This Frozen Hot Chocolate is exactly what the name suggests: a rich and decadent French hot chocolate that's frozen and blended with ice. Made with real chocolate, not hot cocoa mixes, it delivers the comfort and indulgence of hot chocolate in the form of an iced drink. With a secret hint of coffee in it, it's perfect for warmer months, and a great way to drink your dessert!
3 steps to make it
Here are the 3 easy steps you need to make this frozen hot chocolate:
- Make French hot chocolate. This is my favorite Paris hot chocolate recipe, inspired by Cafe Angelina. You cook chocolate, milk, cream, sugar and espresso powder until the chocolate has fully melted and the mixture is smooth - which takes only 5 minutes!
- Freeze the hot chocolate. Pour it into a wide bottomed bowl and freeze for 90 minutes until it's very chilled and semi-set.
- Blend it up! Add crushed ice and blend for 2 minutes or so, until the mixture is thick and creamy like a slushie or frappuccino
I like to serve the frozen hot chocolate with a small dollop of whipped cream, and some reserved hot chocolate poured over like a fudge sauce. Simple, but so effective!
Picking the right chocolate
Chocolate is the main ingredient in this frozen hot chocolate, so picking the right one definitely matters! While I normally recommend dark chocolate for hot chocolate, it can taste slightly more bitter in an iced drink. So in this specific recipe, I recommend a mixture of milk and dark chocolate, or a semi sweet chocolate (~50% cocoa). Pick chocolate bars or callets, not chips, and make sure you like the flavor of the chocolate on its own! My go to picks are:
- "High" end: Callebaut milk chocolate and dark chocolate
- Grocery store: Lindt milk chocolate and dark chocolate
2 easy ways to make it your own
There are 2 easy ways you can customize this recipe:
- Add more coffee: I add just a small amount as I want it to complement the chocolate flavor - but you can easily add more instant coffee and make the flavor more like a mocha frappuccino
- Adjust the amount of ice: More ice will give the hot chocolate a more slushie-like texture, but it also helps dilute the rich flavor - which some people prefer. So taste and adjust to your liking!
Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe (French Style!)
- Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 2 large servings
Description
Rich and decadent frozen hot chocolate made with real French hot chocolate that's frozen and blended with ice!
Ingredients
- 8 oz good quality semi-sweet chocolate (226g) - I like using a mix of milk and dark chocolate
- ¾ cup milk (180g)
- 1 cup heavy cream (240g)
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp instant espresso powder
- 2 cups crushed ice - you can add more based on your preference
- Optional: plain whipped cream to serve
Instructions
- If using chocolate bars, chop them up into small chunks. Add the chocolate, milk, cream, sugar and instant espresso powder to a saucepan
- Cook and stir on medium-low heat until the chocolate has fully melted and the mixture is smooth. This should take only 3-5 minutes
- Reserve ¼ cup of the hot chocolate and set is aside at room temperature
- Pour the rest of the hot chocolate into a wide bottomed bowl and cover with cling wrap. Place in the freezer for 90 minutes or until it is fully chilled and almost set
- Transfer the chilled hot chocolate to a blender, and add 2 cups of crushed ice. Blend on a smoothie setting, or in long pulses, for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture is thick and creamy like a frappuccino. Taste and adjust the flavor if needed
- To serve, divide the mixture between 2 tall 12oz glasses. Optionally, add a dollop of plain whipped cream on top of both. Then warm up the hot chocolate reserved in step 3, and drizzle it on top
- Enjoy!
Video Tutorial:
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Chilling Time: 90 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: drinks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American, French
Leave a rating and a comment