Perfect For A Delicious Hot Fudge Sundae
Homemade hot fudge topping blows store-bought jars out of the water. Making it from scratch means you control the ingredients, and everything in the sauce is natural and pronounceable. Spoon it over a scoop of good vanilla ice cream for a classic sundae, or try butter brickle, peanut butter, or coffee ice cream. If you like crunch, add peanuts—chopped or whole depending on your preference.
Ice cream has delighted people for centuries, and Thomas Jefferson helped popularize it in America. One of the few recipes in Jefferson’s handwriting is for ice cream, likely brought home after his travels in France. The Jeffersons served ice cream frequently at Monticello, and Jefferson was known to enjoy his with maple syrup.
Americans Have Loved Ice Cream Sundaes Since A Sunday In 1892
The modern ice cream sundae has an origin often traced to a small pharmacy soda fountain. In Ithaca, New York, Chester C. Platt asked his soda-jerk to serve him and a guest two bowls of ice cream on April 3, 1892. The clerk topped the bowls with cherry syrup and candied cherries, and the sundae was born. From that small moment, Americans embraced the sundae with enthusiasm.
Hot Fudge Sundaes Were Born On Hollywood Boulevard in 1906
In 1906 Clifton Brown, owner of C.C. Brown’s ice cream shop on Hollywood Boulevard, introduced the hot fudge sundae. After experimenting with several fudge recipes, he served a small pitcher of hot fudge alongside the ice cream. Customers loved the contrast of warm, rich fudge and cold ice cream. If you want a reason to celebrate, mark National Hot Fudge Sundae Day on July 25 and make a batch.
You Only Need Five Ingredients To Make Hot Fudge Topping
This hot fudge topping is quick and simple. Use high-quality chocolate chips for the best flavor and smooth texture. I like heavy whipping cream for richness, but evaporated milk works as a lighter alternative. Salted butter adds a subtle savory balance; if you use unsalted butter, stir in about 1/8 teaspoon of salt. A splash of good vanilla rounds out the chocolate.
To make the sauce: melt the butter and chocolate chips together in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low to medium heat, stirring or whisking constantly. Whisk in the cream and powdered sugar, raise the heat slightly, and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and continue whisking until the sauce becomes thick and glossy, about five to six minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla.
Use the sauce right away while warm, or store it in a lidded jar in the refrigerator. Cold sauce will thicken considerably; to reheat, microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between intervals until it reaches a pourable temperature.
Do you prefer chopped peanuts or whole? What other toppings do you love—sprinkles, caramel, toasted coconut? Hot fudge pairs well with many flavors, so experiment and find your favorite combo.
PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD
Hot Fudge Topping
Here is a recipe for a thick, chewy hot fudge sauce that turns cold ice cream into a decadent sundae.
10 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 generous cup high-quality chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup salted butter* (or 1/2 cup unsalted butter + 1/8 tsp salt)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream (or evaporated milk)
- 1 Tbsp vanilla
Instructions
- Melt chocolate chips and butter in a heavy saucepan over low to medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
- Whisk in the cream and powdered sugar, increase the heat slightly, and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and whisk for about 5–6 minutes until the sauce is thick and glossy.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Use immediately or pour into a lidded jar and refrigerate.
- To reheat from cold, microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between bursts until pourable.
- If using unsalted butter, add 1/8 teaspoon salt.
- You can substitute chopped good-quality chocolate bar for the chips, or use milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate to taste.
Notes
*If you use unsalted butter, add 1/8 tsp of salt.
There’s still plenty of summer left—treat yourself to ice cream or a sundae to make any day a little sweeter.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please share it on social media. I also post easy, family-friendly recipes regularly on Facebook and Pinterest. If you liked the post, a comment or review helps a small business more than you know.
Love, GB (Betty Streff)