Prep: 5 min | Cook: 10 min | Serves: 2 | No bake
This isn't hot chocolate from a packet. French-style hot chocolate, called chocolat chaud, is thick, rich, and barely sweet. More like melted chocolate you drink than a sugary mix dissolved in water.
This version is fully vegan, made with coconut cream and your choice of plant-based milk, and the star of the show is always the chocolate you use.
The better the chocolate, the better the drink. We made ours with a dark chocolate bar sweetened only with dates, which means no refined sugar, no fillers, and a depth of flavor you won't get from a standard bar.
Five ingredients. Ten minutes. And honestly? It hits different.
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Ingredients
Chocolate Base
- About ½ cup coconut cream (the thick, solid part scooped from a chilled can of full-fat coconut milk)
- About ½ cup almond milk or oat milk
- About 250g (8 oz) dark chocolate, 70%+ cacao, finely chopped — we used our Smooth Dark 72%
- About 2 tsp sugar or maple syrup, adjusted to taste
Optional
- ¼ tsp espresso powder or instant coffee (adds depth without making it taste like mocha)
To Serve
- Vegan whipped cream… store-bought or homemade coconut cream whip
How to Make It
- Heat the liquids: In a small saucepan, combine the coconut cream and almond or oat milk over medium heat.
- Add sweetener (and coffee if using): Stir in the sugar or maple syrup. If you're using espresso powder, add it here. It deepens the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee.
- Bring to a gentle simmer: Stir constantly until small bubbles just begin to form around the edges of the pan (about 3–4 minutes). Don't let it boil.
- Remove from heat and add chocolate: Take the saucepan off the heat. Add the finely chopped dark chocolate.
- Stir until smooth: Stir steadily until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is glossy and thick (about 2 minutes). If it looks grainy, give it another minute; it will come together.
- Pour and serve: Divide between two small cups or mugs. French-style hot chocolate is meant to be small and intense, think espresso, not a travel mug.
- Top and enjoy: Finish with a generous dollop of vegan whipped cream. Serve immediately.
What's Inside
Every ingredient in this recipe was chosen for a reason. Here's what each one brings.
Ingredient |
Why It's In Here |
|
Coconut Cream |
The fat from full-fat coconut milk is what gives this drink its signature body. Unlike dairy cream, coconut cream contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are metabolized differently than long-chain fats. It creates a rich, velvety texture and carries the chocolate flavor beautifully. |
|
Almond Milk / Oat Milk |
Thins the coconut cream to a pourable consistency without watering down the flavor. Oat milk adds a subtle sweetness and creaminess; almond milk keeps it lighter and more neutral. Both are naturally low in saturated fat. |
|
Dark Chocolate (70%+ cacao) |
This is where most of the nutrition lives. Cacao is one of the most flavonoid-rich foods on earth, a natural source of magnesium, iron, and antioxidants. Studies suggest the flavonoids in cacao may support cardiovascular health and blood flow. Look for bars with minimal ingredients and no refined sugar. We used our Smooth Dark 72%, made with just organic cacao and organic dates. But any quality dark chocolate with 70%+ cacao works. |
|
Espresso Powder (optional) |
A small amount of coffee doesn't make this taste like mocha. It amplifies the bitterness in the cacao and deepens the overall flavor. Used sparingly, it's one of the oldest tricks in chocolate baking. |
Why This Recipe Works
Most hot chocolate recipes are built around cocoa powder, which is fine, but it produces a thinner, more diluted drink. French-style hot chocolate uses chopped chocolate bars instead, which means all that cocoa butter melts directly into the liquid. That's what makes it thick, glossy, and genuinely satisfying rather than just sweet.
The coconut cream pulls double duty here, adding fat for richness and a mild sweetness that complements the cacao without competing with it. And because this recipe is built around real chocolate rather than flavored powder, the quality of the bar you choose actually matters.
If you choose a chocolate that's date-sweetened, like ours, the whole drink stays free of refined sugar.
Made with our Smooth Dark Chocolate
Just organic cacao + organic dates. Nothing else.
