I have a major sweet tooth, so I’m always ready for a delicious dessert! So, when I came across a hot fudge sauce recipe that was so easy, and yet so delicious, I knew I had a keeper!
Hot fudge sauce can sound intimidating to make, but you will be pleasantly surprised by how quickly this comes together! And I have a secret, I actually make mine in the microwave most of the time!!
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Hot Fudge Sauce: A Party Must Have
Hot fudge sauce is a staple in my house, because you can use it to dress up any dessert! Boxed brownies? drizzle on hot fudge & chopped nuts! Store-bought cookies? Serve with ice cream (here’s a GREAT recipe) & hot fudge! Fresh fruit? Dip in hot fudge sauce! Simple boxed cake? add hot fudge, nuts, whipped cream, & a cherry on top!
Hot fudge is the perfect compliment to almost any dessert that you will be serving! And you can make it ahead & just pull it out of the fridge & warm it before your gathering!
The Perfect Hot Fudge Recipe
Growing up all I knew was Hershey’s syrup. Now, I love chocolate, but the chocolate syrup is TOO SWEET! And even store-bought hot fudge sauce is a step up, but still isn’t great. But this hot fudge recipe is perfect because it is rich, and not overly sweet (that’s how I like it!). However, if you prefer it a little sweeter, you can always add more sugar while your sauce is still hot.
The original recipe (from The Cafe Sucre Farine) calls for 1/4 cup of sugar, but since most desserts are usually pretty sweet on their own, I don’t think it needs any more sugar.
I also use dark chocolate chips. You can use semi-sweet or bittersweet if you prefer. The original recipe calls for “good quality” chocolate cut into small pieces. In my area, it’s difficult to come by anything more than Toll House, so that is what I use most of the time, and the sauce comes out perfectly!
A Note on Scorching (aka burning) Chocolate
If you have ever heated chocolate directly in a pan, you may have had an experience with scorching chocolate. This can be heartbreaking! One minute you are on your way to smooth, velvety bliss, the next you have a thick, lumpy mess!
The great thing about this recipe is that the chocolate will actually melt due to the hot cream that it’s sitting in, so it doesn’t scorch! (In my experience, semi-sweet, dark chocolate & bittersweet chocolate does not scorch as easily as milk & white chocolate).
If you have ever made chocolate ganache (sounds super fancy, but is really just chocolate & heavy cream), you may know that you heat the cream until almost boiling. Next, pour your cream over the chocolate in a bowl and then place a lid or plate over it for about 5 minutes.
What happens next is almost miraculous! Once you remove the plate, you will begin to whisk the chocolate together with the cream. At first, your heart might sink because it appears that the chocolate will not incorporate well, and then suddenly, the chocolate ganache becomes smooth, velvety & PERFECT!
You can use the same method to make this hot fudge sauce recipe if you want, or you can put the cream & chocolate in the microwave in 30-second increments! Either way, you’ll come out with this beautiful, rich, delicious sauce that you might just want to drink!!!
This recipe is so quick & easy (& pretty much foolproof) that sometimes I just throw a few chocolate chips, a little half & half & butter in the microwave for a quick, single-serving treat! (Shhhh! Don’t tell anybody, I might have to share!).
Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup half & half
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 dash salt
- 1/4 cup sugar optional if you want your sauce a little sweeter
Instructions
Place cream, chocolate chips, butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds & stir. If the chocolate is not melted thru, place back in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Stir with a whisk until smooth & velvety, add salt & vanilla & mix until well incorporated.
I hope this hot fudge sauce recipe becomes one of your family favorites too! Leave a comment below & let me know if you tried it and what you think about it!
FAQs
Heat Ingredients: Combine sugar, light corn syrup, heavy cream, salt and water to a saucepan and stir well. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring well. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Add Chocolate Mixture: Pour the chocolate mixture into the syrup and stir until smooth.
What makes hot fudge taste different? ›
Hot fudge is made by boiling together cream, sugar, chocolate, and sometimes butter—the traditional ingredients for fudge—into what is essentially just an undercooked, unset version of the confection. It differs from plain old chocolate sauce by virtue of being gooier and more viscous.
