How to Make Authentic French Hot Chocolate at Home

Sunday favorites with Cindy and Mary Ann, and this very indulgent authentic French hot chocolate makes the list – I mean real hot chocolate the Parisian way. You know, the kind with an intense, creamy, rich flavor and velvety texture. It’s the ideal companion for a cold afternoon.

This recipe is as close to the real thing as it gets. Close your eyes, take a sip, and you can almost feel like you are at Café du Flore or Les Deux Magots, sitting at an outdoor table on a cold winter day. And the bonus is you don’t even need a passport.

This is not an everyday typical hot chocolate. It’s a special occasion drink for true chocolate lovers. It’s the kind of indulgence you save for just the right day and moment. And please trust me when I say that by the time you’re done, your sink will be completely full, and your kitchen will look like you spent the day cooking. But for those few special moments this holiday season when you have a chocolate craving, it is well worth the effort and mess – especially on cold winter days.

Simple ingredients for authentic French hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream

French hot chocolate recipe (le chocolat chaud or French sipping chocolate)

• Good quality chocolate (bittersweet chocolate or dark chocolate – at least 70% cocoa)
• Espresso powder
• Powdered sugar
• Whole milk
• Heavy cream

For the whipped cream (make this before you prepare the hot chocolate)

•  Unflavored gelatin
• Cold water
• Heavy whipping cream
• Sifted confectioners’ sugar
• Vanilla extract

Instructions for creamy hot chocolate

1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces.
2. Mix the milk, cream, powdered sugar, and espresso powder in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Heat just until hot, and small bubbles appear around the edges of the saucepan. Be careful not to scald or boil the milk.
3. As soon as you have hot milk, remove it from the heat, add the chopped chocolate to the warm milk, and whisk thoroughly until the chocolate melts and is velvety smooth and creamy. (If the melted chocolate needs some reheating, place it over medium-low heat and warm it again.)
4. Transfer the hot chocolate to warmed serving pitchers and serve immediately. To serve, pour the decadent hot chocolate into large mugs and top with big scoops of whipped cream. Some people like to add a pinch of salt to the hot chocolate, but I don’t think this kind of chocolate needs it.

Instructions for the stabilized whipped cream

1. Refrigerate the whisk attachment and mixing bowl for at least 15 minutes.
2. In a glass measuring cup, add the unflavored gelatin and cold water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
3. Place the measuring cup with the gelatin mixture in the microwave for about 7 to 10 seconds until it becomes liquid again but not hot. Set aside.
4. Add the cream to the cold mixing bowl. Beat the cream on high speed until it begins to thicken, then add the confectioners’ sugar.
5. With the mixer running, drizzle in the liquid gelatin and vanilla extract and beat until soft peaks form.
6. Transfer the whipped cream to a small serving bowl.

Note: You can store the stabilized whipped cream for 1 to 2 days without it losing texture or becoming watery like regular whipped cream. The best way is to transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. If you have leftover French hot chocolate, you can store it in the fridge and reheat it when ready to have it again.

We have two medium copper pots, which are shown here. They are both beautiful and in excellent condition for their age. You can see them in our shop here and here.

Pillivuyt Coupe Porcelain Mugs

If you enjoyed this recipe, you might enjoy these as well

• Hot Chocolate Bundt Cake
• Tarte Tatin

If you don’t see yourself making French hot chocolate, there’s always hot chocolate, marshmallows, and a pot to make from Williams Sonoma. We love our French porcelain mugs, which we’ve had for years.

Candy cane spoons and cute napkins make it even more fun!

A Few More Favorites This Week:

Alex Mill Roll Neck Cardigan

Madeline loves this roll-neck cardigan from Alex Mill. It’s $175, but currently on sale at Bloomingdale’s for $123! It’s available in red, camel and navy.

The books I’m buying for friends this year (and me, too)!

Curate

Ali Heath’s latest book, Curate, encourages the reader to use old and new to create a home with individuality while incorporating the need to decorate sustainably. It is a follow-up to her first book, Create.

The Slow Down

Leanne Ford’s new book “encourages readers to slow down in their personal environments and celebrate the beauty of everyday moments.”

Now, let’s check in with Cindy & Mary Ann!

Cindy Hattersley Design

Classic Casual Home

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