Quick French Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Chaud)
When the weather calls for something cozy, this thick, silky French Hot Chocolate is one of my favorite ways to warm up. It’s richer and more luxurious than your classic hot chocolate, with melted chocolate creating a velvety texture that feels almost dessert-like in a mug. Think somewhere between hot chocolate and chocolate fondue... rich, smooth, and perfect for sipping slowly!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 201kcal
Equipment
- Mugs for serving
Ingredients
French Hot Chocolate
- 2 cups Whole Milk
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Orange, zested optional
- 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 8 ounces High Quality Dark Chocolate broken into pieces
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Garnish
- ¼ cup Heavy Whipping Cream for serving
- 1 Candied Orange Slice quartered
Instructions
- OPTIONAL (skip to the next step if you would like!): If infusing your dairy with orange, add the milk, cream into a saucepan and heat till simmering. Add orange zest heat for an additional 5 minutes before removing from heat and allowing to infuse for 30 minutes to an hour. Strain the orange zest peels, and ensure that you still have 3 cups of dairy after the infusing process as sometimes the liquid can reduce a bit throughout this process. If needed, add a splash of milk to ensure you have three total cups of dairy before moving on to the next step.2 cups Whole Milk, 1 cup Heavy Cream, 1 Orange, zested
- Add your cream, milk and brown sugar to a small saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Warm the mixture gently, stirring occasionally, until it’s steaming and the sugar has dissolved - you’re looking for the liquid to be hot but not boiling.2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- Once the dairy is warmed through, add the chopped chocolate and reduce the heat to low. Stir continuously until the chocolate melts completely and the drinking chocolate becomes smooth, glossy, and slightly thickened. Stir in the vanilla extract.8 ounces High Quality Dark Chocolate, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- The final texture should be richer than traditional hot chocolate but still easily sippable. If it feels a bit thin, allow it to simmer for another minute or two to thicken. If it becomes too thick, stir in a splash more milk until it reaches the consistency you love!
- Ladle into mugs and top with some softly whipped cream and a slice of candied orange if desired. Enjoy right away while it’s warm and velvety!¼ cup Heavy Whipping Cream, 1 Candied Orange Slice
Notes
Storing & Reheating
If you happen to have extra, store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat while whisking to bring it back to a smooth texture. The chocolate will naturally thicken as it cools, so adding a small splash of milk while reheating helps loosen it.
Nutrition
Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 166mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 715IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 0.1mg
