Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

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Some like it hot and a little on the thick side. Here’s how to make sweet and rich hot fudge sauce from an old fashioned recipe.

You may never purchase another jar of the store-brand after making this Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce recipe. You can have this thick, rich sauce drizzled over your ice cream in 10 minutes or less.

Table of Contents

Hot Fudge Sauce with Cocoa – Perfect Ice Cream Topping

Growing up, our Grandma’s Homemade Ice Cream and this from scratch Hot Fudge Sauce went together like peas and carrots. I guess I never appreciated this delicious sauce until recently. The taste is off the charts!

I had a hankering for this from scratch hot fudge sauce, and it was ready in less than 10 minutes. And, it might as well be called a copycat hot fudge sauce because it tastes just like the jars that you buy at the grocery store.

My Grandma was a genius in the kitchen.Her generation didn’t have access to all the convenience products that we do, so they just made their own.

This stuff is HOT, HOT, HOT right when it comes off the stovetop.Don’t stick that spoon or whisk directly in your mouth or you’ll be sorry.I know it’s tempting, but take it from me. I learned this lesson from experience.

How do you make hot fudge sauce from scratch?

It’s simple! Combine water, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, cornstarch and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil while whisking until it’s thickened.Let cool, and store in a jar in the refrigerator.

How long does homemade fudge sauce last?

If stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, homemade hot fudge sauce will last approximately 2 weeks. Be sure to never double dip into the hot fudge sauce, or the the sauce will become watery and break down in consistency.

What can I do with leftover hot fudge sauce?

Other than the obvious way to use it (ice cream sundaes), there’s countless other ways to use it up.Add it as a layer in trifle recipes, add a spoonful into your morning coffee, make homemade hot cocoa by adding to warmed milk, or add it to your brownie mix for some extra pizazz.

Ingredients

  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Cocoa Powder
  • Cornstarch
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Butter

What goes on a hot fudge sundae?

Check out this list of ingredients to customize your ice cream sundae. Start with a bowl of ice cream, vanilla or any flavor of ice cream you like. Top with one or more of these ingredients.

  • Hot Fudge Sauce or Chocolate Sauce
  • Caramel Sauce
  • Cherry
  • Salted Peanuts
  • Chocolate Chips (milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips)
  • Sprinkles
  • Brownie Chunks
  • Crushes Oreos
  • Candy Bits
  • Whipped Cream
  • Marshmallows or Marshmallow Creme

Grandma’s Favorite Recipes

Try some more of Grandma’s favorite recipes:

  • Sour Cream Coffee Cake
  • Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
  • Rhubarb Pie
  • Caramel Corn
  • Apple Crisp
  • Three Layer Chocolate Bars

How to Make Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

Step By Step Instructions

  1. In a sauce pan, bring water, sugar, cocoa powder, corn starch, vanilla, and butter to a boil.
  2. Stir constantly, cooking until thickened.
  3. Serve over vanilla ice cream, or just eat off the spoon (when cooled).

Storage Instructions

To store, let cool completely. Pour into a mason jar. Seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

For the full instructions for hot fudge sauce with cocoa powder, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

  • This thick hot fudge recipe is a copycat of the jarred type that you get at the grocery store.
  • Grandma’s hot fudge sauce uses cocoa powder for a deep, rich chocolate flavor.
  • Corn starch is the thickening agent, and you may get clumps if you don’t whisk constantly. Feel free to push the sauce through a sieve for a smoother texture.
  • Let the homemade hot fudge sauce cool completely, seal and store in the refrigerator.
  • To rewarm, remove lid, and warm in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring in between intervals until it’s at your desired temperature.
  • Drizzle over ice cream for a sundae, try adding a scoop to your morning coffee to create a mocha, or add to milk to make chocolate milk.
  • It’s also great with a sprinkle of sea salt to get that salty sweet flavor combo.
  • Looking for a chocolate sauce that is similar to the Magic Shell ice cream topping? Try our homemade chocolate sauce with walnuts.
  • Check out our favorite pantry and kitchen items in our Amazon Store.

Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts

Hot Fudge Sauce from scratch is the perfect homemade Christmas gift. Pour the cooled hot fudge sauce into a clean mason jar, add a pretty ribbon, and it’s ready to be gifted to friends and family. Be sure to include a label with the date of preparation and how to properly store in the refrigerator.

Homemade edible Christmas gifts is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. Be sure to check out some of our favorite recipes below that make perfect gifts. Or read our best homemade gifts post.

