This easy Hot Fudge recipe makes rich, smooth, fudgy, decadent hot fudge sauce in just minutes! Take your ice cream game to the next level with this homemade hot fudge and you’ll never buy store bought again! So much better!
Planning an ice cream party? Make sure to check out my No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce and Strawberry Sauce too!
Three years ago I made probably 20 batches of hot fudge sauce over the course of the summer tweaking the recipe each time until it was absolute perfection. And then I never shared it with you 😂
Here it is today! This hot fudge recipe is my go-to for hot fudge sundaes, ice cream bars, ice cream cakes and any other dessert that needs this decadent, fudgy, rich chocolate sauce to take it to the next level. It really is the best hot fudge I’ve ever had!
Homemade Hot Fudge
This homemade hot fudge is the best and once you’ve made it once, you’ll find yourself making excuses to make it again and again.
It’s crazy easy to make, just over 10 minutes from start to finish, uses ingredients you likely have on hand, and blows store bought hot fudge out of the water.
Silky smoothy, thick and oh so rich, you’re going to love it!
The Ultimate Hot Fudge Sundae
If you’ve never made hot fudge before, make it and then treat yourself to a hot fudge sundae. Trust me, no sundae is as good as one you make at home with homemade hot fudge sauce.
A couple scoops of vanilla ice cream, a generous drizzle of hot fudge, some crushed nuts and a cherry. Go all in and make some fresh whipped cream for a sundae no one will forget.
Serve warm because when cold, the hot fudge sauce is super thick and definitely not pourable. As the hot fudge hits the cold ice cream, it thickens and sets up.
What You’ll Need
There are 7 ingredients in this hot fudge sauce recipe and I’m breaking down each one for you here. You can find the full printable recipe in the recipe card at the end of this post. Let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need:
- unsalted butter – give this sauce richness and shininess as well as flavor.
- bittersweet chocolate baking chocolate – you can use unsweetened or semi-sweet depending on your preference. It’s also okay to use ⅔ cup semisweet chocolate chips instead.
- evaporated milk – half and half can be used instead.
- granulated sugar – sweetens the hot fudge. If you end up using unsweetened baking chocolate, I’d add a couple extra tablespoons of sugar.
- unsweetened cocoa powder – use anywhere from 6 to 8 tablespoons, depending on how chocolate-y you want the hot fudge. I prefer the full 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) whereas my kids prefer about 6 tablespoons.
- salt – to balance out all the sweetness.
- vanilla extract – for flavor. Use the best quality vanilla extract available for best results.
How To Make Hot Fudge Sauce
- Melt the butter and chocolate together in a saucepan over medium low heat, stirring frequently.
- Whisk in the evaporated milk (or half and half if that’s what you’re using).
- Whisk in the granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt until combined.
- Keep over medium low heat, whisking frequently, about 5 to 6 minutes until mixture comes just to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Serve hot fudge sauce warm over ice cream or allow to cool, transfer to a heat safe jar or container and store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Hot Fudge FAQs
Can this hot fudge be made in advance? Yes! In fact, when we’re having summer parties, they almost always include an ice cream bar. I like to make up a batch of this hot fudge recipe, some strawberry sauce and caramel sauce the week before to serve at the party. This sauce is good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Can you really use half and half OR evaporated milk? Yup! They are interchangeable in this recipe just like the baking chocolate and chocolate chips are. In fact, when I filmed the video, I made one version with evaporated milk and bittersweet chocolate and the other version with half and half and semi-sweet chocolate chips because I wanted to show the difference.
Turns out, it’s impossible to tell which is which, they’re both delicious! (In case you’re wondering, the jar in the front is half and half and the one in the back is with the evaporated milk.)
How do I reheat the sauce? Remove the desired amount of refrigerated hot fudge and place in a microwave safe container. Heat in 15 second increments at 50% power until warm and pourable.
Variations To Try
I’ve made this recipe so many different ways that I want to share a couple easy modifications you can make that won’t really impact the end result and might be easier depending on what ingredients you have on hand.
Chocolate. I like to use the bittersweet baking chocolate in this recipe because it melts so silky smooth. You can also use unsweetened chocolate or semi sweet chocolate. If you only have chocolate chips on hand, that works too! Use two-thirds cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips in place of the bittersweet chocolate.
Milk. I always have evaporated milk on hand and I love it in this recipe because it goes in at room temperature and makes this hot fudge sauce come together so quickly. If I don’t have any evaporated milk, I’ll use half and half. The same amount is needed, 1 cup.
Special Tools Needed
Here are the tools that I recommend having for this recipe:
- heavy bottomed sauce pan – you want a nice deep sauce pan. A heavy bottom pan will provide more even heat distribution, preventing hot spots and scorching.
- liquid measuring cups for the evaporated milk or half and half – I use this fun beaker set and LOVE It!
- jars to store the hot fudge sauce in – any heat-proof, airtight glass jar will work. I keep a bunch of canning jars on hand and use those most frequently when making homemade sauces like this one.
