If you’ve been frustrated in the past trying to make your own hot fudge sauce, put your mind at ease. If you follow these easy instructions, you’ll be delighted with the sauce and yourself for mastering this easy recipe. This sauce is great as a topping for ice cream, drizzled over cakes or pies, used to make chocolate milk, or even used as a fudge layer in other recipes. Once you learn how to make your own fudge sauce, you’ll never buy store-bought fudge sauce again!
Can I do this in the microwave?
There are recipes for microwaved hot fudge, but the best results for homemade hot fudge sauce are achieved by cooking them on a conventional stovetop. The heat in the microwave is not that reliable. This recipe is best made on the stovetop – it’s still quick and easy to make.
Cooking Tips:
Cooking combines sugar with other ingredients; too hot and the sugar will burn, too cold or too short and the sugar may become grainy or crystallize. Mixing has to do with working air into the sauce or aerating. The smooth, creamy texture is the result of this blending, so be sure to blend for the full two minutes, even if it seems to blend well before then. Also, an immersion blender is not suitable for this step. Temperature and timing are key, so have your ingredients and a timer ready – you’ll love the result!
A common mistake in candy making is cooking the sugar too quickly. When a candy recipe says “boil,” you should heat over medium-low heat until everything is melted, then turn the heat up to medium-high until it starts to boil. Then, always reduce the heat to medium to maintain a boil. If you just turn the heat up, you risk burning or otherwise destroying your sugar. Doubling candy recipes can be difficult as it affects cooking time, pan size, etc. Substitution in confectionary making is unpredictable because each ingredient has a very specific purpose. This is culinary chemistry. Unless you’re a seasoned confectioner, stick to the recipe.
Does sugar crystallize?
Crystallization is common when handling sugar, but by heating the sugar properly, it can be avoided. Be sure to keep an eye on cooking and mixing.
Does the hot fudge sauce need to be refrigerated?
We recommend storing the fudge sauce in the refrigerator. There may be enough sugar in it to keep well at room temperature, but it’s always safer and fresher in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave in 20-30 second increments.