This easy old fashioned hot fudge sauce recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients like Hershey’s cocoa powder, sugar, butter, and milk to make a homemade thick and chewy sauce in only 5 minutes. Drizzle over an ice cream sundae, no bake pies, or cheesecake for the perfect dessert!

a ladle scooping in hot fudge sauce into a glass jar
This vintage homemade hot fudge recipe has been in our family for over 60 years! It’s thick and cools until it’s almost chewy over ice cream.

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Easy Peasy Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

I have been making this old fashioned hot fudge sauce for years. Actually, now that I think about it, decades. Yikes. 😳 It’s right up there with 10-minute preacher cookies and a fluffy stack of homemade double chocolate pancakes as treats I no longer even need to look at a recipe for anymore.

Growing up, my mom didn’t micromanage my sisters and I in the kitchen (probably too exhausted from cleaning up after us). Whenever the fancy struck for a sweet treat (daily), we would be left on our own to make it.

So, if you need verification for how easy this hot fudge sauce recipe is, evidently a 10 year old can make it. Even better, without supervision!

I’m still devoted to this recipe 35 years later. I love the way the warm, thick sauce becomes chewy once it hits the cold vanilla ice cream. The magic ingredient that gives it’s signature gooey, thick, slightly chewy texture? Karo corn syrup. In my book, that is how hot fudge should be, or it’s just chocolate syrup!

Better yet, this recipe doesn’t require special ingredients, like heavy cream, evaporated milk, or fancy gourmet chocolates. In fact, I bet you have everything you need to make the best fudge sauce right in your kitchen!

Just made this & it was extremely easy. I doubled the recipe as I was cooking it & it still went well. It’s now my go to & I’ll add various flavors when I do. Today I made it for homemade strawberry ice cream. So it’s perfect.

—Marje

Let’s Make This Together!

image showing how to make fudge sauce in a pan.

Just because it’s “old fashioned” doesn’t make it complicated! It’s as simple as combining sugar, butter, cocoa powder, corn syrup, and milk in a saucepan and heating until it’s a smooth sauce.

For the signature ice cream parlor texture, bring to a boil and simmer for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and that’s it! Cool slightly and enjoy immensely.

chocolate syrup on melting ice cream in a footed dish
If you love soft chewy ribbons that stick on creamy ice cream, then this fudge sauce is for you!

Yummy Possibilities

What doesn’t taste better with chocolate?? Add homemade fudge sauce to amp up any of these glorious desserts!

  • Ice cream sundaes (even better, a hot fudge brownie sundae!)
  • Easy cheesecake topping
  • Swirl into milk shakes
  • Use a dipping sauce for fondue
  • Mousse parfaits
  • Layer in ice cream cakes
  • Mix into bar cookies
  • Drizzle on top of pies. My fave? Cool and creamy Andes mint pie.
  • Stir in 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter into the sauce after cooking
hot fudge sauce being poured into a glass jar
Store the leftovers refrigerated in a lidded jar for up to 6 weeks. Just scoop out what you’d like and rewarm in the microwave.

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chocolate syrup on melting ice cream in a footed dish
4.42 stars (74 ratings)

Thick Old Fashioned Fudge Sauce (Cocoa Powder)

Melissa Erdelac of MamaGourmand headshot in patterned dress.Melissa Erdelac
Yield: 9 (2 tablespoon) servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
This easy old fashioned hot fudge sauce recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients like Hershey's cocoa powder, sugar, butter, and milk to make a homemade thick and chewy sauce in only 5 minutes. Drizzle over an ice cream sundae, no bake pies, or cheesecake for the perfect dessert!
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Ingredients
 

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • In a small saucepan place the sugar, butter, cocoa powder, corn syrup, and milk. Heat over medium-low, stirring to combine until butter is melted and sauce is smooth.
    ¾ cup granulated sugar, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon light corn syrup, ¼ cup milk
  • Continue stirring as mixture comes to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and optional peanut butter until smooth.
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional: ¼ cup creamy peanut butter for peanut butter hot fudge sauce
  • Cool slightly before serving over ice cream. Makes one heaping cup or 9 – 2 tablespoon servings.

Notes

Storing
Leftover hot fudge will stay good for 1-2 months in refrigerator in an airtight container, like a lidded jar.
Hot fudge sauce may also be frozen. Make sure it has cooled completely then transfer to ziplock freezer bags. Thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stove.
Reheating
When reheating hot fudge transfer the serving amount to a small microwave safe bowl and reheat for 10-15 seconds. It doesn’t take long so watch carefully! 
It may also be reheated in a saucepan. Warm on low heat, stirring constantly, until warmed and smooth. 
Calories: 128kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 50mg, Potassium: 61mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 168IU, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review below. It helps others when searching for recipes and I LOVE feedback!