• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • My Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Shop
  • Contact

The Flavor Bender

Master the Science of Delicious

  • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Desserts
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Candy & Bite Sizes
      • Chocolate
      • Cookies, Brownies & Bars
      • Frozen Desserts
      • Fruit Desserts
      • Puddings & Custards
      • No Bake
      • Pastries & Breads
      • Tarts & Pies
      • Cheesecakes
      • Healthy sweets
    • Breakfasts
      • Tarts, Quiches, & Pies
      • Waffles, Pancakes & Crepes
      • Quick Breads, Scones & Muffins
      • Breakfast Sandwiches
      • Pastries & Breads
      • Eggs
      • Breakfast & Brunch Drinks
      • Make Ahead Breakfasts
      • Healthy Breakfasts
      • Coffee and Tea drinks
      • Breakfast Smoothies & Juices
      • Breakfast Sides
      • Casseroles
    • Courses
      • Main Meals
        • Bread, Sandwiches & Burgers
        • Curries
        • Salads
        • Roasts & BBQ
        • Soups & Stews
        • Casseroles
      • Bread
      • Lunch
      • Beverages
      • Appetizers & Tapas
      • Sides
      • Dips & Condiments
      • Tea Time & Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Meal Prep
      • Cocktails
    • Cuisines
      • American
      • European
      • Australasian
      • Sri Lankan
      • East Asian
      • Mexican
      • Middle Eastern
      • South Asian
    • Sri Lankan
      • Main Meals
      • Drinks
    • Skill Level
      • Easy
        • Easy Desserts
        • Easy Cooking
        • Easy Breads
        • Easy Breakfasts
        • Easy Dinners
      • Intermediate
        • Intermediate Desserts
        • Intermediate Cooking
        • Intermediate Breads
        • Intermediate Breakfasts
        • Intermediate Dinners
      • Advanced
        • Advanced Desserts
        • Advanced Cooking
  • New? Start Here
  • Measurement Conversions
  • How-To Posts
The Flavor Bender Recipes All Dessert Recipes Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

10 mins
Easy
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
554 shares

Disclaimer: The Flavor Bender is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. There are links on this site that can be defined as “affiliate links”. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you) that will help support this website.

Author: Dini K.
Posted: 8/7/2019
Updated: 1/15/2020
Social Media Hot Fudge Sauce

Thick, rich, fudgy and deeply chocolatey – this Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce is easily the best ice cream topping in existence. And it makes the BEST chocolate shake, hot chocolate and ice chocolate milk too!

This homemade hot fudge sauce couldn’t be simpler to make, and you’ll never want to buy it from the store again! 

Homemade Hot fudge sauce being drizzled over ice cream

No ice cream topping in the world compares to thick, rich, deeply chocolatey Hot Fudge Sauce. For me at least. A scoop of smooth, creamy vanilla ice cream and delicious hot fudge sauce… I dare you to name a better duo!

Here’s why you will love making this hot fudge sauce recipe.

  • SUPER easy to make. Ready in 10 minutes!
  • So chocolatey and fudgy. Perfect for ice cream sundaes.
  • Makes the best chocolate shakes in the world.
  • Great for hot chocolate or ice chocolate milk too.

Chocolate hot fudge sauce recipe made in a saucepan, cooling down.

Homemade hot fudge sauce has been my number one ice cream topping for as long as I can remember. Mainly because it’s so easy to make, even a kid could nail it. When my sister was little and we used to have all-night movie nights, ice cream sundaes with homemade chocolate fudge sauce were always on the menu. It’s so good that you can (and probably will) eat it straight out of the jar. But for best results, pair it with some ice cream. 🙂

I’ve made this chocolate sauce many times over the years, but this is definitely my favorite version of it.

Here’s what you need to make this easy and delicious sauce

  • Corn syrup (or any invert sugar syrup)
  • Brown sugar
  • Cocoa powder
  • Cream
  • Chocolate
  • Butter

I do recommend that you NOT omit any of these ingredients, because each one plays a crucial role in making this easy hot fudge sauce.

Ingredients to make hot fudge sauce in a saucepan
Bubbling cocoa mix in a saucepan, with chocolate and butter on the side

Can I make homemade hot fudge sauce with a corn syrup substitute? 

You can use any sugar syrup made with invert sugar (which is a mix of glucose and fructose, the two components of sucrose – i.e. regular sugar).

This includes golden syrup, honey, or even agave syrup.

The purpose of using corn syrup (or invert sugar syrup) is to give hot fudge sauce that “elastic” or “stretchy” quality. This contributes to its fudginess too. So if corn syrup is not your jam, do use a substitute to get the same results.

