Easy Hot Fudge Sauce
Easy Hot Fudge Sauce combines butter, chocolate, sugar, evaporated milk, and vanilla for the tastiest ice cream topping. This 5-ingredient sauce stores well in your refrigerator for several weeks and heats up well in the microwave. Add it to all of your favorite ice cream recipes!
Hot Fudge Sauce
Over the years, my list of homemade ice cream recipes has continued to grow due to two factors. One, my dessert love language is and always has been ice cream. And two, my readers continue to request new recipes.
So it only makes sense that I finally share a hot fudge sauce recipe here too. Right?
Why This Recipe Works:
- JUST FIVE INGREDIENTS – This simple hot fudge sauce contains just five simple ingredients. It’s also quick to make on the stovetop which is a win/win.
- THICK AND DELICIOUS – Let the sauce sit at room temperature on your countertop (uncovered) and it will thicken up fairly quickly.
- FUDGY – Hot fudge sauce is extra fudgy and is great on ice cream sundaes or a simple bowl of vanilla ice cream!
What You’ll Need:
You’ll find these simple ingredients in your local grocery store.
- Butter – I use unsalted butter in this recipe. If you use salted butter, just skip the pinch of salt.
- Bittersweet Chocolate – You could use any chocolate including dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Our personal preference is Ghiraldi’s bittersweet baking bar.
- Granulated Sugar – This is needed to sweeten the hot fudge sauce.
- Evaporated Milk – You’ll need a small 5-ounce can.
- Vanilla Extract – We use our favorite – Watkin’s Vanilla.
- pinch of salt
How to make Chocolate Fudge Sauce:
Step 1
Melt the chocolate. In a small saucepan, add the butter and chopped chocolate over medium heat. Cook until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring constantly.
Step 2
Add sugar and milk. Then add the sugar and evaporated milk to the pan and stir well.
Step 3
Cook until thickened. Continue cooking the mixture over medium heat until it becomes thick, about 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
Step 4
Store sauce. Pour the fudgy sauce into a 2-cup mason jar. Store in the refrigerator.
Step 5
Serve. Serve this chocolate fudge sauce over your favorite ice cream!
NOTE on Reheating: Remove lid from the jar and re-heat in your microwave for about 30 seconds or until easy to serve over ice cream.
Favorite Ice Cream Recipes:
So many ice cream flavors, so little time, right? Here are some of our favorite ice cream recipes to enjoy with the best hot fudge sauce.
- Something fruity? Peach | Blueberry | Strawberry | Creamsicle | Strawberry Cheesecake | Lemon Custard
- Chocolatey? Chocolate Peanut Butter | Nutella | Chocolate Fudge Brownie
- Classic? Vanilla Bean | Butter Pecan | Mint Chip | Oreo | Caramel Swirl
- Something different? Peppermint Stick | Pumpkin | Coffee Toffee | Reese’s PB | S’mores
Other Chocolate Desserts:
Some of our favorite desserts are chocolate! It’s a good thing to have choices.
- Cookies – Brownie Crinkle Cookies, Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies, or Super Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Brownies – Texas Sheet Cake Brownies, Triple Chocolate Brownies, or Oreo Brownie Cookies
- Cakes – Chocolate Cookie Cake, Chocolate Buttermilk Cake, or Mini Lava Cakes
Recipe FAQs:
Homemade hot fudge sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. It may thicken when chilled, but you can easily reheat it before serving.
To prevent homemade hot fudge sauce from becoming grainy, make sure to thoroughly whisk the ingredients before heating and stir continuously while heating to ensure the sugar dissolves completely.
Homemade hot fudge sauce is delicious served over ice cream, brownies, cakes, pancakes, or waffles. You can also use it as a dip for cookies or pretzels, or drizzle it over milkshakes or an ice cream cake for extra indulgence.
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Easy Hot Fudge Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 5 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate. In a small saucepan, add the butter and chopped chocolate over medium heat. Cook until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring constantly.
- Add sugar and milk. Then add the sugar and evaporated milk to the pan and stir well.
- Cook until thickened. Continue cooking the mixture over medium heat until it becomes thick, about 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
- Store sauce. Pour the fudgy sauce into a 2-cup mason jar. Store in the refrigerator.
- Serve. Serve this chocolate fudge sauce over your favorite ice cream!
I love ice cream and this simple 5 ingredient recipe brings me joy!
Amen!