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
In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, whisk the chocolate, sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup, cocoa powder, and salt together until the chocolate is melted. Whisking occasionally, allow the mixture to come to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes.
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.
Why is my homemade hot fudge sauce grainy? ›
Grainy Fudge
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. You can use a wet pastry brush to wipe down any sugar that sticks to the sides of the pot.
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).
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's the difference between chocolate fudge and hot fudge? ›
The main difference is the texture. Hot fudge is thicker and more rich while chocolate sauce is thinner and more pourable. Chocolate sauce stays sauce in the refrigerator, while hot fudge gets cold and thick…like fudge.
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.
Does homemade fudge sauce have to be refrigerated? ›
Typically, homemade hot fudge sauce can be stored in an airtight container and will retain its quality for up to three weeks when refrigerated. The durability of hot fudge sauce is attributed to its ingredient composition, which often includes cocoa powder, sugar, butter (how long does butter last?), and milk or cream.
How long does hot fudge sauce last? ›
Hot Fudge Recipe
Let cool for 20 to 30 minutes before using (it will thicken as it cools). Store in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
What is the secret to good fudge? ›
Valuable tips for successful fudge
- Don't stir during cooking. Fudge can be cooked on the stove or in the microwave. ...
- Avoid crystallization. During cooking, sugar crystals can stick to the sides of the pan. ...
- Let cool before beating. After being cooked, the sugar must crystallize again to create fudge. ...
- Beat the mixture.
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 to fix split hot fudge sauce? ›
If the mixture hasn't separated too badly, you may get away with a little vigorous blending or whisking. Pour the broken sauce into a blender and blend until smooth. If the sauce isn't hot enough to serve right away, return it to the stove over low heat. Stir constantly until warm to avoid it breaking again.
Do you refrigerate Smucker's hot fudge? ›
Yes, we do encourage you to always follow the microwaving instructions on the label for our Hot Fudge Topping and to be sure to store this product in the refrigerator after it has been opened.
What is a magic shell made of? ›
Magic shell is a combination of chocolate and fat (typically sunflower or coconut oil) that hardens into a firm, glossy shell when poured over ice cream. The fat lends the shell a soft, palatable texture so you can easily break through it with a spoon.
What is in Mackinac Island fudge? ›
Ingredients. Milk, cream, sugar, corn syrup, skim milk, high fructose corn syrup, whey, water, chocolate liquor, hydrogenated coconut oil, peanut oil, alkalized cocoa, mono and diglycerides, buttermilk, butter, natural flavors, soy lecithin, pectin, salt, cellulose gum, xanthan gum, guar gum, annatto (color), vanilla.
Is hot fudge the same as chocolate syrup? ›
In the simplest terms, it all comes down to viscosity — hot fudge is thicker than both chocolate sauce and chocolate syrup, with a richer, more decadent chocolate flavor.
What is hot fudge sundae made of? ›
Hot Fudge is a thick chocolate sauce that's served warm over ice cream to make a hot fudge sundae, then topped with nuts, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. You could really top it on a variety of different dessert recipes.
What is fudge made of? ›
Fudge is a dense, rich confection typically made with sugar, milk or cream, butter and chocolate or other flavorings. The base for fudge is boiled until it reaches the soft-ball stage (135 to 140 degrees F), then stirred or beaten as it cools to minimize the formation of sugar crystals.
