The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (2024)

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One thing I miss most about living in Germany is the Hot Chocolate! No matter where we went, they always served the best Belgian Hot Chocolate! It was full of a rich chocolate flavor, extra smooth and oh so amazing! I miss it dearly. I absolutely love my Gourmet Hot chocolate with all the flavors, but the Belgian hot chocolate completely takes the cake!

The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (1)

When I’m missing my Germany Home, I love to curl up with a warm cup of the traditional decadent Belgian hot chocolate recipe. So I spent the afternoon reading, researching, and experimenting in the kitchen. I have come up with a great Belgian Hot Chocolate recipe! This recipe gets my homemade hot chocolate as close as possible to the same amazing Belgian Hot Chocolate I used to enjoy in Europe! I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!

Table of Contents hide

1 Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe

2 DIY Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe

2.1 Ingredients

2.2 Instructions

2.3 Do you love Belgian hot Chocolate?

2.4 What is your favorite Belgian Hot chocolate recipe combinations?

The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (2)

Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe

Place half of the milk, chocolate pieces and salt in a small saucepan. Warm on medium low heat. Heat until the chocolate is melted. Be sure to stir frequently. Add in the remaining milk, vanilla and a small squirt of Reddi Whip whipped cream.

If you like spice add in the Cinnamon. If you prefer a sweeter hot chocolate you will also add in the white sugar. If you prefer the richer Belgian style hot chocolate, no additional sugar is needed.

Turn heat up to medium high. Stir rapidly as you mix the remaining ingredients together. Do not boil. Once all ingredients are well mixed, pour into your hot chocolate mug.

The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (3)

Top with more whipped cream and chocolate flakes. Serve warm.

The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (4)

Picking Ingredients for Belgian Hot Chocolate.

Most recipes I found suggested using a special hot cocoa machine. Although they are nice, they are not necessary. But who are we kidding, if I had one; I would totally use it! Lol! But all you need to really remember is to stir frequently and quickly. You don’t want the chocolate or milk to scald.

The most important factor in this hot chocolate recipe is the selection of your chocolates. You will not want to skimp on the quality. You will find the best quality chocolates in bar form. If possible find imported Belgian dark chocolate. It will give the most authentic flavor. The lowest % you will want to use is 53% dark. The highest is around 72%. Anything less or more will be off from the authentic flavor.

When selecting the milk chocolate, again you want a quality bar. Lindt, Ghirardelli, Milka, or other European brands of milk chocolate are your best choices.

For a more creamy Belgian hot Chocolate you will want to use a richer milk. Even use half and half! But for those looking to cut calories or for a lighter taste; you can use regular milk. Or skim milk. Because of the Dairy allergy in our family, I used Lactaid fat free milk. It turned out amazing. If you need full diary free; I highly suggest using the Almond milk or Coconut milk. It will be slightly different; but still a very decadent treat!

The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (5)

Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe Alterations

For even more fun, try using flavored milk chocolate squares. I tried using some Ghirardelli Coconut Rendezvous milk chocolate bar pieces in place of the milk chocolate. It turned out amazing! I bet the Raspberry or mint chocolate flavors would too!

If you like more flavor choices, don’t forget the Torani Syrups I talked about using the last time I shared my Gourmet Hot Cocoa recipes! Those are great for changing up the flavors!

Yield: 1

DIY Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (6)

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time5 minutes

Total Time10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 ounces Quality Dark Belgian chocolate 56% min; 72% max.
  • 1 1/2 ounces Quality Milk chocolate
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Whipped cream such as Reddi Whip in the can
  • Dash of cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 Tablespoon White sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Add half milk, chocolate and salt in pan and heat on low heat.
  2. Stir until all chocolate is melted.
  3. Add remaining ingredients.
  4. Heat on Medium High heat.
  5. Stir rapidly
  6. Do not let boil
  7. Once all ingredients are dissolved, serve warm.
  8. Top with whipped cream and Chocolate curls/shavings.
  9. Enjoy!

The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (7)

Do you love Belgian hot Chocolate?

What is your favorite Belgian Hot chocolate recipe combinations?

The Best Belgian Hot Chocolate Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Parisian and Belgian hot chocolate? ›

The Parisian style is generally sweeter as they have extra sugar added, while the Belgian range can be more bitter (especially the high cocoa percentage ones.)

What makes hot chocolate taste better? ›

The 15 Best Things To Add To Hot Chocolate
  1. Add an extract. A quick and easy way to add flavor to your hot chocolate is by adding a splash of your favorite extract. ...
  2. Sprinkle in warm spices. ...
  3. Mix in Nutella. ...
  4. Swirl in caramel. ...
  5. Spike it. ...
  6. Infuse it with orange. ...
  7. Swap regular sugar for maple syrup. ...
  8. Add a shot (of coffee)
Dec 4, 2023

Why does Belgium make the best chocolate? ›

The beans used for Belgian chocolate are of superior quality, among other things because their origin and harvest are carefully selected. Moreover, the cocoa beans are ground very finely, so that Belgian chocolate has a very fine structure (from 15 to 18 microns).