Having said that, do NOT substitute corn syrup with white sugar or brown sugar. This would cause the chocolate fudge sauce to have a grainy texture or crystallize as it cools and thickens.

Can I make this fudge sauce with just the cocoa powder? 

I wouldn’t recommend substituting the chocolate with more cocoa powder for this recipe. If that is what you’re looking for, it would be better to try a recipe that has been tested with just cocoa powder.

The same goes for cocoa powder. If you don’t have cocoa powder, you could in theory replace it with more chocolate, but it will change the consistency and taste for sure.

Cocoa powder adds a deep chocolate flavor that’s much needed for chocolate hot fudge sauce, while chocolate adds the fudginess in chocolate hot fudge sauce.

Chocolate and butter added last to the hot fudge sauce

What other substitutions can I make? 

If you don’t have whipping cream (35% fat content), you can use table cream (18%). It will result in a slightly runnier, less rich fudge sauce. I’ve done this several times before though, when I ran out of cream.

Can I make this into a vegan hot fudge sauce?

To make vegan hot fudge sauce, you will need to omit butter and cream.

So instead of butter, you can add coconut oil or a vegan butter. This ingredient adds that beautiful sheen to this chocolate sauce, so don’t skip it.

And instead of cream, use coconut cream. It will have a high fat content and be thick enough to be a substitute for the cream.

Also make sure the chocolate you use is a good quality vegan chocolate.

How to make chocolate hot fudge sauce

Heat the ingredients (except for chocolate and butter) in a saucepan until bubbly and syrupy.

Then the chocolate and butter are added, and melted into the hot sauce to make it fudgier and thicker.

That’s it. Easy peasy.

Let it cool down a little and this delicious hot fudge sauce is ready to be served (and licked clean off the bowl). It’s best served just a little warm, so if make sure to warm it up just a little bit if it’s at room temperature.

I guarantee you’ll never want to buy store-bought hot fudge sauce once you’ve tried this recipe!

One of my favorite things to do with this chocolate hot fudge sauce is to make chocolate milkshakes with it. Simply, mix some of this chocolate sauce with milk, vanilla ice cream and blend. Then top it with more ice cream and homemade hot fudge sauce, and serve! Ultimate sweet, indulgent bliss…

A jar full of homemade hot fudge sauce with a spoon full of hot fudge sauce showing the consistency

If you liked this recipe, then you will also like these chocolate recipes,

Fudge Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Classic Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Eclairs

Looking for more recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.

Chocolate hot fudge sauce social media
5 from 3 votes

Chocolate Hot Fudge Sauce

Author: Dini K.
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Easy hot fudge sauce that's ready in 10 minutes. Perfect for ice cream sundaes as a topping, or to make the best chocolate ice cream shakes! 
EASY - Fast & Easy recipe. Perfect for a novice. Recipe is flexible for slight variations in ingredients.
Common Measurement Conversions
Prep: 5 minutes minutes
Cook: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 16 servings
Print Rate

Ingredients:

  • ⅓ cup corn syrup
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder sifted
  • ⅔ cup whipping cream
  • ½ tsp kosher salt or sea salt or less if that's your preference
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 7 oz of semisweet chocolate or bittersweet chocolate for a less sweet fudge sauce with a deeper chocolate flavor
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
US Customary - Metric

Instructions:

  • Place the corn syrup, brown sugar, cocoa powder, cream, salt and vanilla extract in a medium-sized saucepan.
  • Heat over medium heat while whisking occasionally until the cocoa powder has dissolved, and you get a smooth mix.
  • Continue to cook the hot fudge sauce until it comes to a boil. Then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 3 minutes.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the chocolate chips and butter. Whisk to dissolve.
  • Transfer the sauce into glass jars and let them cool slightly.
  • Serve over ice cream while still warm.
  • Store in the refrigerator, but warm it up gently in the microwave (or in a water bath on the stove), before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1tbspCalories: 175kcal (9%)Carbohydrates: 20g (7%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 11g (17%)Saturated Fat: 6g (38%)Cholesterol: 20mg (7%)Sodium: 12mg (1%)Potassium: 107mg (3%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 17g (19%)Vitamin A: 219IU (4%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 23mg (2%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

Course:Desserts
Cuisine:American
Keyword:Chocolate, Sauce Recipes
Did you make this?Tag me on Instagram!I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @TheFlavorBender or leave me a comment & rating below.

More Recipes You'll Love...

