Hot Fudge Sauce

Name: Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 cups sugar; 1½ cup heavy cream; 1 cup cocoa powder; 1 cup butter; ¼ teaspoon salt; 3 tablespoons vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon instant coffee; 17 ounces marshmallow fluff

This simple hot fudge sauce recipe takes only 10 minutes and a handful of ingredients to make, and it's the best ice cream topping you'll ever have!

Jump to Recipe

Table of Contents

Hot Fudge Sauce Ingredients
How To Make This Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE

Everyone loves the rich, creamy flavor of this decadent hot fudge sauce recipe, and it’s so to make from scratch. Simple ingredients such as butter, cocoa, vanilla, and marshmallow fluff combine to create a topping you’ll want to pour over all your desserts!

Hot Fudge Sauce Ingredients

Hot Fudge Sauce raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

2 cups granulated sugar
1½ cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup butter
¼ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
17-ounce jar of Marshmallow Fluff

PRO TIP:

Marshmallow Fluff is a name brand, and if you can’t find that brand, you can pick up a jar of marshmallow creme instead.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

INSTANT COFFEE: The instant coffee adds a nice richness and extra flavor to the hot fudge sauce, but if you would rather leave it out, the sauce will still be delicious.

SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK: You’ll find that some hot fudge sauce recipes call for sweetened condensed milk, but in this recipe, that ingredient is not necessary, as much of the sweetness comes from the granulated sugar. Marshmallow fluff thickens the sauce at the end of the cooking time.

DARK COCOA: For extra richness, try using dark cocoa powder instead of regular.

How To Make This Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

STEP ONE: Combine all ingredients except for marshmallow fluff in a medium saucepan pan on the stovetop.

Hot Fudge Sauce ingredients combined and whisked together

STEP TWO: Set over medium heat. As the butter starts to melt, whisk together the ingredients until they are smooth.

STEP THREE: When the fudge starts to bubble along the edges, cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring every few seconds.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Keep a close eye on your mixture, especially when it starts to bubble, as you don’t want it to burn to the bottom of your pan.

STEP FOUR: Remove from heat and stir in the marshmallow fluff until melted and smooth.

STEP FIVE: Let cool slightly before serving.

PRO TIP:

Your sauce may harden when stored in the fridge. Just warm it a bit in the microwave to restore the creamy liquidy texture.

How To Serve

Ice cream sundaes are the perfect way to use your hot fudge sauce. Create a sundae bar with your favorite ice cream and toppings, including chocolate chips, sprinkles, fresh fruit, chopped nuts, whipped cream, caramel sauce, warm hot fudge sauce, and a maraschino cherry for the top.

Hot fudge sauce can really bring a dessert to a whole new level of deliciousness! Try a warm slice of chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and top it with hot fudge. Or, serve a warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of ice cream, and a drizzle of fudge!

We also love this sauce over our cookies and cream ice cream as well as no churn cookie dough ice cream.

MORE FUDGE RECIPES

Fudge Recipes

Reese’s Pieces Fudge

Fudge Recipes

Rocky Road Fudge

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: Store the hot fudge sauce in an airtight container or a mason jar with a lid. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze this easy hot fudge sauce recipe in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.

close up side shot of hot fudge sauce being poured with a spoon on to vanilla ice cream in a bowl

Make the best hot fudge sauce recipe in your own kitchen and enjoy the decadent flavor that beats out store-bought hot fudge sauce every time. It takes just minutes, and you’ll be ready to spoon the hot homemade chocolate sauce over ice cream, or any other sweet treat to make it over-the-top delicious.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Could I use regular milk instead of heavy cream?

I think this would work fine. Your hot fudge sauce may be ever so slightly less creamy but still delicious.

How long will this last in the fridge?

This ice cream sauce will last for up to two weeks sealed in an airtight container.

Can I freeze hot fudge?

This easy hot fudge sauce recipe will freeze for up to 3 months.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

5 from 4 votes

This simple hot fudge sauce recipe takes only 10 minutes and a handful of ingredients to make, and it's the best ice cream topping you'll ever have!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Servings ounces

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1½ cup heavy cream
1 cup cocoa powder
1 cup butter
¼ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon instant coffee
17 ounces marshmallow fluff

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except for the marshmallow fluff in a medium pan.
Set over medium heat. As the butter starts to melt, whisk together the ingredients until they are smooth.
When the fudge starts to bubble along the edges, cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring every few seconds.
Remove from heat and stir in marshmallow fluff until melted and smooth.
Let cool slightly before serving.

Video

Notes

Marshmallow Fluff is a name brand, and if you can’t find that brand, you can pick up a jar of marshmallow creme instead.
Keep a close eye on your mixture, especially when it starts to bubble, as you don’t want it to burn to the bottom of your pan.
Your sauce may harden when stored in the fridge. Just warm it a bit in the microwave to restore the creamy liquidy texture.

Nutrition

Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb

Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Rhadonda Sedgwick Creative Director
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant
Andra Willits Writer + Editor