Red Hot Cinnamon Apples

Homemade Martini Olives

Caramel Puff Corn

Grandma’s Caramel Corn

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (13)

Print Recipe

5 from 6 votes

Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce

You may never purchase another jar of the store-brand after making Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce. You can have this thick, rich sauce drizzled over your ice cream in ten minutes or less.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: copycat hot fudge sauce, homemade hot fudge sauce, hot fudge sauce, hot fudge sauce from scratch, hot fudge sauce with cocoa powder, thick hot fudge sauce, vintage hot fudge sauce

Servings: 1 pint

Calories: 1141kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 2 Tablespoons corn starch
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a small saucepan.

    Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (14)

  • Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture boils and thickens.

    Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (15)

  • Serve over ice cream. Cool, cover and store in the refrigerator.

    Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (16)

Notes

  • This thick hot fudge recipe is a copycat of the jarred type that you get at the grocery store.
  • Grandma’s hot fudge sauce uses cocoa powder for a deep, rich chocolate flavor.
  • Corn starch is the thickening agent, and you may get clumps if you don’t whisk constantly. Feel free to push the sauce through a sieve for a smoother texture.
  • Let the homemade hot fudge sauce cool completely, seal and store in the refrigerator.
  • To rewarm old fashioned hot fudge sauce, remove the metal lid, and warm in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring in between intervals until it’s at your desired temperature.
  • Serve drizzled over ice cream or try adding a scoop to your morning coffee to create a mocha. Try Grandma’s Ice Cream recipe.
  • Please note that the carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly depending on the products you use. The auto-calculation is an automated estimate and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.

Nutrition

Calories: 1141kcal | Carbohydrates: 239g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 208mg | Potassium: 671mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 201g | Vitamin A: 700IU | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 6mg

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

What is hot 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.

Why does 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 is Mcdonald's hot fudge made of? ›

Hot Fudge Topping

Ingredients: Sugar, Water, Nonfat Milk, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa (processed With Alkali), Corn Syrup, Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Polyglycerol Esters Of Fatty Acids. Contains: Milk, Soy.

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 is the difference between chocolate sauce and hot fudge? ›

The biggest differences are the texture and flavor. Hot fudge is thicker and richer than chocolate sauce. That's because hot fudge is made with heavier ingredients like butter, heavy cream or evaporated milk, while chocolate syrup is made with water or corn syrup.

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge
  • Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
  • Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
  • Beat Thoroughly.
Mar 8, 2023

Why does hot fudge get hard when it cools? ›

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.

What is the secret to non grainy fudge? ›

Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.

Why is hot fudge so good? ›

In fact, hot fudge sauce is just a fudge that never sets! Cream or milk, sugar, and butter are slowly boiled down until slightly thickened and light caramel-colored. This boiling-down process not only gives the sauce it's great gooey texture, but also contributes that special “fudgey” taste to the chocolate.

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.

Should hot fudge be refrigerated? ›

Fudge is best stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 weeks wrapped up in its original wax paper. NEVER REFRIGERATE your fudge as this will draw out the moisture and leave you with dry, crumbly fudge.

Why do McDonald's not do sundaes anymore? ›

"The Government recommendations regarding sugar also played a part in the removal." A McDonald's spokeswoman added at the time: "The removal of sundaes from our menu makes room for the mini McFlurry and promotional favourites like the Smarties McFlurry, which have proved incredibly popular with customers."

What is the most unhealthy dessert at McDonald's? ›

With more sugar and saturated fat than any of the dessert items at McDonald's, the McFlurry with M&M's is by far the unhealthiest option you can choose. If you're craving ice cream, you can opt for something like the Vanilla Cone instead.

Why is McDonald's fudge so good? ›

That culprit is the sweetened condensed milk. One of a pastry chef's best friends, this is often the secret ingredient in lots of fudgy things, from dulce de leche to Key lime pie to, well, fudge. It's definitely something you should be baking with, if you aren't already.

Is hot fudge and chocolate syrup the same? ›

Ingredients: Hot fudge sauce is typically made with chocolate, sugar, butter, and cream or milk, while chocolate syrup is made with cocoa powder, sugar, and water or milk. Consistency: Hot fudge sauce has a thicker and creamier consistency than chocolate syrup, which tends to be thinner and more liquidy.

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.

What is real fudge made of? ›

Fudge is a dense, rich confection typically made with sugar, milk or cream, butter and chocolate or other flavorings. The base for fudge is boiled until it reaches the soft-ball stage (135 to 140 degrees F), then stirred or beaten as it cools to minimize the formation of sugar crystals.

How does hot fudge taste? ›

It's super-duper dark and rich with a high quality cocoa flavor. It almost tastes like homemade hot cocoa before you add the milk. It's so close to being the best chocolate sauce, but since you absolutely have to heat it up in order to use it as a topping, I'm keeping it in the two slot.

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