Hot Fudge Sauce
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Whip up this homemade hot fudge sauce for the ultimate chocolatey treat—so good, you'll be tempted to eat it straight from the spoon!
Got a craving for the perfect hot fudge sundae? Want to give your milkshake an irresistible chocolaty boost? Or maybe you’re just looking for a decadent drizzle for vanilla ice cream, pancakes, or waffles? Look no further than this homemade hot fudge sauce. Made with heavy cream, butter, and two types of chocolate, it strikes the perfect balance between bittersweet and creamy. A touch of salt enhances the chocolatey goodness, while a hint of vanilla rounds out the flavor.
The bonus? It’s incredibly easy to make. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a glossy, thick sauce that’s so delicious, you might find yourself sneaking spoonfuls straight from the pot. Store it in the fridge for a quick dessert upgrade whenever you need it. Just reheat gently, and you’re good to go!
What You’ll Need To Make Hot Fudge Sauce
![hot fudge sauce ingredients](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/Hot-fudge-sauce-step-01-1200x960.jpg)
- Heavy Cream: Provides a rich and creamy base for the sauce.
- Butter: Adds smoothness and enhances the sauce’s richness.
- Sugar: Sweetens the sauce and helps achieve the perfect consistency.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Bittersweet Or Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Melts into the sauce for deep chocolate flavor. Bittersweet and semisweet chocolate differ primarily in their cocoa content, with bittersweet being slightly less sweet and more intense; they are typically interchangeable in recipes without significantly affecting the final flavor.
- Dutch-Process Cocoa: Intensifies the chocolate taste and gives the sauce a smooth texture. Note that Dutch-process cocoa powder is different than natural cocoa powder.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a hint of vanilla to round out the flavors. Vanilla bean paste will also work nicely here.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, butter, sugar, and salt.
![cream, butter, sugar, and salt in medium saucepan](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/Hot-fudge-sauce-step-02-1200x960.jpg)
Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, and let simmer for about 1 minute.
![cream, butter, sugar, and salt simmering in medium saucepan](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/Hot-fudge-sauce-step-03-1200x960.jpg)
Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate).
![chocolate chips added to heated cream, butter, sugar, and salt in medium saucepan](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/Hot-fudge-sauce-step-04-1200x960.jpg)
Whisk until they are completely melted.
![whisking melted chocolate into cream mixture in medium saucepan](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/Hot-fudge-sauce-step-05-1200x960.jpg)
Add the sifted cocoa and whisk until no lumps remain.
![cocoa powder added to cream/chocolate mixture in medium saucepan](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/Hot-fudge-sauce-step-06-1200x960.jpg)
Return the pan to low heat and simmer the sauce, whisking constantly, until it becomes glossy and thick enough to coat a spoon, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. Serve the sauce warm.
![glossy, thick hot fudge in saucepan with wooden spoon](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/Hot-fudge-sauce-step-07-1200x960.jpg)
Store the sauce in a jar or covered container in the refrigerator. To reheat, warm it in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, or reheat gently on medium power in the microwave. Be careful not to let it boil.
![hot fudge in jar with lid on](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/Hot-fudge-sauce-step-08-1200x960.jpg)
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Hot Fudge Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips (or 1½ ounces from a bar, chopped)
- ½ cup Dutch-process cocoa, sifted
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, and let simmer for about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate); whisk until they are completely melted. Add the sifted cocoa and whisk until no lumps remain.
- Return the pan to low heat and simmer the sauce, whisking constantly, until it becomes glossy and thick enough to coat a spoon, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. Serve the sauce warm.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
So delicious and so easy! I had everything in my pantry. I did reheat portions in the microwave, 40% power for 30 seconds. This is so decadent!
This was outstanding! I had some whipped cream in the fridge that I didn’t want to waste so made this and devoured it (on ice cream, and straight off the spoon)!
Hi again Jen!
Wanting to use this recipe for a large event and it would need to keep warm and workable for an hour. Any suggestions on how to keep it that way?
Thanks again. Truly love all your recipes!
So glad you like the recipes! You can keep the hot fudge warm in a crockpot or using a sterno during your event.😊