You just need two ingredients and 10 minutes to make this easy Hot Fudge Sauce. It’s perfect for serving on top of ice cream!
“This hot fudge sauce is amazing!! I don’t think I’ll be buying hot fudge sauce from the grocery store again.” -Janie
At our house, we have sundaes on Sunday. Every Sunday afternoon, we haul out all the toppings: whipped cream, hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, sprinkles, and maraschino cherries, and go wild creating our own sundaes.
This Easy Hot Fudge Sauce recipe is my go-to because it’s not only rich and decadent, but it has just two ingredients and takes 10 minutes (if that) to make. I can whip it up while the kids are setting out the toppings, and everyone goes crazy for it.
It’s basically chocolate ganache, and it pairs perfectly with a variety of ice creams. It’s also a great topping for desserts like Mississippi Mud Pie and Brownie Pie!
Kate’s tips for Making Hot Fudge Sauce
- Make sure that the cream only has bubbles around the edges—do not bring to to full boil. We’re just warming it up enough to melt the chocolate chips.
- The fudge will firm up as it sits. If it’s been sitting for a bit, microwave it for 10–15 seconds to get it to a pourable consistency.
- Use whatever type of chocolate chips that you like: semi-sweet, dark, bittersweet, or milk chocolate. You can also use white chocolate chips.
The Two Ingredients
- You’ll need heavy cream (also called heavy whipping cream or just whipping cream).
- You’ll also need chocolate chips. I used semi-sweet, but any chocolate chips work here.
How to make an Easy hot fudge sauce
First, warm the cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Take it off the heat as soon as you see bubbles start to come up around the edges of the pan. Any further and the cream will begin to get a film on the top and overheat. We don’t want that.
Pour the cream over the chocolate chips. Let sit for 3 minutes.
Whisk the mixture together, and your hot fudge sauce is done!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yep! You could try dark chocolate chips, bittersweet chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips. Mini chocolate chips work fine, too.
The sauce will harden slightly as it sits. To make it runnier, heat it in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between.
Tips for Storing
Place any leftover hot fudge in a tightly sealed jar, and place in the refrigerator. It will keep there for up to 2 months.
To serve, place a few spoonfuls in another microwave-safe dish, and microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between, until warm and runny.
Sundae bar toppings
This is the fun part. Now it’s time to make a hot fudge sundae! Use whatever you have in your pantry, such as:
- Sprinkles
- Strawberry Crunch topping
- Chocolate chips
- White chocolate chips
- Kettle corn
- Crushed potato chips
- Chopped candy bars
- Chopped nuts
- Candied nuts (like these Cinnamon Roasted Pecans)
- Coconut
- Marshmallows
- Crushed/chopped cookies (like Oreos or Thin Mints—yum!)
- Maraschino cherries
- Fresh fruit
- Freeze dried fruit
This recipe is perfect for an ice cream sundae party. Set out a variety of ice creams, toppings (see above for ideas), dishes, and spoons, and watch your guests dig in!
📖 Recipe
Easy Hot Fudge Sauce
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
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Instructions
- Place ⅔ cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat just until the cream starts to bubble slightly at the edges of the pan. Remove from the heat.
- Place 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl. Pour the warm cream over the top. Let sit for 3 minutes, then whisk together.
- Pour a spoonful (or two) over a bowl of ice cream while the hot fudge sauce is still hot. Enjoy!
This hot fudge sauce is amazing!! I don’t think I’ll be buying hot fudge sauce from the grocery store again. My husband says this is the best yet!! He loves his hot fudge sundaes.
Oh I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
This looks delicious!
Simple and easy to follow. I love this recipe.