• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Sugar Spun Run
  • All Recipes
  • Desserts
    • Cookies
    • Candy
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Cake
    • Pies
  • Breads (Yeast & Quick Breads)
  • Savory
  • Breakfast
    • Muffins
    • Scones
  • Seasonal
    • Cozy Winter / Holiday Treats
    • Easter / Spring
    • Fall Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • All Recipes
  • Contact/Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Desserts

    Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce (Chocolate Sauce)

    February 24, 2020 By Sam 29 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    A quick and easy homemade hot fudge sauce recipe. This chocolate sauce can be prepared in 15 minutes, and it’s perfect to serve warm over vanilla ice cream! Recipe includes a how-to video!

    Spooning hot fudge sauce out of a jar, showing thick consistency.

    It’s like a little black dress for your ice cream sundae.

    Funny how it never occurred to me until recently that this was something I could make at home. Hot fudge sauce is an ice cream sundae staple, but I hate the artificial taste of the kinds you can buy at the store. This fudge sauce is thick, glossy, and made with two different types of chocolate (cocoa powder and chocolate chips) for the richest chocolate flavor. It’s kinda a big deal.

    It’s also probably Zach’s favorite recipe on the whole blog! He’s been making it almost non-stop since I perfected the recipe, and makes sure we always have vanilla ice cream in the freezer just so he as an excuse to eat it. For someone who isn’t too crazy about sweets, that’s really saying something!

    Ingredients for hot fudge chocolate sauce

    What You Need:

    • Chocolate Chips. I like to use semisweet chips, but dark chocolate chips would also be delicious. You could also substitute a semisweet or bittersweet chocolate bar instead.
    • Sugar. Specifically, granulated sugar. It’s important that you keep your stovetop heat on medium and bring your hot fudge sauce to a boil slowly so that the sugar has time to dissolve. Otherwise you’ll be left with a grainy chocolate sauce!
    • Cream. Heavy cream, heavy whipping cream, or double cream will work here.
    • Light corn syrup. I have successfully made this recipe without corn syrup, but it lacks the shiny luster and the rich fudginess (evidently that isn’t a word 🤷🏼‍♀️) that makes this sauce so good. As I mentioned in my sugar cookie icing, corn syrup is not the same as high fructose corn syrup, just in case you were worried.
    • Cocoa powder. You can use either Dutch processed or natural unsweetened for this recipe.
    • Salt. Just a pinch, for flavor.
    • Butter. Stir this in at the end for a glossy finish and a full-bodied flavor
    • Vanilla extract. Yes, it’s chocolate sauce, but vanilla extract rounds out the flavor, adding a depth that you don’t want to omit.

     

    Making chocolate sauce in a small saucepan

    What is the Difference in Chocolate Sauce and Chocolate Syrup?

    Chocolate sauce (also known as “hot fudge sauce” is much thicker and richer than chocolate syrup. It’s also served warm, while chocolate syrup is not.

    Storing

    Once the hot fudge sauce has cooled, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for at least a week. Chocolate sauce will re-solidify in the fridge, so you will need to re-heat it each time you to use it.

    Hot fudge sauce is most commonly used for pouring over vanilla ice cream while it’s still warm, but we also love enjoying it by the spoonful or even drizzling it over edible cookie dough. That is a treat! It would also be great for pouring over a whipped cream topped homemade brownie if you’ve got a serious sugar craving.

    Drizzling hot fudge sauce over vanilla ice cream

    Enjoy, and let me know if you love this recipe as much as Zach does!

    More Recipes to Try:

    • Salted Caramel Sauce
    • Edible Cookie Dough
    • Chocolate Ganache (similar to chocolate sauce, but made for topping cakes/cheesecakes/etc.)

    Let’s bake together! Head on over to my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 200 recipe videos that you can watch for free!

