Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2024)

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This all-time favorite hot fudge sauce recipe is a family favorite for pouring on your sweet treats. All you need is 4 ingredients!

We love to serve this hot fudge sauce recipe on Vanilla Ice Cream, Funnel Cakes, and even fruit! It’s irresistible in every sense of the word and you’ll find yourself trying not to eat it straight from the jar!

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (1)

Homemade Chocolate Sauce

I am SOOO excited to share this next sauce with you guys today!

Let’s just say that it’s one the hubby begs me to make because he’ll eat it straight from the jar ALL BY ITSELF (no joke!!)

This hot fudge sauce recipe is a simple but delicious recipe that is good on ANY dessert. We use it on ice cream sundaes and especially on funnel cakes. Spoon the mixture and drizzle on croissants, brownies, ice cream cakes, waffles, pancakes, or any favorite desserts. It takes minutes to put together and is seriously the best topping you’ll ever make!

I also love that this makes a simple and inexpensive gift idea. Just put it in a cute mason jar with a ribbon around the top, and I promise the recipient will love you forever.

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2)

How to Make Hot Fudge

Homemade hot fudge sauce is ready in minutes and only requires 4 ingredients!

COOK. Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 8 minutes, stirring constantly. Enjoy on just about anything!!

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (3)

Recipe Tips

If you give this hot fudge sauce as a gift be sure to specify that it needs to be refrigerated, especially when it is stored in a glass jar.

Thicken sauce. If you follow the instructions correctly the chocolate fudge sauce should not turn out runny and it thickens up as it cools down.

To make it even thicker even after it has cooled then try adding a little more powdered sugar to it. You will need to reheat it as you add it in.

Thinner sauce. If you find that your sauce is too thick for your liking then heat it up and add a little more evaporated milk or butter to the sauce.

Serve with Ice Cream, Homemade Brownies, Funnel Cakes, Fruit and more!

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (4)
Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (5)

Storing Tips

Make ahead of time. Because this sauce stores so well it can easily be made ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container or jar and place it in the fridge. Rewarm slowly before serving.

STORE. Pour the easy hot fudge sauce into a glass jar or airtight container and seal it with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

To reheat. Use the microwave or stovetop to warm up the sauce. Just be careful that you do not overheat and burn it.

FREEZE this best hot fudge sauce for later. To freeze, pour the sauce into a jar or a freezer-safe container. Let it cool completely. This may take a few hours, you can put it in the fridge to make it cool faster. Then seal the jar or container with a lid and freeze for 6-12 months.

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (6)

Recipe FAQ

Can I bottle homemade hot fudge sauce to store it on the shelf?

I don’t recommend canning your fudge sauce. If you are wanting to store it for later, it is best stored frozen.

Do I have to heat up the hot fudge sauce every time I use it?

This sauce can be served hot or cold. It can be reheated on the stove or in the microwave just be sure to heat it slowly so it doesn’t burn. Also, you can reheat it as many times as you’d like, it shouldn’t change the texture or taste of the sauce.

How is chocolate fudge sauce different from chocolate sauce?

Chocolate sauce is thinner and typically uses sugar, water, and corn syrup whereas fudge sauce is much thicker and uses heavier cream and butter.

For More Sauces, Check Out:

  • Homemade Chocolate Syrup
  • Strawberry Sauce
  • Caramel Sauce
  • Chocolate Gravy
  • White Chocolate Fudge Sauce

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (7)

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (8)

4.99 from 60 votes

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna

This all-time favorite hot fudge sauce recipe is a family favorite for pouring on your sweet treats. All you need is 4 ingredients!

Servings: 16 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 8 minutes mins

Total: 13 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 12 ounces evaporated milk
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to boil and cook 8 minutes, stirring constantly. Enjoy on just about anything!!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 186kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 74mg, Potassium: 112mg, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 230IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 62mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Making this recipe? Tag us!

Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

Categorized as: American Recipes, Candy, Cuisines, Desserts, , Recipes

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

More About Kristyn

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Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (14)

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Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my hot fudge sauce gritty? ›

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 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), ...

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. Double Cream: Stirring in a splash of double cream can instantly enrich and thicken your drink, giving it a velvety texture.

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.

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

What is the secret to non grainy fudge? ›

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.

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 does hot fudge taste so good? ›

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.

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.

Why does hot fudge get hard when it cools? ›

Corn syrup is really the secret ingredient to making the best hot fudge, because without it, the chocolate and butter would harden up as the sauce cools. If you prefer not to use corn syrup, try golden syrup, which is made from cane sugar and works just as well.

Why is my hot fudge not thickening? ›

If your fudge fails to harden in the fridge, it means that you probably didn't cook it to the right temperature. Fudge is a candy, and that means it is extremely picky about temperature - fudge must be cooked to precisely 237–239 degrees Fahrenheit so that sugar forms the desired consistency when cooled.

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 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 do McDonald's not do sundaes anymore? ›

"The Government recommendations regarding sugar also played a part in the removal." A McDonald's spokeswoman added at the time: "The removal of sundaes from our menu makes room for the mini McFlurry and promotional favourites like the Smarties McFlurry, which have proved incredibly popular with customers."

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.

How do you fix grainy hot fudge? ›

Stir in a bit of water or cream — the amount you need will vary based on how big a batch you're making, but a half cup of liquid should be a good starting point. Stir gently as the mixture reheats, making sure that you don't burn the fudge.

How do you fix grainy hot chocolate? ›

I've tried a couple of different techniques:
  1. Whisk in the cocoa powder with the milk before heating.
  2. Lower the heat and add the cocoa powder bit by bit.
  3. Create a cocoa powder slurry with a 1:1 ratio of water to cocoa powder by volume, smoothing out any graininess with my (clean) finger and drizzling that in slowly.
Dec 11, 2022

How do you get rid of grainy texture in sauce? ›

All you have to do is cool the broken sauce, add a tablespoon of lemon juice (or white wine, if you don't mind the flavor), and whisk vigorously.

What to do if sauce is too grainy? ›

Add a little liquid––if you're just beginning to notice signs of breaking––droplets of fat forming around the edges of the pot or pan––don't add any more fat, but revert back to adding just a teaspoon or two of your 'base' liquid (water, broth, vinegar, etc), and keep judiciously stirring or whisking until the sauce ...

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