This hot chocolate recipe, from David Lebovitz’ The Sweet Life in Paris, is so simple that it’s almost embarrassing to blog about it. But please trust me on this one, it’s incredibly good, and worth the little bit of extra effort and washing up…
It’s made with just three ingredients – milk, good quality chocolate and a pinch of sea salt. The secret is to prepare it in a saucepan on the stove and to simmer the brew for a few minutes. The end result is thick and unctuously silky, with the consistency of luscious pouring custard.
It’s so rich that it coats the side of the glass when poured…
Here’s the basic recipe – adapt according to your personal preference. These proportions make a very rich hot chocolate which can be diluted down with milk if desired.
- 500g (2 cups) milk (full cream or low fat)
- 140g (5oz) really good quality dark chocolate, chopped or in callet form (I used Callebaut 811 54% cacao)
- good pinch fine sea salt
1. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over a medium heat, whisking constantly.
2. Turn the heat down as low as it will go and simmer for 3 – 5 minutes (the longer it simmers, the thicker the finished hot chocolate). Keep whisking!
3. Serve in small cups or large mugs, with or without whipped cream (it’s a very rich drink, and I’m a bit lactose intolerant, so I sip it in small doses). Store any leftovers in the fridge as a restorative tonic. According to David Lebovitz, it should keep for up to five days – reheat it gently in the microwave or on the stove.
I pour a slurp in with my decaf coffee (made with biodegradable EcoCaffe pods – I wrote a bit about them here) for a truly fabulous mocha…
I love having a jug of this in the fridge – I pour myself little espresso-sized shots during the day and warm them up in the microwave. It’s the perfect cure for winter greyness!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Looks delicious!
I love a hot cup of chocolate, any day. Sometimes we are so caught up in the elaborate recipes that we forget the simple ones that give us the maximum pleasure. :-)
I’m totally out of action today, laid up with a bout of sciatica which is making my eyes water. I wonder if I could convince my daughter to make me some of this – as a restorative measure, of course.
Delicious is delicious and it’s all the better if not hard to make.
Yum. Do you think this would work with white chocolate?
So good Celia! x
You really know how to live, Celia!
I love the aroma and taste of dark chocolate and this sounds just lovely!I made something similar having seen a recipe by The Two Greedy Italians in the UK- Gennaro Contaldo and Antonio Carluccio. For a decadent twist I might add a shot of dark rum or Scottish whisky! I met an inspirational chocolatier called Fiona Sciolti At a foodies fedtival in London. She infuses her cream with herbs such as fresh mint before adding to melted chocolate when making her ganache. A lovely sweet treat to end a meal!
Yum! This looks wicked. Where do you recommend buying chocolate in callet form? I remember reading that you know a good supplier…
Chefs warehouse! Or failing which, Costco has it occasionally! :)
Celia… you’re awesome… well said… ♥
I am going to have to bookmark this for winter! Sounds rich and satisfying. I love your idea of pouring off espresso shots of it.
What time did you say Celia?
Sounds good to me, especially as our summer seems to have briefly deserted us. Looking at your weather forecast, it looks as though you’re going to need several cups of this.
It’s the little things in life that enrich our days.. Such is the case with this beckoning hot chocolate!! Mmm mmm… I can taste it already.
Yum! Great post!
I can’t enjoy much chocolate (migraines) but I do enjoy a little glass of hot chocolate every now and then. In Spain they sell bars of chocolate for melting into milk and it has cornflour and vanilla in it so that you end up with really thick hot chocolate for dipping your “churros” into. I love the sound of yours :)
T, just sent you a whatsapp message. x
oh yum yum this looks delish celia. i love a real hot choc with lots of dark chocolate melted in it.
Oh, I do love your recipes! This one is rich, unapologetically decadent and so luscious – and made with love and care. And i have to confess that at stage 2 my eyes read “keep whisky”:)
I love David Lebovist and I love hot chocolate. Perfect for this rainy day!
Oh my god, I could drink this now…….
You probably have the perfect chocolate in your pantry to make it right now too! ;-)
Of course, it’s summer here in the U.S., but I still enjoy hot chocolate for a treat. I rediscovered the joys of cream with organic cacao a few years ago and wondered why we ever thought processed junk was better…? No comparison.
Yum! I love hot chocolate- especially European style ones that are so decadently thick.
I have a slight hot chocolate addiction! This is my favorite way of preparing it. My quick and easy go to method is heating milk in the microwave and adding homemade chocolate syrup. Looking forward to cooler weather….
No wonder it’s so thick with all that chocolate in it Celia, but how wonderful it sounds. I shall try adding a little salt to mine next time I make one.
Aha! Finally there is a recipe to deal with the thin wateryness of instant hot chocolate. Now, to the chocolate box…
Sounds too good to pass by this. I may wait for a grey day but might just go ahead and try anytime.
What a delightfully warming drink. After dinner with a shot of coffee liqueur sounds good too!
Greetings from Yorkshire! I could have done with one of these when we were visiting Whitby Abbey yesterday… it was so freaking cold! Sounds lovely… xxxx
I can’t eat too much chocolate as it makes me ill but that just looks luscious:)
Looks perfect! :) Yum
This sounds too good to pass up! YUM.
Going to the shop to buy chocolate! This just HAS to be made.
Did you know that here in Sydney, one of our premier football teams is the Manly Sea Eagles? (Manly is a suburb of Sydney) :D
The Internet is a hive of serendipity. Manly Eagle is a rough translation of my actual name.
I wish I had one of your hot chocolate’s right now Celia. Just what I need whilst typing this message to you. Got my IMK in on time. It’s up on surreyKitchen now. Life with baby Alice is very busy. I hope you are well. Emma xx
I just wanted to grab the glass and drink it. Simplicity at it’s best!
Wow sounds delish :)
I could so go for one of these right now Celia! As there is nothing like a hot chocolate that’s unique to brighten these cold and wintry days!
We certainly need drinks like this with the current weather conditions. I do love the look of the cookbook. Hot chocolate is one of my most favourite indulgences xx
Celia, I like the idea of having a stash of hot chocolate on hand and your espresso size pick-me-ups are the perfect indulgence!
Yummy! This looks amazing! Thanks for sharing! -Angela Davis
http://www.hangrywife.com
This sounds so delicious, Celia. I love the idea of keeping some in the refrigerator, but my concern is that I would be drinking it by the gallons. :-) And I made some more of your delicious sourdough bread today. I think of you every time, dear Celia. Thank you!
Looks so creamy and chocolatey, mmm! Just 3 ingredients, Celia?! This is a perfect winter cup mate :) Thank youuu!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Oh boy, does that ever look good! I’m enjoying just the picture of it enough to satisfy my craving…well almost enough.
I love anything David Lebovitz makes since my first batch of his vanilla ice cream. I’m never disappointed and wow, a glass of this right now would warm up my cold feet!
I need to make this for Devaney. And me. She can have cream and I’ll have a dash of cherry liqueur. Yummmmm.