How to Make Drinking Chocolate (Parisian Style French Hot Chocolate Recipe) {video}

Drinking chocolate (aka Parisian-style French hot chocolate or le chocolat chaud) is creamy, rich, and smooth with deep chocolate flavor. It literally tastes like you’re drinking a melted chocolate bar! You’re only 8 minutes away from the best hot chocolate of your life. If you can’t book a flight to Paris, this is the next best thing. (Plus I share photos of my favorite chocolat chaud in Paris!)

Special occasions like anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and birthdays (or sometimes just a random Tuesday night) call for chocolate. And if you’re in the mood for hot chocolate, don’t settle for ordinary. We’re not making run-of-the-mill hot chocolate here because where’s the fun in that?!

What is Drinking Chocolate?

Drinking chocolate is incredibly rich and luscious. The main ingredients are whole milk and the best bar of chocolate you can find. The other components are just there to pull out the natural flavor notes of the chocolate. And it’s so easy to make! We essentially just heat the milk and stir in the chopped chocolate.

It’s even more filling and indulgent-feeling than if you were to just eat a bar of chocolate as-is. This is why two ounces of chocolate per serving really is more than enough. My only tip is to use a really great-quality bar of chocolate.

I’ve also seen drinking chocolate referred to as dark hot chocolate, European hot chocolate, European drinking chocolate, Parisian hot chocolate, French hot chocolate, and le chocolat chaud in French. As Shakespeare said “a rose by an other name would smell as sweet”. No matter what you call it, this basically tastes like a melted chocolate bar.

Every time I make Parisian hot chocolate, the movie Chocolat with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp comes to mind. If you want to make the spiced Mayan hot chocolate from that movie, use the recipe below and just add a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Or if you’re making a double batch, use a small cinnamon stick and a small dried red chili pepper (seeds removed).

Once you try this and see not only how completely decadent, lusciously rich, and deeply chocolatey it is, but also easy, regular hot chocolate or hot cocoa might become a thing of the past!

Parisian Drinking Chocolate Ingredients

How to Make French Hot Chocolate (Drinking Chocolate)

You won’t believe how simple this recipe is to make. It’s every bit as easy as hot cocoa or regular hot chocolate. But thick, rich, drinking chocolate is so much better! One sip will transport you to a café in Paris.

1. Chop the chocolate. (TIP: The more finely you chop the chocolate, the easier it is for it to melt into the milk.)
2. Heat the milk in a small saucepan on the stovetop until steaming, and then add the chocolate.
3. Whisk in the chocolate, and then whisk in the brown sugar, vanilla, espresso powder, and salt.
4. Heat until steaming while continuing to whisk frequently, and then remove from the heat.

Enjoy it, and revel in the blissful fact that you now know how to make the world’s best hot chocolate. ;)

Frequently Asked Questions

The Best Hot Chocolate in Paris, France (With Pictures!)

During the summer of 2019 I had the absolute pleasure of spending over a month in beautiful Paris, France. Staying there that long let me live like a local, and I was able to discover a few of the best places for things like croissants, cheese, and even hot chocolate!

I had my fair share of hot chocolate from different places around the city, but I’m just going to share my favorite two. The two best contenders I found for hot chocolate were Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore, both of which are located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th Arrondissement.

Note that when you see hot chocolate on a menu in France, you can typically order it as-is or with a side of sweetened vanilla-flavored whipped cream (aka crème chantilly), which is known as chocolat viennois.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Go for the whipped cream and order chocolate viennois in Paris!

Le Chocolat Chaud at Les Deux Magots in Paris

The building is absolutely gorgeous! Additionally, there’s a ton of outdoor seating on the sidewalk and on the side of the building.

The hot chocolate at Les Deux Magots was the second best Chocolat Chaud I had in Paris! It was creamy and rich with a nice sweetness level. I highly recommend it, and would definitely order drinking chocolate at Les Deux Magots again in a heartbeat!

Le Chocolat Chaud at Café de Flore in Paris

Similar to Les Deux Magots, the building that Café de Flore is in is absolutely beautiful. There’s also some sidewalk seating, but there isn’t as much outdoor seating at Café de Flore as at Les Deux Magots.

I always save the best for last, and Café de Flore decidedly had the best chocolat chaud I had in Paris! It was similar to the drinking chocolate at Les Deux Magots in flavor, but it was slightly richer and a bit thicker. It was the more decadent of the two.

Half a portion was the perfect serving because of its richness, so get it with a friend or a date and share it! Isn’t Paris romantic?

FOR MORE PARIS TRAVEL TIPS AND TRICKS: Check out my article on French Pastries, where I give all kinds of insider tips!

More Romantic Decadent Chocolate Recipes

• Mint Medley Chocolate Pots de Crème – Rich, smooth, and luscious.
• Yellow Cake Cupcakes with Fudgy Buttercream – This makes two perfect cupcakes.
• Fudgy Dark Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches with Raspberry Buttercream – This small batch of cookies is good if you have time to bake something impressive, but don’t want a big batch.
• Brownie in a Mug – Does it get any more romantic than two spoons, one bowl, and a gooey, warm brownie?!

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on May 12, 2014 and updated on February 5, 2021.