Classic Chocolate Fudge Sauce

This glossy chocolate fudge sauce is rich, pourable, and deeply chocolaty, with a balanced sweetness and a smooth finish. Serve it warm over ice cream, brownies, pound cake, or fresh berries.
Prep: 5 min · Cook: 10 min · Total: 15 min · Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 0.33 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (sifted)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (cut into pieces)
- 4 oz semisweet chocolate (finely chopped)
- 0.75 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup
- 0.125 tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
- Set a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan on the counter and place the 4 oz finely chopped semisweet chocolate, 2 tbsp unsalted butter, and 1 tsp vanilla extract near the stove so they are ready to add when the sauce comes off the heat.
- In the 2-quart saucepan, whisk together 0.75 cup heavy cream, 0.5 cup granulated sugar, 0.33 cup sifted unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tbsp light corn syrup, and 0.125 tsp fine sea salt until the cocoa is mostly moistened and no large dry pockets remain, about 1 minute.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly with a heatproof whisk, until the mixture loosens, darkens, and begins to steam around the edges, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Continue cooking over medium heat, whisking frequently and scraping the corners of the pan with a silicone spatula, until the sauce reaches a gentle simmer with small bubbles across the surface, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce, whisking steadily, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture looks glossy and slightly thickened, 2 minutes; it should coat the back of a spoon in a thin, even layer.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately add the 4 oz finely chopped semisweet chocolate to the hot cocoa mixture, letting it sit undisturbed for 1 minute so the chocolate begins to melt.
- Whisk the sauce in the saucepan off the heat until the chocolate is fully melted and the mixture is smooth, shiny, and uniform, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the 2 tbsp unsalted butter pieces and whisk off the heat until the butter is completely melted and the sauce looks satin-smooth, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the 1 tsp vanilla extract off the heat for 15 seconds, then taste carefully with a clean spoon once the sauce has cooled slightly and adjust only with a tiny pinch of additional salt if a more pronounced chocolate flavor is desired.
- Let the sauce stand in the saucepan for 5 minutes to thicken to a pourable fudge consistency, then serve warm or transfer it to a heatproof jar.
- For storage, cool the sauce to room temperature for no more than 2 hours, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks; rewarm gently in a small saucepan over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes or microwave in 15-second bursts, stirring until smooth and pourable.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 219
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 52 mg
More Recipes
- Almond Bear Claw French Toast
- Almond Puff Pastry Loaf
- American Creamed Spinach
- Anise-scented Yeast Bread
- Apple Cider Braised Pork Chops with Onions
- Apple Cranberry Galette
- Apple Cream Scones
- Apple Crisp with Macadamia Oat Topping
- Apple Waldorf Salad with Walnuts and Grapes
- Arugula, Caramelized Onion, and Goat Cheese Pizza
- Avocado Cups with Crunchy Lime Slaw
- Avocado, Shrimp, and Hearts of Palm Salad