    Hot fudge sauce

    Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce (Chocolate Sauce)

    A quick and easy homemade hot fudge sauce recipe. This chocolate sauce can be prepared in 15 minutes, it's perfect to serve warm over vanilla ice cream! Recipe includes a how-to video!
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 servings (2 Tablespoons per serving)
    Calories: 160kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • ⅔ cup (115 g) semisweet chocolate chips
    • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
    • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
    • 3 Tablespoons light corn syrup
    • 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder¹
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

    Recommended Equipment

    • Saucepan

    Instructions

    • Combine chocolate chips, sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup, cocoa powder, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.
      ⅔ cup (115 g) semisweet chocolate chips, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, 3 Tablespoons light corn syrup, 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder¹, ¼ teaspoon salt
    • Cook, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted and sugar is dissolved.
    • Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
    • Add butter and vanilla extract. Stir well. Mixture will be very thin/liquidy, but will thicken and become fudgy as it cools. Allow mixture to cool to desired consistency before serving over ice cream. If cooled completely, fudge will be too thick to pour and you will want to heat in the microwave for several seconds before serving (it is supposed to be “hot” fudge, after all).
      1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

    Notes

    ¹You can use natural or Dutch processed cocoa powder, I personally prefer the taste of Dutch processed in this recipe
    Leftover fudge sauce will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (2 Tablespoons) | Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 209IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
    « Lasagna Soup
    Eclairs »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Margaret

      September 10, 2024 at 3:58 pm

      5 stars
      I made this today along with your salted caramel sauce and both are VERY delicious. I also made your homemade vanilla but will have to wait 90 days to try it. Just in time for Christmas!! So far Iโ€™ve tried 4 of your recipes and ALL have been fabulous.

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 12, 2024 at 10:49 am

        I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed everything so much, Margaret! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Margaret Kuhn

      September 10, 2024 at 3:48 pm

      DELICIOUS and so easy. I will definitely be making it again. And again!!
      I may try the idea of adding peanut butter. Should I make according to the directions and then stir in the peanut butter after removing from the heat? And how much peanut butter would you recommend per batch?

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        September 11, 2024 at 11:33 am

        We havenโ€™t tried it but think you could add a spoonful or two after cooking while itโ€™s still warm ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Reply
    3. Carol Cassidy

      July 28, 2024 at 9:36 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delish.

      Reply
    4. Lynne

      May 01, 2024 at 2:29 pm

      Would this work to serve as a sauce over pound cake?

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 01, 2024 at 2:36 pm

        Hi Lynne! If you want to keep it on the side and to pour it over individual slices of pound cake as you plate and serve them that would work great and be delicious. I wouldn’t try to decorate the whole cake with it, though. If you’re looking for something for the whole cake that will keep well I would recommend my chocolate ganache instead. I hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Lynne Mizerany

          May 01, 2024 at 7:51 pm

          Thank you Sam. Yes, that is what I was planning on doing was serving on side. Canโ€™t wait to try! Thanks again and have a great night!

    5. Kathy

      February 12, 2024 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      Sam, youโ€™ve done it again! This fudge sauce is delicious, better than Mrs. Richards and so easy to make.

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 12, 2024 at 9:50 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Kathy! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. Amanda Houle

      January 15, 2024 at 8:25 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and simple. Can’t get much better than that! My new favorite. THANK you!

      Reply
    7. Denise Eichner

      September 14, 2023 at 11:44 pm

      5 stars
      Sam
      I had no doubt this recipe of yours would knock my husbandโ€™s socks off!!! Home run
      You did it againโ€ฆ he loves it.
      Sincerely
      Denise

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 15, 2023 at 10:41 am

        I’m so glad he enjoyed it so much! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    8. Andrea

      January 09, 2023 at 12:10 am

      This sounds amazing! I do have one question though- how hard is “hard” once it sets up? I’d love to make an ice cream cake with this in the middle (think DQ cakes), but would it set too hard? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 10, 2023 at 9:15 pm

        Hi Andrea! It is firm but I would say it’s softer than a ganache. I think it could work in an ice cream cake. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    9. SHERRY SHADLE

      April 16, 2021 at 9:36 am

      HEY SAM, CAN YOU ADD PEANUT BUTTER?