  • Brown Butter Butterscotch Chocolate Fudge Sauce
    Brown Butter Butterscotch Chocolate Fudge Sauce
  • Super Chocolately Hot Chocolate Mix and Red Velvet Hot Chocolate Mix
  • Rum and Peppermint White Hot Chocolate - A boozy twist on the classic with refreshing peppermint flavor! So creamy and not too sweet and perfect for winter!
    Rum and Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or recipe review here.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Teresa H says

    September 20, 2022 at 20:33

    5 stars
    Delicious, this one is a keeper. I used Drost cocoa and Costco chocolate chips.

    Reply
  2. Sheila james says

    June 19, 2020 at 15:01

    5 stars
    This receipe was so easy to follow and it tastes amazing too

    Reply
  3. carol atwill says

    March 4, 2020 at 12:10

    To make this vegan how much coconut cream is equivalent to 2/3 cup whipping cream? Since the coconut cream is a solid I’m not sure how to make the conversion.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  4. Anthony Allen says

    August 15, 2019 at 22:32

    5 stars
    This is truly the BEST hot fudge sauce! I made two batches (regular + peppermint) for my nieces and nephews (with ice cream, sprinkles, crushed candy canes, marshmallows etc.). HUGE HIT!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hey there!

Hi! I’m Dini, a third culture kid by upbringing and a food-geek by nature. I was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in New Zealand and lived in Australia, and then the US, before moving to Canada in 2019! My food is a reflection of those amazing experiences!

Read More
Secret Layer Cakes Cookbook
The flavor bender
cookbook
Buy now on Amazon!

Recipe Basics

Learn how to make Perfect Choux Pastry (Or Pate a Choux!) - The only recipe guide you will ever need to make choux pastry, with perfect results every time. Plus a troubleshooting guide for your choux pastry recipe.  Fool proof choux pastry to make profiteroles, eclairs, cream puffs and more.  #ChouxPastry #Profiteroles #Eclairs #Pastry #CreamPuffs

How to make Perfect Choux Pastry

Classic Chocolate Eclairs - A foolproof recipe for making perfect eclairs that are crisp and puffy and filled with chocolate or vanilla pastry cream. 

Perfect Classic Chocolate Eclairs (Foolproof Recipe)

How to make Marshmallows - Learn the art of making fluffy, soft homemade marshmallows with or without corn syrup! With tips and information to make the perfect Marshmallows in many flavors. 

How to make Marshmallows (tips and tricks for homemade marshmallows)

How to make the best Homemade White Bread that is soft and delicious. An easy to follow recipe for perfect homemade bread with step by step instructions.

The Best Homemade Bread (White Bread Recipe)

Homemade French Croissants (step by step recipe)

Classic Pound Cake - A complete guide on how to make perfect, delicious and moist Pound Cake even if you're a baking novice! Tips + Tricks and Troubleshooting guide. 

The Best Classic Pound Cake Recipe

Chocolate
Cakes
Bread
Sri Lankan
Breakfast
Drinks
Candy
Pastries
All Recipes
Featured On
taste of the World
Free recipe ebook

Get my curated collection of the Top 10 Flavor Bender recipes!

  • 10 delicious chocolate recipes
  • Creative ways to use chocolate
  • Desserts and savory recipes
Download now!

Reader Faves

How to make Instant Pot Short Ribs - This easy recipe makes delicious, tender and succulent short ribs with classic flavors!

How to make the Best Instant Pot Short Ribs

Buttery Lemon Slow Roasted Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce - Perfectly cooked, juicy slow roasted Salmon with a buttery tangy sauce! Delicious and versatile for any meal and occasion. 

Slow Roasted Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce

Unbelievably easy Rough Puff pastry - Quick and easy to make and tasted infinitely better than store bought (30 -45 minutes only)! No long waiting times, to make this amazing pastry and NOONE will know you took a shortcut!

Perfect Quick and Easy Rough Puff Pastry

Spicy Sweet Chilli Sauce Easy to make, absolutely delicious, with an extra kick of spice this is the BEST Sweet chilli sauce you will EVER have!

The Best Spicy Sweet Chili Sauce (Easy Recipe!)

The flavor bender

I love baking, and I love cooking. I experiment with flavors, textures and ingredients, and I love passing on all my tips and tricks to you!

Read More
  • About
    • Meet Dini
    • My Book
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
  • Browse
    • Recipes
    • Measurement Guide
    • Baking How-To’s
    • Shop My Faves
© The Flavor Bender
  • Privacy
  • Disclosure
  • Terms
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled

Join the flavor bender tribe!

Join my FREE recipe challenge to receive new recipes and dinner ideas straight to your inbox!
554 shares