More Chocolate Recipes To Try
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The BEST Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Chocolate Mint Brownies
- Chocolate Cheesecake
How To Make Hot Fudge
Hot Fudge Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 4 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate or ⅔ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 8 ounces evaporated milk or half and half
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 6 to 8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder depending on how chocolate-y you want the hot fudge
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Melt butter and bittersweet baking chocolate (or semisweet chocolate chips) together in a small or medium saucepan over medium low heat, stirring frequently.¼ cup unsalted butter, 4 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate
- Once the chocolate and butter have melted, slowly whisk in the evaporated milk (or half and half if that's what you're using) until combined.8 ounces evaporated milk
- Whisk in the granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt until combined.¾ cup granulated sugar, 6 to 8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Keep over medium low heat, whisking frequently, about 5 to 6 minutes until mixture comes just to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Serve hot fudge sauce warm over ice cream or allow to cool, transfer to a heat safe jar or container and store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Video
Notes
- Store in fridge in airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
- To reheat, remove the desired amount of refrigerated hot fudge and place in a microwave safe container. Heat in 15 second increments at 50% power until warm and pourable.
- If your sauce comes out grainy, no worries, it just means it didn’t get to cook quite long enough or high enough. Pop it in a blender for a minute or two and you’ll be set.
Candy says
Oh my goodness!!! What is not to like!!! The smoothest hot fudge I have ever tasted! And did I say wonderfully delicious!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Sheri says
I was delighted to find this recipe after years of not making my own hot fudge sauce due to a key ingredient not being made anymore. This was so easy to prepare and came out exactly as stated. I’ll definitely be making it again and sharing it as gifts for friends and family. What I really loved was how the ingredients needed for each step were included below that step. This made the recipe super easy to follow and allowed me to be ready for the next step. I also loved the level of sweetness with the rich chocolate flavor and the consistency of the sauce; not too thin and not too thick. Thank you for sharing this yummy treat!!!!
Jodi Eylander says
This was the best hot fudge sauce I have ever had. I will, by Jesus’ grace, continue to make this. I want to make this for some ladies at our Church. Thank you so much for posting this. I make it non gmo; organic evaporated milk, and the rest. God bless you in Jesus’ Name. Thank you. Jodi
Karen says
Great hot fudge sauce!! Made 4 batches for an ice cream social and it was a big hit. Kept it warm is a crock pot. Perfect ice cream topping.
Joanne says
Delicious! Serving it warm brings out the chocolate flavor. Plus it smells delicious as it is cooking! I love the combo of bittersweet, semi-sweet and cocoa. Pretty quick to make, better than purchasing store-bought. I used 1/2 and 1/2.
Skratazoid says
This was the only hot fudge recipe I came across that listed ingredients I had on hand. To use up my 12 ounce can evaporated milk, I made 1.5 times the recipe and it turned out great! I love the dark chocolately wonderfulness of it! I used Mexican vanilla and thought it further enhanced the flavor. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Maribe says
I’ve made this a few times now because it’s impossible to find hot fudge in the supermarket that isn’t made with high fructose corn syrup! This homemade hot fudge is SO good! It makes almost four cups though (and it’s just me and my husband) so I wonder if it freezes well?
Lauren says
I froze it! Defrosted easily and tasted delicious
Holly says
This was the BEST recipe! Huge hit in our house! Tasted like we went to the chocolate factory and paid top dollar! I used heavy cream and 7 TBSP of cocoa! It was perfect!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So glad you loved it as much as we do Holly!
Sara Jo says
Thank you!! I was looking for a recipe I could somewhat easily make lactose free and this fit the bill. I used a bit more (LF) evaporated milk and a bit more simply Nestle dark chocolate chips than the recipe called for as well as used Dutch process cocoa. It’s probably too rich if you’re not a chocolate lover like I am, but oh my goodness! It is decadent and just AMAZING! Thanks so much!
Brian says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve been obsessed with hot fudge sauce for years, always searching for the best one in the supermarket or at an ice cream parlor, and you are the winner! I am so grateful that you spent that summer trying so many versions of the recipe. You have brought countless people pleasure–for generations, no doubt!
Erin Green says
I haven’t made this yet but I just want to mention how much I appreciate that you included the ingredients and their measurements in the steps so you don’t have to scroll up!! It’s brilliant!!
Carly says
Ummmm…I’m still speechless. Let me try to put this into words …
This was THE ABSOLUTE BEST HOT FUDGE I HAVE EVER HAD!!
And at first I went with yours because when my kids were little I always told them I’m going on a mommy time out. I would close my bedroom door and eat something chocolate, so it just made sense to me to try yours.
Thank you so much!!
Jessica says
Delicious! And thank you for putting the quantities of ingredients down with the directions!! I am always cooking from my computer and have to keep scrolling up and down. Brilliant!
Julie says
So good! Used a combo of bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate, half and half, and 6 TBSP cocoa powder. Super chocolatey and delicious.
Mario says
We all love the recipe. My sauce hot really hard in the fridge. If I add more Half and Half, will that soften it up a bit? I do not was to add corn syrup.
Thanks for your help.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
It will thicken in the fridge but it shouldn’t get “hard”. It should be the consistency you would expect from a jar of hot fudge in the store. Heat it in the microwave or over low heat and it should become nice and pourable quickly. I hope that helps!