How do you make options Belgian chocolate? ›

Preparation and Usage

Boil some water and let it cool slightly. Add 3 teaspoons (11g) of Options to your favourite mug and mix with a little water or milk for a creamier drink (or your preferred milk alternative) until smooth. Add the rest of your hot water, stirring continuously.

What are the best Belgian hot chocolate brands? ›

  • Neuhaus.
  • Godiva Best Belgian Chocolate brand.
  • Leonidas chocolate.
  • Pierre Marcolini Best Belgian Chocolate Brand.
  • Guylian Best Belgian Chocolate Brand.
Feb 28, 2024

What is the most famous Belgian chocolate? ›

Godiva. The Godiva Chocolatier story is the story of a craftsman chocolate maker, whose name has become a symbol of luxury and prestige the world over. It all started in Brussels in 1926, when Pierre Draps senior created his first praliné chocolates in the small workshop of his Brussels home.

Is hot chocolate best made with milk or water? ›

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

Is homemade hot chocolate better than store-bought? ›

Homemade hot chocolate is fantastic! It's creamier, has a richer chocolate taste and is lower in sugar than the store-bought packets. And, it's super simple to make. If you're a fellow hot cocoa lover, definitely give this homemade recipe a try.

What thickens hot chocolate? ›

Cornflour/Cornstarch: Mix a small amount with cold milk or water to create a smooth paste. Whisk this into your hot chocolate towards the end of the cooking process until it thickens. Double Cream: Stirring in a splash of double cream can instantly enrich and thicken your drink, giving it a velvety texture.

What is the secret of Belgian chocolate? ›

The secret of Belgian chocolate lies in what goes into it, and the know-how of the Master Chocolatiers. Chocolate 'made in Belgium' is characterised by a higher chocolate content than in other countries. The minimum level is 43%. Plus, the chocolate has to be 100% pure cocoa butter, with no added vegetable fats.

What is the King of the Belgians chocolate? ›

Belgian Dark Chocolate Couverture which we call The King of the Belgians is the best tasting gourmet style Belgian chocolate available. Perfect for all chocolate candy making or eat it straight from the bag and enjoy the flavor.

Is Swiss or Belgian chocolate better? ›

Ingredients: Belgian chocolate has a higher proportion of cocoa liquor to cocoa butter than Swiss chocolate, giving it a richer, more intense chocolate flavor. The Swiss also tend to use condensed milk in their chocolate, whereas Belgians use whole milk.

What are the ingredients in Belgian chocolate? ›

The only ingredients in Belgian chocolate are cocoa power, cocoa butter, sugar, vanilla, and soy lecithin, and in the case of milk or white chocolate there is also milk powder. This is another difference with Swiss chocolate which often includes Malt, and if so, is not gluten free.

What are the requirements for Belgian chocolate? ›

Cocoa content: Belgian chocolates must contain at least 35% cocoa solids, with the exception of milk chocolate, which must contain at least 25% cocoa solids. Ingredients: Belgian chocolatiers must use only natural ingredients, such as cocoa butter, cocoa powder, sugar, and milk.

What is chocolate called in Belgium? ›

Belgian chocolate (French: Chocolat Belge, German: Belgische Schokolade, Dutch: Belgische Chocolade) is chocolate produced in Belgium.

What makes Belgian chocolate different? ›

Because Belgian chocolate uses a high quantity of cocoa beans in their chocolate production process, they add less refined sugar to their chocolate offerings. Meanwhile, competing countries tend to use more sugar and lower quantities of cocoa beans, resulting in some taste differences.

What is Belgian style chocolate? ›

Belgium has a long tradition of chocolate making. Belgian chocolate couverture and baking chocolate are characteristically more buttery, medium sweet with medium bitterness. Filled Belgian chocolates such as truffles and molded pralines are very often in a fanciful shape and filled with butter creams or ganache.

Which country's hot chocolate is best? ›

Italy is another European country that loves its thick hot chocolate. Their version of hot chocolate uses heavy cream and milk like the French. But unlike the French, they go an extra step by adding cornstarch to thicken the mixture even more. The result is a pudding-like consistency that is still pourable.

What is the famous hot chocolate in Paris? ›

The most famous is likely the chocolat chaud from Angelina, which is made with African cocoa from Niger, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. It's so loved in France that the company even bottles the recipe and sells it online and in many French grocery stores.

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