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    Recipes » Desserts » Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

    Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

    Published: Apr 9, 2020 · Modified: Jun 24, 2022 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

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    ice cream sundae with hot fudge and sprinkles in a small glass dish
    ice cream sundae with hot fudge and sprinkles in a small glass dish
    hand pouring hot fudge on top of a glass dish of ice cream
    hand pouring hot fudge on top of a glass dish of ice cream
    hand pouring hot fudge on a scoop of ice cream in a glass parfait dish.
    hot fudge sundae with sprinkles in a glass parfait dish.

    You just need two ingredients and 10 minutes to make this decadent Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce. It’s perfect for serving on top of ice cream! 

    hand pouring hot fudge on a scoop of ice cream in a glass parfait dish.

    Ice cream is delicious, but a hot fudge sundae? Even more delicious! The warm/cold combination of hot fudge with ice cream is irresistible.

    Add sprinkles and other toppings, and you have yourself a sundae.

    This recipe for Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce takes just 10 minutes, and the end result will have you making sundaes on repeat all year long.

    It’s also a great topping for Brownie Pie!

    This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support Gift of Hospitality at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.

    ice cream sundae topped with hot fudge and sprinkles, next to a bowl of rainbow sprinkles.

    Top tips

    • 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.

    Ingredients for hot fudge sauce

    chocolate chips and heavy cream in a glass cup on a white background
    • 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 you could use dark chocolate chips, bittersweet chips, or even white chocolate chips.

    How to make 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.

    heavy cream and chocolate chips in a glass bowl.

    Whisk the mixture together, and your hot fudge sauce is done!

    whisk in a glass bowl filled with just cooked hot fudge sauce.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use a different kind of chocolate chip for this?

    Yep! You could try dark chocolate chips, bittersweet chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips. Mini chocolate chips would work fine, too.

    The fudge isn’t runny enough. What can I do?

    The sauce will harden slightly as it sits. To make it runnier, heat it in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between.

    Storing homemade hot fudge sauce

    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.

    sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts, and fudge in white ramekins.

    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
    • Coconut
    • Marshmallows
    • Crushed/chopped cookies (like Oreos or Thin Mints!)
    • Maraschino cherries
    • Fresh fruit
    • Freeze dried fruit

    My favorite topping is Honey Roasted Sliced Almonds from Trader Joe’s. They’re a little sweet, a little salty, and they add the perfect crunch to a hot fudge sundae.

    hot fudge sundae surrounded by bowls of fudge, sprinkles, and nuts.

    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!

    Need more ice cream inspiration? Check out this Mississippi Mud Pie. It’s a summer staple for our family!

    hand pouring hot fudge on a glass dish of vanilla ice cream

    Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

    Published by Kate
    Use your favorite chocolate chips here—semisweet, dark, bittersweet, white. They’re all delicious!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 7 mins
    Cook Time 3 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 98 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅔ cup heavy cream
    • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

    Instructions
     

    • Place 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 the chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl. Pour the warm cream over the top. Let sit for 3 minutes, then whisk together. 

    Notes

    The hot fudge will harden as it sits. To make it runny again, microwave it in 15 second intervals, stirring in between.
    This will keep in the refrigerator (in a jar with a lid) for up to 2 months.
    To change things up, make this recipe with dark chocolate chips or bittersweet chocolate chips instead. White chocolate chips would be delicious, too!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 14mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7g
    Keyword hot fudge sauce
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @giftofhospitality and let me know how you liked it!

    Related recipes

    • Strawberry Crunch Recipe
    • Mississippi Mud Ice Cream Pie
    • Marshmallow Fudge
    • Brownie Pie
    « Asparagus, Ham, and Gruyere Quiche
    Homemade Croutons with Garlic Butter »
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    kate

    About Kate

    I’m a believer, wife, mom, and big fan of old cookbooks. I live in Chicago with my husband and two young sons. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time! Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sandra Quezada says

      July 02, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      This looks delicious!

      Reply
    2. Fredrick says

      June 22, 2020 at 6:34 pm

      5 stars
      Simple and easy to follow. I love this recipe.

      Reply

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    Kate from Gift of HospitalityI’m Kate. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time. Learn more here
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