Easy ONE POT Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

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My EASY Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe is something I need to have around at all times. I put it on everything and it's easy to make in just one pot and ready in under 10 minutes! It's so thick and luscious, and it's the kind that gets hardens on ice cream for a truly fudgy texture. But, whether I have ice cream or not, it doesn't matter! I've gotta have it. It's like peanut butter. Just eat it by the spoon (if you will -- and I will!).

Now, this rich chocolate fudge sauce is the simplest you will come by because it's made in one pot! All you need to do is add all of the ingredients to a saucepan and gently boil for a few minutes! Then you will be rewarded with the most thick and luxurious glossy chocolate sauce. The great thing is that you can customize it by adding peppermint extract, a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne, some molasses in place of the honey... there are so many ways to make this special!

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Easy to make - you won't believe how easy it is to prepare this hot fudge sauce. In fact, it's so easy that you will never make it again!
One pot recipe - this fudge sauce comes together all in one pot. Just mix the ingredients and simmer.
Rich dark chocolate flavor - this sauce is so deeply chocolatey and absolutely delicious.
No corn syrup - I use honey to make this sauce which tastes amazing and it means you don't need to use corn syrup!
Hard hot fudge - this is the type of hot sauce that sets up thick and fudgy on ice cream. It's the best kind!

INGREDIENTS FOR HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Dark chocolate - I highly recommend using bittersweet chocolate with 70% cocoa solids for this recipe to get the best, richest chocolate taste. Sugar in granulated and liquid forms are required to make the syrupy, fudgy texture of this sauce so it is important to balance that with dark chocolate. You can use 60% chocolate too, but it will be a bit sweeter.
Cream - You will need whipping cream with 35% milkfat for this recipe.
Water - yes, just water! Using all cream will put the recipe at risk of separation since the fat content will be too high and the sauce will be too oily once it boils down. A bit of water will help balance this.
Honey - You can also use corn syrup, but I like the slightly floral taste and sweetness that comes with honey.
Brown sugar - you can also use regular granulated sugar.
Cocoa powder - just a bit of cocoa powder helps to thicken the sauce and give it the ultimate fudge factor.
Salt - this is so important for the flavor! Don't skip the salt.
Vanilla - use a nice pure vanilla extract to enhance the chocolate taste.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOT FUDGE SAUCE RECIPE

STEP 1). Combine ingredients. In a 1-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine cream, water, honey, brown sugar, salt, vanilla and chopped chocolate over low heat.
STEP 2). Simmer. Bring it to a simmer gently over low heat while whisking frequently until sugar is dissolved and chocolate is melted. Letting it heat slowly like this will help the chocolate melt smoothly.
STEP 3). Cook until smooth and glossy. Once it simmers, increase heat to medium and let boil gently for 3-5 minutes while whisking constantly. For a thinner sauce boil for 3 minutes, for a thicker fudgier sauce boil for 5 minutes. It will be smooth and glossy. Make sure to stir constantly and get into the bottom edges of the pan as the chocolate can burn easily. The mixture will be thick and luscious. You'll notice that the bitter, roasted notes will become more pronounced after the sauce has cooked, making it taste even more chocolaty.
STEP 4). Cool. Remove pan from heat and let cool about 15 minutes and serve warm or pour it immediately into a sterilized heatproof mason jar, seal tightly and let it cool completely at room temperature. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Reheat very, very gently before serving over your favourite ice cream.

EXPERT TIPS FOR HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Use chopped chocolate from a bar. Chocolate in bar or tablet form is tempered differently than chocolate chips and it also has better flow (often via more cocoa butter). Therefore, it will melt more evenly for a smoother sauce.
Boil gently. You do want this sauce to boil so that the moisture evaporates and concentrates the sugar, however if it boils rapidly then it can separate. Just let it simmer which is a very gentle boil.
Stir constantly. The chocolate will have a tendency to catch at the bottom of the pan so it is important to stir constantly.

RECIPE FAQ

How do I make thick fudge sauce that hardens on ice cream?

To make the kind that hardens on ice cream, boil it longer (to the longest time on the range given in the recipe). Why? Boiling longer will drive off more moisture which in turn increases the concentration of dissolved sugar in the sauce. The higher the sugar concentration, the firmer it will set. To make a thinner sauce that pours more easily, boil it for the shorter time. This will make a runnier, super glossy sauce that is great for drizzling over crepes, tarts, ice cream, and even use it to make chocolate milk!

What type of chocolate should I use for hot fudge sauce?

I prefer bittersweet chocolate (70% cocoa) for this recipe for the most intense chocolate flavor and also for the higher cocoa butter content. More cocoa butter means a thicker and fudgier sauce too. If you use semisweet chocolate (50-55% cocoa solids), the sauce will be a bit sweeter.

How do I store hot fudge sauce?

Pour this hot fudge sauce immediately into a clean mason jar and seal it tightly right away. The heat will create a vacuum in the jar, but I still suggest storing it in the fridge since it contains cream.

How long will hot fudge sauce last?

This hot fudge will last for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Simply portion out the amount you are going to use, reheat gently in the microwave or over the stove and serve!

What is a substitute for corn syrup?

For this recipe, you can replace corn syrup with honey. Note that honey will change the taste and the texture slightly but it is a very suitable replacement.

If you love chocolate, check out these recipes!

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