• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Curly Girl Kitchen
  • about
  • faqs
  • recipes
  • portfolio
  • work with me
  • contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

European Hot Chocolate

November 2, 2022 by Heather Smoke Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

The most decadent recipe for European hot chocolate, made with milk, cream and good quality dark chocolate for a delicious and indulgent treat. You’ll also find many flavor variations in today’s post, including peppermint, bourbon, espresso, gingerbread, and more!

You might also love these recipes for easy chocolate espresso mousse, chocolate cream filled doughnuts with espresso sugar, and chocolate cinnamon rolls.

European hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.

This site contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  This means that I may make a small commission if you purchase a product using those links.  This in no way affects my opinion of those products and services.  All opinions expressed on this site are my own.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Rich, Creamy and Indulgent. European hot chocolate, also called sipping chocolate, is known for being a dessert in and of itself. It’s thick and rich with milk and cream, with a deep dark chocolate flavor that’s just incredible. Once you taste real hot chocolate, you’ll never want to drink another watery, overly sweet packet of hot cocoa mix.

Pure Chocolate. This is a drink that almost tastes like a thin chocolate ganache, and there’s nothing wrong with that. For the best results, use a good quality dark chocolate that contains about 70% cacao. You can certainly add sugar, if you like your chocolate a touch sweeter.

Perfect for the Holidays. For a decadent (and easy) dessert, serve this to your guests after a holiday dinner. Make it even more fun by setting up a hot chocolate bar with toppings to choose from such as sweetened whipped cream, homemade vanilla bean marshmallows, shaved chocolate or chocolate curls, cinnamon sticks, candy canes, ground spices in cute shaker jars and an assortment of cookies and biscotti.

Chocolate shavings and whipped cream on European hot chocolate.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Ingredients

Hot Chocolate

  • Milk + Cream. For a rich, creamy consistency, use whole milk and heavy whipping cream. Unsweetened canned coconut milk is also a wonderfully creamy non-dairy alternative.
  • Chocolate. Choose a good quality dark chocolate with around 70% cacao content.
  • Sugar. Sweeten your hot chocolate to taste with dark brown sugar.
  • Cocoa Powder. This is optional, but if you want to deepen the flavor of the chocolate even more, you can add a little unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder.

Whipped Cream

  • Heavy Whipping Cream. You’ll need to keep your cream cold, so that you can whip it to soft fluffy peaks.
  • Powdered Sugar. Sweetens and stabilizes the whipped cream.
Ingredients for making European hot chocolate.

Instructions

Hot Chocolate

  • Finely chop the chocolate, so that you have a mix of pea-sized chunks and smaller shards.
Bowl of chopped chocolate.
  • In a saucepan, combine the milk, cream and chopped chocolate. Place the saucepan over medium heat and warm the mixture, whisking frequently, until the mixture is steaming hot (but not boiling) and the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Chopped chocolate, milk and cream in a saucepan.
Hot chocolate in a saucepan.
  • Taste the hot chocolate and add the brown sugar if you like it sweeter, stirring until dissolved. To add a richer chocolate flavor, whisk in the cocoa powder.
  • Pour the hot chocolate into 2 large mugs or 4 small cups. Serve with whipped cream or marshmallows and chocolate shavings.
Hot chocolate being poured into a cup.

Whipped Cream

  • Whip the cream and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until soft, fluffy peaks form.
  • Spoon on top of the hot chocolate.
Whipped cream in a cup of hot chocolate.

Recipe Variations

  • Peppermint. Add 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (not mint extract).
  • Bourbon or Rum. Turn this into a spiked cocktail with a tablespoon or two of your favorite bourbon, whiskey or dark spiced rum.
  • Vanilla. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or ground vanilla bean powder for a smooth vanilla flavor that complements the dark chocolate.
  • Espresso. For a hint of coffee flavor, add 1-2 teaspoons instant espresso powder.
  • Spicy. For a Mexican inspired hot chocolate, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder.
  • Gingerbread. For a cozy cup of spiced gingerbread hot chocolate, add 2 teaspoons molasses, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, and a small pinch of ground cloves and/or cardamom.
  • Dairy Free. You can make this recipe dairy free or vegan by using both a dairy free milk and dairy free chocolate. My favorite plant-based milk for this hot chocolate recipe is unsweetened full fat canned coconut milk, which is rich, thick, creamy and so delicious with the chocolate.
  • Italian. In Italy, their version of hot chocolate is a bit different from the French, in that they thicken it with corn starch. The corn starch adds body, and the result is a very thick and rich mixture that’s really more like a spoonable chocolate pudding than a drink. Italian hot chocolate is ideal for dipping things in, like biscotti, churros, lady fingers or doughnuts. Add 2-3 teaspoons corn starch when the milk is cold, then heat the mixture, whisking until thickened.
Cup of European hot chocolate.

Be sure to read all of my BAKING FAQs where I discuss ingredients, substitutions and common baking questions, so that you can be successful in your own baking!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chocolate chips instead of a bar of chocolate?

No, you really can’t use chocolate chips for European hot chocolate. Chocolate chips contain stabilizers, which prevent them from melting smoothly, so you’ll have little grains throughout your hot chocolate rather than a smooth, creamy mixture.

Will this recipe work with just milk and no cream?

Sure, it will work just fine, it just won’t taste quite as rich.

You Might Also Like

Vanilla icing on chocolate cinnamon rolls.
Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls
Chocolate cream filled doughnuts coated in espresso sugar.
Chocolate Espresso Doughnuts
Spoonful of chocolate espresso mousse resting on a ramekin.
Chocolate Espresso Mousse
Scoops of chocolate hazelnut ice cream sprinkled with hazelnuts.
Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream

Favorite Products

Did you love today’s recipe? Please rate the recipe and let me know in the comments what you thought! Also, be sure to follow Curly Girl Kitchen on Instagram, and tag me when you try one of my recipes so I can see all your delicious creations!

European hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.

European Hot Chocolate

Heather Smoke
The most decadent recipe for European hot chocolate, made with milk, cream and good quality dark chocolate for a delicious chocolate treat.

All recipes on Curly Girl Kitchen are developed for high altitude at 5,280 feet. See FAQs for adjusting to higher or lower elevations.

5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Dessert, Drinks
Cuisine French, Italian
Servings2

Ingredients
 

Hot Chocolate

  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 6 oz good quality dark chocolate (65-70% cacao), finely chopped
  • 1-2 tbsp dark brown sugar, optional
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder, optional

Whipped Cream

  • ½ cup cold heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions
 

Hot Chocolate

  • Finely chop the chocolate, so that you have a mix of pea-sized chunks and smaller shards.
  • In a saucepan, combine the milk, cream and chopped chocolate. Place the saucepan over medium heat and warm the mixture, whisking frequently, until the mixture is steaming hot (but not boiling) and the chocolate is melted and smooth.
  • Taste the hot chocolate and add the brown sugar if you like it sweeter. To add a richer chocolate flavor, whisk in the cocoa powder.
  • Pour the hot chocolate into 2 large mugs or 4 small cups. Serve with whipped cream or marshmallows and chocolate shavings.

Whipped Cream

  • Whip the cream and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until soft, fluffy peaks form.
  • Spoon on top of the hot chocolate.

Notes

Recipe Variations

  • Peppermint. Add 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (not mint extract).
  • Bourbon or Rum. Turn this into a spiked cocktail with a tablespoon or two of your favorite bourbon, whiskey or dark spiced rum.
  • Vanilla. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or ground vanilla bean powder for a smooth vanilla flavor that complements the dark chocolate.
  • Espresso. For a hint of coffee flavor, add 1-2 teaspoons instant espresso powder.
  • Spicy. For a Mexican inspired hot chocolate, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder.
  • Gingerbread. For a cozy cup of spiced gingerbread hot chocolate, add 2 teaspoons molasses, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, and a small pinch of ground cloves and/or cardamom.
  • Dairy Free. You can make this recipe dairy free or vegan by using both a dairy free milk and dairy free chocolate. My favorite plant-based milk for this hot chocolate recipe is unsweetened full fat canned coconut milk, which is rich, thick, creamy and so delicious with the chocolate.
  • Italian. In Italy, their version of hot chocolate is a bit different from the French, in that they thicken it with corn starch. The corn starch adds body, and the result is a very thick and rich mixture that’s really more like a spoonable chocolate pudding than a drink. Italian hot chocolate is ideal for dipping things in, like biscotti, churros, lady fingers or doughnuts. Add 2-3 teaspoons corn starch when the milk is cold, then heat the mixture, whisking until thickened.
Keyword Christmas, European, Holiday, Hot Chocolate
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
https://curlygirlkitchen.com/

Filed Under: Christmas and Thanksgiving, Drinks

Previous Post: « High Altitude One Layer Coffee and Walnut Cake
Next Post: High Altitude Big Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome

I'm Heather, and welcome to my Colorado kitchen, where you will find high-altitude tested recipes for beautifully photographed cakes, baked goods and sweets. I believe that the kitchen is the heart of a home, and everyone is welcome in mine. So stay a while, sip a cup of coffee, and bake something delicious with me!

A graphic on how to make perfect American buttercream.
A graphic on how to stack, fill, crumb coat and frost layer cakes.

Recipe Index

  • Breads, Biscuits, Muffins and Doughnuts
  • Breakfast
  • Brownies and Bars
  • Cakes
    • Buttercream
    • Cake Decorating
    • Classic Cake Flavors
  • Candy and Snacks
  • Cheesecakes
  • Christmas and Thanksgiving
    • Christmas Cakes
    • Christmas Cookies
  • Cookies
  • Crisps, Crumbles, Cobblers and Puddings
  • Cupcakes
  • Drinks
  • Halloween
  • How To Guides and Resources
  • Ice Cream and Frozen Treats
    • Frozen Custard
    • Ice Cream Sandwiches
    • No Churn Ice Cream
    • Popsicles
  • Jams and Sweet Sauces
  • Pies and Tarts
  • Savory
  • Uncategorized
A graphic on how I improved my food photography with Foodtography School.
A graphic on how to make flaky pie dough.

Recent Posts

  • High Altitude Banana Cream Pie Cupcakes
  • High Altitude Pastel Party Birthday Cake with Lambeth Piping
  • Flower Shaped Strawberry Lemon Sandwich Cookies
  • High Altitude Pecan Caramel Sticky Buns (Caramel Rolls)
  • High Altitude Red Wine Chocolate Cake
  • High Altitude Carrot Crumb Coffee Cake
  • High Altitude Mini Eggless Funfetti Cake for Two
  • High Altitude Flourless Monster Cookies (GF, Dairy Free)
  • Soft and Chewy High Altitude Chocolate Chip Blondies
  • High Altitude Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies (Dairy Free)

Archives

  • about
  • faqs
  • recipes
  • portfolio
  • work with me
  • contact

Footer

I'm Heather, and welcome to Curly Girl Kitchen, where you will find high-altitude tested recipes for beautifully photographed cakes and sweets. I believe that the kitchen is the heart of a home, and everyone is welcome in mine. So stay a while, sip a cup of coffee, and bake something sweet with me!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Privacy Policy

About

FAQs

Work With Me

Contact

Copyright © 2023 Curly Girl Kitchen on the Foodie Pro Theme