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This all-time favorite hot fudge sauce recipe is a family favorite for pouring on your sweet treats. All you need is 4 ingredients!

We love to serve this hot fudge sauce recipe on Vanilla Ice Cream, Funnel Cakes, and even fruit! It’s irresistible in every sense of the word and you’ll find yourself trying not to eat it straight from the jar!

Hot fudge sauce recipe stored in a glass jar.

Homemade Chocolate Sauce

I am SOOO excited to share this next sauce with you guys today!

Let’s just say that it’s one the hubby begs me to make because he’ll eat it straight from the jar ALL BY ITSELF (no joke!!)

This hot fudge sauce recipe is a simple but delicious recipe that is good on ANY dessert. We use it on ice cream sundaes and especially on funnel cakes. Spoon the mixture and drizzle on croissants, brownies, ice cream cakes, waffles, pancakes, or any favorite desserts. It takes minutes to put together and is seriously the best topping you’ll ever make!

I also love that this makes a simple and inexpensive gift idea. Just put it in a cute mason jar with a ribbon around the top, and I promise the recipient will love you forever.

Powder sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and chocolate chips on a wooden counter.

How to Make Hot Fudge

Homemade hot fudge sauce is ready in minutes and only requires 4 ingredients!

COOK. Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 8 minutes, stirring constantly. Enjoy on just about anything!!

Chocolate sauce boiling in a pot on the stove.

Recipe Tips

If you give this hot fudge sauce as a gift be sure to specify that it needs to be refrigerated, especially when it is stored in a glass jar.

Thicken sauce. If you follow the instructions correctly the chocolate fudge sauce should not turn out runny and it thickens up as it cools down.

To make it even thicker even after it has cooled then try adding a little more powdered sugar to it. You will need to reheat it as you add it in. 

Thinner sauce. If you find that your sauce is too thick for your liking then heat it up and add a little more evaporated milk or butter to the sauce. 

Serve with Ice Cream, Homemade Brownies, Funnel Cakes, Fruit and more!

Storing Tips

Make ahead of time. Because this sauce stores so well it can easily be made ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container or jar and place it in the fridge. Rewarm slowly before serving.

STORE. Pour the easy hot fudge sauce into a glass jar or airtight container and seal it with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

To reheat. Use the microwave or stovetop to warm up the sauce. Just be careful that you do not overheat and burn it.

FREEZE this best hot fudge sauce for later. To freeze, pour the sauce into a jar or a freezer-safe container. Let it cool completely. This may take a few hours, you can put it in the fridge to make it cool faster. Then seal the jar or container with a lid and freeze for 6-12 months. 

Our favorite hot fudge sauce recipe oozing from a mason jar.

Recipe FAQ

Can I bottle homemade hot fudge sauce to store it on the shelf?

I don’t recommend canning your fudge sauce. If you are wanting to store it for later, it is best stored frozen.

Do I have to heat up the hot fudge sauce every time I use it?

This sauce can be served hot or cold. It can be reheated on the stove or in the microwave just be sure to heat it slowly so it doesn’t burn. Also, you can reheat it as many times as you’d like, it shouldn’t change the texture or taste of the sauce.

How is chocolate fudge sauce different from chocolate sauce?

Chocolate sauce is thinner and typically uses sugar, water, and corn syrup whereas fudge sauce is much thicker and uses heavier cream and butter.

For More Sauces, Check Out:

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4.99 from 61 votes

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
This all-time favorite hot fudge sauce recipe is a family favorite for pouring on your sweet treats. All you need is 4 ingredients!
Servings: 16 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 13 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 12 ounces evaporated milk
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
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Instructions 

  • Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to boil and cook 8 minutes, stirring constantly. Enjoy on just about anything!!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 186kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 74mg, Potassium: 112mg, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 230IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 62mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




140 Comments

  1. Sally W says:

    I make this, but after rolling boil of only three minutes I remove from heat and add 1/4 cup Kalhua and teaspoon of vanilla. Can also use Amaretto, cream de mint.
    Someone mentioned gifts, it is a good gift.

  2. Linda foster says:

    Can I water bath can hot fudge sauce to give as Xmas gifts??

  3. Lucy R says:

    5 stars
    Great sauce however not sure what purpose the butter serves in this recipe. I’ve made it with and without and could not detect any difference. I also had to use regular sugar once when I didn’t have any powdered sugar and it was equally as good.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      That’s great to know! Thanks for sharing what you’ve tried.

  4. Nicole Lane says:

    5 stars
    This is by far my favorite fudge topping. It is so rich and I love making hot fudge cakes with it. Definitely a keeper!!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yay! I’m so glad you love the fudge sauce!

  5. Peggy says:

    Looks delicious! Do I put the whole glass jar of chocolate sauce in the microwave to reheat or should I transfer the sauce to a glass bowl?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Either way! If you are just heating up some of it, you can transfer it to a bowl.

  6. Della says:

    5 stars
    The best! I use for drip cakes. Make, refridge, just slightly heat to thin , drip over sides of cake, refridge cake for a few until it sets a bit. Never hardens so easy to cut cakes and is so good!!!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      I love that idea! So glad you enjoy the hot fudge sauce!

  7. Bre says:

    Is this unsalted or salted butter?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      I usually use unsalted so I can control the amount of salt in the recipes.

  8. Sumaira Khan says:

    5 stars
    So yummilicious

  9. Nichole says:

    5 stars
    This is the most delicious fudge sauce, been making this one and this one only for years now!

  10. Amy Del Bello says:

    5 stars
    I always refer back to this recipe for homemade hot fudge. So yummy!