LE CHOCOLAT CHAUD

Try this DIY French Hot Chocolate Recipe at Home

Are you craving the rich taste of decadent dark chocolate? Are you the type of person that always needs to have a chocolate bar on you at ALL times to function? Are you currently reaching for your just-in-case chocolate right now? This recipe is for you! French Hot Chocolate is not the same as simple instant powder hot chocolate that is ever-so-popular in the US. To be honest, I have a soft spot for the hot chocolate that is sold at high school football games and ice skating rinks. Even though my nostalgia makes it hard to turn my back on good ole classic Swiss Miss, this recipe takes hot chocolate to a whole different level. 

Instead of smooth and light, this hot chocolate is extremely rich and velvety. French hot chocolate is not for the casual chocolate lover, you need to be a true die-hard fan. It has a deep and dark flavor and is not sweet like our American version. 

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My recommendation is to use dark chocolate with a combination of whole milk and cream. A lot of recipes either call for only cream but for me, it can be a little too much. But if you prefer a sweet and thick hot chocolate, try using only cream and milk chocolate! I love this recipe because it is easy to adapt to your liking. But the one rule is NO water. We are in the business of making some REAL hot chocolate today, and real hot chocolate needs milk. If you are dairy-free and want to still experience the decadent taste of french hot chocolate, try full-fat coconut milk for a similar experience. Other types of milk (like oat or almond) will be too thin to create the thick texture we are looking for. I usually like to stay away from dairy milk as much as possible and just use oat milk, but this recipe is worth it. 

Feel free to make this hot chocolate your own! I like to add espresso powder but if that is not your thing, feel free to mix it up. You can also try adding brown sugar, fleur de sel (the amazing sea salt from Brittany), or even chili powder. 

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SERVINGS: 2 large, intense cups or 4 smaller ones

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of whole milk
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped
• Whipped cream for serving

Instructions

1. Heat a medium saucepan with medium heat 
2. In the pan, whisk together the whole milk, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and espresso powder until small bubbles appear around the edges. Be sure that this mixture does not boil!
3. Remove from saucepan from the heat and stir in the chopped chocolate until melted
4. Return the sauce to low heat if needed for the chocolate to melt completely. Serve warm, topped with lots of whipped cream! 

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Recipe Cred: https://www.wellplated.com/french-hot-chocolate/

Photo via: https://kitchencookbook.net/french-hot-chocolate/