Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2024)

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This decadent homemade hot fudge sauce is thick, gooey and chocolatey. It makes the perfect topping for ice cream, brownies or other desserts. Quick and easy this hot fudge can be ready for topping your favorite dessert in only five minutes!

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Hot fudge is the ultimate ice cream topping. It is warm, thick and pools in the bottom of the sundae dish while the flavor of the sauce contrasts with the cold ice cream and melts it just a little bit.

You can put chocolate sauce on your ice cream too, but there is no comparison to the rich and warm flavor of hot fudge sauce. With this easy recipe you can make homemade hot fudge sauce in just minutes, anytime chocolate cravings strike.

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2)

And of course it isn’t just for ice cream! You can dip fruit into it, drizzle it on desserts, like Instant Pot Oreo cheesecake or chocolate lasagna.

It is worth learning how to make this simple dessert sauce that is better than store bought toppings!

Ingredients

This is an easy three ingredient recipe.

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (3)
  • Chocolate chips
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Butter – either salted or unsalted butter works fine in this recipe.

What Kind of Chocolate Chips?

One of the great things about this recipe is that it works with almost any kind of chocolate. You can make it with semi sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips, whichever you prefer.

Personally I like to use semisweet chips because they give me lots of chocolatey taste without being as sweet as milk chocolate. But my kids love dark chocolate best, so sometimes I use that. Either way the recipe is the same.

Easy Instructions

Making hot fudge isn’t like making candy. There are no complicated instructions and no need for a candy thermometer.

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (4)

Mix the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and butter in a small sauce pan. Heat it over medium heat stirring constantly until the chocolate is melted and the sauce is shiny and smooth.

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (5)

It is very important to keep stirring the sauce! If you don’t stir it the hot fudge could burn. Also keep the heat on medium to low. You don’t want the hot fudge to boil.

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (6)

Once everything is melted and the sauce looks thick and shiny take it off the heat and let it cool. It will thicken a little bit more as it cools.

How to Store

You can store the sauce in the refrigerator for about 1 month. I like to put it in a glass mason jar with a lid.

This hot fudge sauce makes a quick and easy homemade gift for friends and family! Stick a bow and a gift tag on it and pass it out for the holidays this year.

How to Serve

When you want to reheat it microwave it for 30 seconds. Then stir it and put it back in for another 10 seconds if necessary. Be careful not to overheat the hot fudge, usually 30 seconds is plenty.

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (7)

Ways to Use

My family can easily go through an entire jar of hot fudge sauce just using it on ice cream! But here are some other great ideas for serving it:

  • Drizzle it on cheesecake
  • Use it on top of skillet chocolate chips cookies
  • Cover brownies with drips of hot fudge
  • Use if to make fruit fondue
  • Mix it into milk for decadent chocolate milk
  • Use it as a fudgy layer in an ice cream pie
Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (8)

Find More Dessert Sauces

  • Caramel Sauce
  • Strawberry Sauce
  • Blueberry Sauce

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (9)

4.36 from 54 votes

Hot Fudge Sauce

Published By Anne

This decadent homemade hot fudge sauce is thick, gooey and chocolatey.

Prep Time1 minute min

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time6 minutes mins

Servings: 16

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Ingredients

  • ●½ cup chocolate chips
  • ●1 can 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • ●¼ cup unsalted butter

Instructions

  • In a heavy saucepan, add all ingredients and stir.

  • Heat oven medium heat stirring constantly until chocolate is melted and the sauce is smooth.

  • Remove from heat, stir and let cool slightly.

  • Add to jar or container with lid.

Notes

To reheat cook for 30 seconds in a microwave safe bowl. Stir and heat for an additional 10 seconds or longer if necessary.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g | Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 4mg | Sugar: 4g

Nutrition facts are estimates.

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Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (12)
Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (13)

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (14)

Hi, I’m Anne!

I love to cook and I want to share my recipes with you. I believe cooking should be approachable and fun, not a chore. I want to make simple recipes using everyday ingredients that you can make again and again, whether it is for a busy weeknight, a summer cookout or a special dessert. Read more...

3 thoughts on “Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe”

  1. Can you use salted butter for the fudge topping?

    Reply

  2. I didn’t have sweetened condensed milk but used 1/2c semi-sweet choc chips, 1/8c dark chips, 2 Tbl butter & 1/4c heavy cream – Melted on Low, stirring constantly. Awesome!!

    Reply

    • Sure!PS Of course mine made alot less than this recipe but rich & delicious

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Easy 5 Minute Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is 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.

What's the difference between hot fudge and fudge? ›

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.

Why did my hot fudge sauce separate? ›

Fudge is basically an emulsion between sugar, butter and milk. If the butter gets too hot, it can separate, causing the fudge to become oily on top.

What not to do when making fudge? ›

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
  1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
  2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
  3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
  4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
  5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
  6. Scraping the Pot. ...
  7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
Dec 16, 2015

Why is fudge difficult to make? ›

Making fudge can be a challenging endeavor, requiring precision and attention to detail to achieve the perfect texture and consistency. The process of making fudge involves a delicate balance of cooking, cooling, and beating, and the smallest mistake can result in fudge that is too soft or too hard.

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).

How to heat hot fudge sauce? ›

To reheat sauce, warm in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Do not boil.

How to thicken hot fudge? ›

Cornflour/Cornstarch: Mix a small amount with cold milk or water to create a smooth paste. Whisk this into your hot chocolate towards the end of the cooking process until it thickens. Double Cream: Stirring in a splash of double cream can instantly enrich and thicken your drink, giving it a velvety texture.

What makes hot fudge taste different? ›

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 do you serve hot fudge at a party? ›

Hot fudge sauce is served hot because as it cools it becomes very thick, fudgey and un-pourable. If you're serving this hot fudge sauce over ice cream, the hot sauce will melt some of your ice cream, and the cold ice cream will make the some of the sauce even more thick and fudgy – making the perfect combo!

Why does hot fudge taste different than chocolate syrup? ›

In the simplest terms, it all comes down to viscosity — hot fudge is thicker than both chocolate sauce and chocolate syrup, with a richer, more decadent chocolate flavor.

Should hot fudge sauce be refrigerated? ›

Storage: This is just fine kept at room temp for a day, but if you are going to keep it overnight or for an extended period of time, pop it in the fridge and just reheat in the microwave.

How long can you store hot fudge sauce? ›

Store in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute until it's pourable but still thick.

Does hot fudge sauce go bad? ›

Typically, homemade hot fudge sauce can be stored in an airtight container and will retain its quality for up to three weeks when refrigerated. The durability of hot fudge sauce is attributed to its ingredient composition, which often includes cocoa powder, sugar, butter (how long does butter last?), and milk or cream.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

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.

Can you beat fudge in a stand mixer? ›

Pour the mixture over the chocolate, being sure to shake, not scrape, the mixture from the pot. Set aside to cool for 10 to 12 minutes. (This prevents a grainy consistency.) Using the clean wooden spoon or a standing mixer on low speed, stir or beat the mixture until the chocolate is completely melted and incorporated.

Why won't my 2 ingredient fudge set? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

How long do you boil fudge to get to soft ball stage? ›

How long does it take to make fudge:
  1. about 18 min to reach boiling.
  2. about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
  3. 60 minutes to cool.
  4. 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
  5. 4 hours to set.

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