What is the best way to beat fudge? ›
Beat the mixture
After letting the fudge cool, it's time to beat it. It is important to stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to thicken and its surface starts to look dull or matte. Now is the time to stop beating and pour the fudge into a mould.
Why is my homemade hot fudge sauce grainy? ›
Grainy Fudge
The sugars probably crystallized, a common mistake when making candy like fudge or caramel. If the melting sugar splashes onto the sides of the pan, it turns back into crystals and causes the fudge to seize up. To avoid this issue, swirl the pan instead of stirring it with a spoon.
What is Dairy Queen hot fudge made of? ›
Artificially Flavored Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream: Milkfat And Nonfat Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Whey, Mono And Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Guar Gum, Polysorbate 80, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate, Chocolate Flavored Hot Fudge Topping: Corn Syrup, Skim Milk, Sugar, Hydrogenated (Palm Kernel or Coconut Oil), ...
What are the ingredients in Smuckers hot fudge sauce? ›
Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Soybean Oil, Cocoa Processed With Alkali And Cocoa, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Fully Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Mono And Diglycerides, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Vanillin (artificial Flavor).
How do you thicken hot fudge? ›
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.
What makes fudge taste like fudge? ›
Fudge incorporates sugar, milk, butter, and other ingredients such as cocoa for chocolate fudge. The chocolatier then heats these products together until they melt. After this, the mixture is beaten during the cooling process. Think of fudge as a food consisting of crystallized sugar.
What is the difference between chocolate syrup and hot fudge? ›
Ingredients: Hot fudge sauce is typically made with chocolate, sugar, butter, and cream or milk, while chocolate syrup is made with cocoa powder, sugar, and water or milk. Consistency: Hot fudge sauce has a thicker and creamier consistency than chocolate syrup, which tends to be thinner and more liquidy.
What should you not do when making fudge? ›
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
- Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
- Stirring the Sugar. ...
- Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
- Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
- Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
- Scraping the Pot. ...
- Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Why won't my 3 ingredient fudge set? This often happens when the condensed milk and chocolate chip mixture isn't hot enough to start.
Do you stir fudge while it is boiling? ›
Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer
Another key part of a successful fudge texture is when you stir the mixture. Stirring the sugar and milk during the initial stages of cooking allows the sugar to dissolve. However, once the mixture comes to a boil, it's time to put the spoon down.
What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›
Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.
How do you make homemade hot sauce smooth? ›
The more liquid you incorporate—whether it's brine, vinegar, or soy sauce—the thinner your sauce will be. For a smoother texture, prolonged blending is your best bet. If you want your sauce even smoother, then straining that blended sauce is an even better option.
Will powdered sugar thicken fudge? ›
How to thicken your fudge? If your fudge it noticeably thin, you may want to add more chocolate. If you are out of chocolate, you can also add 1/4-1/2 cup of powdered sugar. This, however, can make the fudge very sweet.
What is McDonald's hot fudge made of? ›
View Ingredients and Allergens
Ingredients: Sugars (sugar, glucose syrup), Water, Milk ingredients, Hydrogenated palm kernel oil or hydrogenated coconut oil, Cocoa, Salt, Disodium phosphate, Potassium sorbate, Natural flavour (plant source), Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, Soy lecithin.
Is hot fudge and chocolate syrup the same? ›
Ingredients: Hot fudge sauce is typically made with chocolate, sugar, butter, and cream or milk, while chocolate syrup is made with cocoa powder, sugar, and water or milk. Consistency: Hot fudge sauce has a thicker and creamier consistency than chocolate syrup, which tends to be thinner and more liquidy.
What is hot chocolate fudge made of? ›
This recipe is SO simple to make! Mix your favorite hot cocoa drink mix with melted chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk for a rich, chocolaty treat. Then, sprinkle on some crushed peppermint candy to add a festive touch!
What is hot fudge sundae made of? ›
A classic dessert, this Hot Fudge Sundae is a delicious combination of ice cream and rich hot fudge. Top it with whatever your heart desires or go with the classic whipped cream, sprinkles, nuts, and a cherry.
