French Hot Chocolate
How to make an authentic homemade chocolat chaud, just like the ones we enjoy in Paris. No sugar is needed, as the addition of vanilla is sweet enough, letting the quality of the chocolate shine. Ensure you use full fat milk, not half and half, for the ultimate French hot chocolate experience.
Ingredients
- 300 ml (10 fl oz/ 1 ¼ cup) whole milk
- 100 g (3.5oz/ ½ cup) dark, bittersweet chocolate 65-70% cocoa solids, broken into small pieces or chopped
- small pinch sea salt fleur de sel
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or powder
- ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg see NOTES on spice
Instructions
- Heat the milk in a medium saucepan, being careful not to boil it. Add the salt, vanilla and nutmeg, if using, and gently whisk in the chopped chocolate pieces to melt using a hand whisk over a gentle, slow simmer.
- Once the chocolate has melted, as you whisk, the consistency will still be liquid. So carry on whisking gently, creating a little foam, for at least 5 minutes or until the mixture thickens.
- As soon as the thickness is to your liking, pour into little jugs or directly into cups and serve immediately.
Notes
This adapted recipe was first published in my 2nd cookbook, Teatime in Paris in 2015.
This is particularly rich, thick and more typical of the luxury hot chocolates we are served in tearooms around Paris. If you prefer the kind of French hot chocolate we drink in a bowl for breakfast, add more milk (about 100g/a half cup).
Sugar: The vanilla naturally sweetens this but if you are used to a sugary drink, then add a teaspoon of sugar to your taste - but do try without for the real Parisian experience.
Spice Variations: If you like more spice, infuse a cinnamon stick, add some finely grated ginger or a pinch of chilli or piment d'Espelette for 10 minutes before adding the chocolate. Alternatively add a little orange peel to your love potions, just like the Parisian chocolatiers do.
Vegan hot chocolate: to make yours vegan, replace whole milk with full-fat coconut milk.
Nutrition: 9g protein; 16g carbohydrates; 28g lipids; glycemic index: 2.
Nutrition
Calories: 362kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!