The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2024)

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!!

This post contains affiliate links, which means we earn a commission if you make a purchase. For more information, please read our disclosure here.

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (1)

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.

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2)

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.

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (3)

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!!!

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (4)

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!).

Print Recipe

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

Course: Dessert

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!

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (5)

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (6)

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (7)

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (8)

The Best (& Easiest) Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between hot fudge and chocolate sauce? ›

Honestly, I've always wondered this! The main difference is the texture. Hot fudge is thicker and more rich while chocolate sauce is thinner and more pourable.

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 Mcdonald's hot fudge made of? ›

Hot Fudge Topping

Ingredients: Sugar, Water, Nonfat Milk, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa (processed With Alkali), Corn Syrup, Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Polyglycerol Esters Of Fatty Acids. Contains: Milk, Soy.

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.

How long does homemade hot fudge 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. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute until it's pourable but still thick.

Why does hot fudge taste different than 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.

Is Smuckers hot fudge good? ›

Smucker's Hot Fudge Topping

It's more like ganache than syrup. It's extremely creamy and silky smooth. It's not the best hot fudge sauce when it comes to flavor—not to say it's bad, it's just a bit more understated than the others on this list. But that texture, ooo whee.

Do you refrigerate hot fudge? ›

Just pop it in the microwave and heat in 45 second intervals until smooth! Storage: This is just fine kept at room temp for a day, but if you are going to keep it overnight or for an extended period of time, pop it in the fridge and just reheat in the microwave.

Why did my hot fudge sauce separate? ›

Heat can cause the oil to separate from the water-based ingredients in the sauce, resulting in a watery consistency. Another reason is that the emulsifiers in the sauce can break down under the influence of heat.

What is the most unhealthy dessert at McDonald's? ›

With more sugar and saturated fat than any of the dessert items at McDonald's, the McFlurry with M&M's is by far the unhealthiest option you can choose. If you're craving ice cream, you can opt for something like the Vanilla Cone instead.

Why is hot fudge so good? ›

In fact, hot fudge sauce is just a fudge that never sets! Cream or milk, sugar, and butter are slowly boiled down until slightly thickened and light caramel-colored. This boiling-down process not only gives the sauce it's great gooey texture, but also contributes that special “fudgey” taste to the chocolate.

Why is McDonald's fudge so good? ›

That culprit is the sweetened condensed milk. One of a pastry chef's best friends, this is often the secret ingredient in lots of fudgy things, from dulce de leche to Key lime pie to, well, fudge. It's definitely something you should be baking with, if you aren't already.

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge
  • Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
  • Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
  • Beat Thoroughly.
Mar 8, 2023

Is it safe to can hot fudge sauce? ›

That's not to say that recipes aren't available, there are plenty of them on the internet, but they are NOT safe. Chocolate sauces are low-acid foods. Improper canning of low-acid foods has the potential to allow the spores that cause botulism to grow. Botulism is a food poisoning.

Why does hot fudge get hard when it cools? ›

Too cooked

This fudge was cooked to a temperature of 118 °C (244 °F). At this temperature, the sugar is too concentrated and there is not enough water left to form syrup around sugar crystals. The result is hard and brittle fudge. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 45 to 60 ml (3 or 4 tbsp.)

What is difference between fudge and sauce? ›

Answer: The big difference between fudge and sauce is the texture. Fudge tends to be thicker and more indulgent, while sauce is noticeably thinner. Sauce also has sugar and water or corn syrup, while fudge uses heavier ingredients like cream and butter.

Are chocolate sauce and chocolate syrup the same thing? ›

Chocolate Syrup: made with just water – no additional fat like cream or butter. It's thinner in consistency than sauces and easily mixes into drinks. Chocolate Sauce: usually made with the addition of milk, cream, or butter. It's thicker in consistency.

What is a fancy name for chocolate sauce? ›

synonyms: chocolate syrup. types: fudge sauce, hot-fudge sauce.

What's the difference between hot chocolate and hot chocolate? ›

The source of the chocolate flavour is different. Hot Chocolate is made using solid chocolate melted in warm milk or cream. Hot Cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa with added sugar and dissolved in hot water or hot milk.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 5718

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.