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 61 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 (13)

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Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is fudge sauce made of? ›

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.

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 is homemade hot fudge good for? ›

Place hot fudge in a jar. Use while hot. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. To reheat: place jar in microwave and heat in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until melted and 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 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 makes fudge so good? ›

It's the size of sugar crystals that makes the knees of fudge lovers buckle…the smaller the crystals, the less they are perceived on the tongue and the more the fudge tastes smooth and creamy. Cooking, and beating after cooking, is the key to successful fudge.

How do you keep hot fudge from getting hard? ›

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.

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.

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.

How to know if fudge is bad? ›

If you see deep cracks on the surface of the fudge, it is old and should not be consumed. In the case where the fudge experiences a change in temperature or is exposed to warm temperatures or high humidity, it can melt or have a slimy texture. If this is the case, it's better to play it safe and should not be consumed.

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.

What happens if you boil fudge too long? ›

Candy that isn't cooked long enough will end up too soft; overcooking makes fudge crumbly or hard. High-quality fudge has many small crystals. If the process of crystallization begins too early, fewer crystals form and they become much larger.

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 happens if you don't stir fudge? ›

By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals. Stirring would help sucrose molecules "find" one another and start forming crystals. Stirring also introduces air, dust, and small dried bits from the walls of the saucepan—all potential seeds for crystal formation.

Is Smucker's 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.

What's the difference between chocolate syrup and fudge? ›

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 makes fudge taste like fudge? ›

Fudge typically contains sugar, butter or cream, milk or condensed milk, cocoa powder (or melted chocolate), flavoring such as vanilla extract or peppermint oil, and sometimes nuts or marshmallows for added texture.

What's the difference between caramel and fudge? ›

What is fudge? While caramel usually contains just one key ingredient, fudge is made from a perfectly balanced mixture of sugar, butter, and milk. Plus, it's not heated as high — around 115 degrees Celsius.

What is Mackinac Island fudge made of? ›

The team has the process down pat: One person weighs the ingredients—raw chocolate from Germany, sugar from Bay City, and cream and butter—into a copper kettle set over a propane gas burner. The maker constantly stirs with an oak paddle until the sugary mixture reaches a roaring boil, about 16 to 17 minutes.

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