-20 second intervals until heated through.

Notes

Serve Small Portions! This velvety French hot chocolate recipe is rich and thick, so you’ll want to serve small portions, rather than large mugs. I recommend small cappuccino cups or small tea cups for best results!
Use The Best Chocolate That Fits Your Budget! Most good quality chocolate bars are made without too many additives or extras that can prevent it from melting well. We’ve had good luck with Guittard, Ghirardelli, and Lindt brands! (Stay away from candy bars or cheap chocolate chips, for best results!)
Extras To Try. It’s not *strictly* necessary, but I do love to add a tiny pinch of salt along with the vanilla. It enhances the flavor beautifully! Or, you can add a splash of amaretto or almond extract, a tiny pinch of cinnamon, or a little pinch of espresso powder.