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 18, 2021 at 10:09 pm

        Hi Sherry! I haven’t tried it before, I think you would be OK to add a spoonful or two after cooking but while it’s still warm. Sounds tasty!

        Reply
    10. Kavitha ganesan

      January 24, 2021 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      Did this for my daugther who is 5 yrs old. She loves it and has been eating it everyday!
      Thank you for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 24, 2021 at 9:51 pm

        I am so glad she enjoyed it so much! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
      • ANNA

        March 07, 2021 at 7:23 am

        5 stars
        This! Will! Be! Perfect! For! My! Warm! Chocolate! Covered! Fruit! Craving!
        Yuchuuu! Thank you a lot! One tine in the month there’s always this week when I rave over chocolate. And I adore melting chocolate and then dipping fruits in it. But melting chocolate is too much work in this week, as I normally feel weak and don’t want to do nothing than eating chocolate. So this is perfect! Making at the beginning of the week, buying fruits, just putting in the microwave everytime there’s the need for chocolate, cutting or peeling fruits and enjoy! This is going to be soooo goood.

        Reply
        • Sam

          March 08, 2021 at 9:42 am

          I hope you love it! ๐Ÿ™‚

    11. Carole Morrison

      January 03, 2021 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars
      Iโ€™ve tried many & they all came out bitter. Your recipe is Amazing! Thanks so much Sam! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    12. Rikkie

      September 17, 2020 at 12:48 pm

      How much baking chocolate do 8 substitute for the chocolate chips?

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 17, 2020 at 1:05 pm

        4 oz. Enjoy! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    13. Pam

      May 19, 2020 at 1:48 pm

      5 stars
      So good poured over vanilla ice cream! Excellent flavor!

      Reply
    14. carin

      February 24, 2020 at 2:03 pm

      This recipe sounds dangerously tempting…it’s probably good that I don’t have a key ingredient on hand at the moment.

      Thanks for your blog. And I know you didn’t ask for proof-reading, but I can’t help myself. “Allow mixture to cool to desired consistency before serving over hot sauce.” Uhm… Hot fudge over hot sauce?

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 24, 2020 at 2:59 pm

        ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜…Whoops! Good eye, Carin! I will fix that now!

        Reply
    15. Carol S. Ortiz

      February 24, 2020 at 12:44 pm

      Tonight is the night! Garlic cheese rolls, pasta and your Hot Fudge Sauce! Thank you,

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        February 24, 2020 at 1:43 pm

        That all sounds wonderful, Carol! I hope that everyone enjoys it. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5 from 16 votes (7 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

    Warm Weather Recipes

    Square slice of frosted chocolate zucchini cake missing a bite.

    Chocolate Zucchini Cake

    sliced zucchini bread

    Zucchini Bread

    bowl of chicken corn chowder topped with bacon and green onions

    Chicken Corn Chowder

    Jar of homemade strawberry sauce with a gold spoon sticking out of it.

    Simple Strawberry Sauce

    Glass bowl of ambrosia salad topped with a maraschino cherry.

    Ambrosia Salad

    Glass of watermelon lemonade garnished with fresh mint and lemon slices.

    Watermelon Lemonade

    More Spring Recipes

    Most Popular

    flaky biscuit on white cloth

    Easy Homemade Biscuits

    Pizza dough in glass bowl, after rising

    The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

    Slice of cheesecake

    The Best Cheesecake Recipe

    Potato soup in bowl, with toppings

    The Ultimate Creamy Potato Soup

    one bite missing from a slice of vanilla cake with chocolate frosting

    The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe

    Stack of cookies made from this chocolate chip cookie recipe with melty chocolate chips and a bite missing from the top cookie

    The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

    places sugar spun run has been featured (Women's Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, the huffington post, People, Delish, MSN, TLC, Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed)
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Privacy Policy

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    ABOUT

    • About Me
    • Policies, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Terms of Use

    CONTACT

    • Contact
    • Work with Me!

    ยฉ 2020 Sugar Spun Run. All Rights Reserved

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.