Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (2024)

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This impossibly rich Chocolate Sauce is going to be your new best friend! Whip it together in just 10 minutes, and you’ll get the perfect addition to cakes, cupcakes, and ice cream!

Use this easy Chocolate Sauce as the perfect finisher for my dreamy Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake.

Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Easy Homemade Chocolate Sauce
  • Uses for Chocolate Sauce
  • Chocolate Sauce Ingredients
  • The Best Chocolate For Chocolate Sauce
  • How To Make Homemade Chocolate Sauce
  • Decorating Tips
  • Making It Ahead of Time
  • Recipe Variations
  • Get the Recipe

    Easy Homemade Chocolate Sauce

    If you’re looking for an elegant way to decorate pastries and desserts, this Chocolate Sauce recipe is for you. You can use it in so many ways: on top of cakes, to glaze donuts, drizzled on ice cream or on top of pastries!

    Just like ganache, this recipe is silky smooth and firm, except it’s a little sweeter and more stable to work with. It’s just what you need when you want to add beautiful chocolate droplets or a mirror glaze to your pastries.

    Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (2)

    If you ever end up having leftovers of this sauce, it makes a great fruit dip (hello, chocolate strawberries!) or re-heated and served over a bowl of ice cream. Its uses are endless, you can even enjoy it with a bowl and a spoon! All you need are a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes for this amazing chocolate treat.

    Uses for Chocolate Sauce

    • Spoon it over top of a bowl of ice cream.
    • Dip donuts in it for a great chocolate glaze.
    • Use it as an elegant decoration for cakes or cupcakes.
    • Use it as a dip for fruit, such as strawberries, bananas, or watermelon.
    • Stir a spoonful in a cold coffee drink or drizzle on top of a latte.
    • Drizzle it over whipped cream.

    Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (3)

    Chocolate Sauce Ingredients

    Unlike traditional 2-ingredient chocolate ganache (cream and chocolate), this homemade sauce is thickened with butter and has a silky texture thanks to the addition of corn syrup. Once the mixture stands for 5 minutes after coming together, it will turn into a firm glaze that’s perfect for decorating cakes and cupcakes.

    You only need 6 ingredients to make your chocolate glaze:

    • Unsalted butter
    • Milk
    • Corn syrup
    • Vanilla extract
    • Dark chocolate
    • Powdered sugar

    The Best Chocolate For Chocolate Sauce

    Use a high-grade dark chocolate, such as Bakers, Lindt, or Ghirardelli brands. Pure dark chocolate is best because it will elevate the taste, quality, and appearance of the sauce. Do not use chocolate chips or milk chocolate as they will not melt as smoothly and affect the texture.

    Don’t worry about the bitterness when using dark chocolate! Unsalted butter and powdered sugar help the sauce taste sweet and irresistible.

    Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (4)

    How To Make Homemade Chocolate Sauce

    All you need is one saucepan and 15 minutes to whip together this chocolatey goodness!

    1. Combine: Add the butter, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until the butter is melted.
    2. Lower The Heat: Turn the heat to low, and add in the chocolate. Whisk until melted.
    3. Add Sugar: Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar until smooth. Let the chocolate glaze sit for 5 minutes until it has cooled slightly and started to thicken just a little bit.

    Decorating Tips

    When using the sauce to decorate pastries, you can spoon it right out of the saucepan after it’s cooled, or add it to a pastry bag or squeeze bottle. This recipe is perfect for making chocolate drips down the edges of a cake. Afterward, fill in the top of the cake with the rest of the syrup for a beautiful chocolate mirror glaze.

    Allow the sauce to sit and harden on the pastry for at least 30 minutes before serving. The longer it sits, the better, so be patient!

    Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (5)

    Making It Ahead of Time

    Homemade chocolate sauce is perfect to keep in your home for a fun treat. Keep it on your kitchen counter for up to 2 days, in an air tight container, or store it in your refrigerator for up to a month.

    Recipe Variations

    • Add Salt: Use salted butter for a hint of salt in the chocolate sauce.
    • Leave Out The Butter And Milk: For a more traditional ganache, leave the butter and milk out and sub in cream.
    • Naturally Gluten-Free: This chocolate sauce recipe is naturally gluten-free, however, make sure to double-check the brand labels to confirm there is no risk of cross-contamination.
    • Make It Vegan: Pure dark chocolate should not contain any dairy, making it the perfect solution for a vegan chocolate sauce. Full fat coconut milk instead of dairy milk and butter will create a creamy, plant-based ganache. Heat up 1 can of coconut milk, melt in 16 oz. of dark chocolate, then stir in ½ teaspoon of vanilla!

    Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (6)

    This homemade Chocolate Sauce is the perfect addition to a cake, cupcakes, ice cream, fruit or just on a spoon straight into your mouth. This is one of my favorites to dress up a dessert, pastry or use to top homemade donuts. Leave a review below letting me know how it turns out for you!

    Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (7)

    4.7 from 19 votes

    Print Pin Recipe

    Yield: 1 .5 cups

    Chocolate Sauce

    This impossibly rich chocolate sauce is going to be your new best friend! Whip it together in just 15 minutes, and you’ll get the perfect addition to cakes, cupcakes, and ice cream!

    Prep Time5 minutes minutes

    Cook Time5 minutes minutes

    Total Time10 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 2 tablespoons milk
    • 2 teaspoons corn syrup
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped cup
    • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

    Instructions

    • Combine butter, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in small saucepan and heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Decrease the heat to low, add the choco- late, and whisk until melted.

    • Remove from heat, add the powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth. Let chocolate glaze sit for 5 minutes until it has cooled slightly and started to thicken just a little bit.

    • Then slowly drizzle over cake, cupcakes, pastries, dunk donuts into it or top ice cream or whip cream with it!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1, Calories: 101kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 4mg, Sugar: 12g

    © Jessica - The Novice Chef

    Cuisine: American

    Category: Chocolate

    Categories:

    • Chocolate
    • Desserts
    • Ice Cream
    • Recipes
    • Videos

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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    Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe - Perfect for Ice Cream! (2024)

    FAQs

    What's the difference between chocolate syrup and chocolate sauce? ›

    Chocolate Syrup: made with just water – no additional fat like cream or butter. It's thinner in consistency than sauces and easily mixes into drinks. Chocolate Sauce: usually made with the addition of milk, cream, or butter. It's thicker in consistency.

    How to thicken up chocolate sauce? ›

    Cornstarch – helps thicken the mixture into a thick hot chocolate sauce. Water – loosens up the sugar, cocoa, and cornstarch into a sauce. Butter – adds flavor and helps create a silky texture. Vanilla – sweetens and deepens the chocolate flavor.

    How to keep chocolate sauce from hardening? ›

    Add Alcohol. Liquors like rum, brandy, or liqueurs can prevent chocolate from hardening too fast, ideal for dessert sauces. By incorporating these simple strategies into your chocolate adventures, you can maintain that glossy, luxurious texture even as your chocolate masterpiece cools down.

    How to thin chocolate sauce? ›

    To thin melted chocolate, add a small amount of neutral oil, like vegetable oil or cocoa butter, stirring gently until it reaches the desired consistency. Melt slowly to avoid overheating, and keep water out to prevent the chocolate from seizing.

    What are the chocolate ingredients? ›

    Dark Chocolate Ingredients: Cacao liquor, sugar, cacao butter, lecithin, and vanilla. Milk Chocolate Ingredients: Cacao liquor, sugar, cacao butter, milk solids, milk fat, lecithin, vanilla. White Chocolate Ingredients: Sugar, Cacao butter, milk solids, milk fat, lecithin, vanilla.

    Is melted chocolate the same as chocolate syrup? ›

    Do not substitute chocolate syrup for melted chocolate in any recipe. (Plus, let's be honest, the flavor of some of these ice cream toppings—especially those made mostly with high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup—isn't as rich.) The consistency is different and the results will be less than optimal.

    How do you keep chocolate sauce from splitting? ›

    Don't let the chocolate overheat.

    Just 10 seconds too long and boom! The fat in the chocolate separates. For this reason I prefer to heat the cream gently on my stove top. It gives me more control over the heat.

    What thickens melted chocolate? ›

    Something as simple as a drop of water can seize your melted chocolate and to regain it, a little extra fat is required, which can be procured from vegetable oil, butter or cocoa butter.

    How do you make chocolate cream thicker? ›

    Using Different Parts of Chocolate to One Part Cream

    The secret to a perfect ganache often lies in the ratio of chocolate to cream. A rule of thumb for a thicker consistency is to use two parts of chocolate to one part cream. This ratio ensures that the ganache sets firmly enough for piping, coating, or sculpting.

    How to keep chocolate soft in ice cream? ›

    Work by eye: Once the chocolate is melted, stir in a few extra drops or teaspoons of warm water, as necessary, to make a smooth, fluid mixture—if it's stiff or curdled, add water and stir until smooth. For 66% to 72% chocolates, at least an extra tablespoon of water will be needed.

    Why is my homemade chocolate not hardening? ›

    It could be that your room temperature is too high. If the temperature is over 68 F, this can cause problems. The ideal setting temperature is between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It could also be that the chocolate wasn't tempered, because untempered chocolate takes quite a bit longer to set.

    Should I refrigerate chocolate sauce? ›

    It's safe to store chocolate syrup in the pantry for two to three years. After it's opened, however, move the chocolate syrup to the refrigerator, where it should remain safe to consume for up to six months. Visible mold or separation or a rancid smell are all indicators of chocolate syrup that has spoiled.

    How to make melted chocolate creamy? ›

    smooth and creamy melted chocolate every time. for every one cup of chocolate chips, I either use half a teaspoon of vegetable oil. or one tablespoon of coconut oil. microwave in 22nd intervals. stir very well between so that it doesn't burn.

    Why is my melted chocolate not runny? ›

    Chocolate seizes when it comes into contact with even a small amount of liquid or moisture during the melting process. This is because the water causes the sugar in the chocolate to dissolve and then form a syrup, which binds the cocoa particles together, creating a grainy, thick, and clumpy texture.

    Why is my chocolate sauce too thick? ›

    If the sauce is too thick (and possibly looks slightly lumpy or oily) then it is likely that the sauce was over heated. This will cause the chocolate to seize and can make the sauce look thick and grainy and as you stir it may also start to look oily.

    What is the difference between syrup and sauce? ›

    Sauce is thicker like mocha, caramel drizzle, white chocolate, etc. Syrups are the thinner flavors like vanilla, raspberry, cinnamon dolce, etc. Sauces also tend to have a dairy base and are higher in sugar.

    What's the difference between chocolate sauce and chocolate fudge? ›

    The main difference is the texture. Hot fudge is thicker and more rich while chocolate sauce is thinner and more pourable. Chocolate sauce stays sauce in the refrigerator, while hot fudge gets cold and thick…like fudge.

    What is the difference between white chocolate sauce and syrup? ›

    While syrups focus on sweetness, sauces are all about adding richness and indulgence to beverages. Starbucks sauces are thicker and more concentrated than syrups, often featuring decadent flavors like mocha, white chocolate, and caramel drizzle.

    What is a fancy name for chocolate sauce? ›

    synonyms: chocolate syrup. types: fudge sauce, hot-fudge sauce.

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