Looking for a way to elevate your dessert game and bring a touch of nostalgia to your sweets? Old fashioned hot fudge sauce is a classic dessert topping that will take you back to the good old days. This rich and decadent gluten free hot fudge sauce is made with simple ingredients and has a smooth, velvety texture that will leave your taste buds craving for more. It is naturally gluten free and dairy free (and of course nut free) Whether you're enjoying it over ice cream, cake, or other treats, hot fudge sauce is the perfect finishing touch to any dessert.
Jump to:
- Recipe Ingredient Notes
- Tools needed to make Hot Fudge Sauce
- How to make Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce
- Storage & Freezing
- How to serve Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce
- FAQ - Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce
- Baking in grams
- Note about Ovens and Oven Temperatures
- Substitutions and Modifications
- More Recipes to try
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Recipe Ingredient Notes
Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder: I recommend using a dutch processed cocoa powder with high fat content to make this old fashioned hot fudge sauce recipe. Dutch-process cocoa dissolves better in liquid than natural cocoa powder, resulting in a silky smooth sauce. Using natural cocoa powder may result in a more bitter flavor due to its higher acidity.
Dark Chocolate: Choose a high-quality, dark chocolate with a cacao content of 60-70% for the best results in this homemade hot fudge sauce. a product you enjoy eating on its own (you should always use chocolate you enjoy eating on its own). But since this recipe has only a few ingredients, the flavor of the chocolate you use will stand out. This is a great recipe to use an artisan chocolate bar and skip the chocolate chips.
Corn Syrup: Adding corn syrup to fudge sauce ensures a smooth texture by preventing sugar crystallization. Without it, sugar crystals can form when heated and ruin the creamy texture of the sauce. Corn syrup, which is a mixture of glucose and fructose, helps to inhibit crystal formation and create a smooth and creamy texture in the sauce. Can be substituted with Golden Syrup or Agave Syrup (which will change the flavor)
Whiskey: Whiskey or Bourbon complements the chocolate flavor in the hot fudge sauce, adding depth and richness to the final product. I use Koval Bourbon Whiskey which is made from a corn and millet mix.
Tools needed to make Hot Fudge Sauce
With these basic tools, you'll be able to make delicious old fashioned hot fudge sauce in no time.
Digital Kitchen Scale: You'll need digital kitchen scale to measure the ingredients accurately.
Medium saucepan: You'll need a medium-sized sauce pan to cook the fudge sauce. Make sure it's large enough to hold all the ingredients and has enough space to allow the mixture to boil without overflowing.
Whisk: A whisk is necessary to combine the ingredients and prevent lumps from forming. It's also useful for stirring the gluten free hot fudge sauce constantly while it's cooking.
Heat Proof Spatula: A spatula can help you scrape down the sides of the saucepan and prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom.
Jar or container: Once the fudge sauce is ready, you'll need a jar or container to store it in. Make sure it's airtight to prevent the sauce from drying out or spoiling. I like to use mason jars.
How to make Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce
Making old fashioned hot fudge sauce is not hard. It requires a few basic ingredients and can be made in about 15 minutes. The key is to stir the mixture frequently to prevent scorching.
Step 1: Chop the dark chocolate into small pieces and set aside.
Step 2: In a medium sized sauce pan combine the corn syrup, cocoa powder, both sugars, water, and kosher salt. Stir constantly with a whisk to prevent the cocoa from burning. Cook the mixture until the fudge sauce bubbles and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. This should take around 5-10 minutes.
Step 3: Take the saucepan off the heat, then add the chopped-up dark chocolate and stir it until it's melted. Return the pan to the heat and simmer for a few minutes over medium-low heat, constantly stirring until it is shiny and glossy.
Step 4: Turn off the heat and allow the sauce to cool a few minutes before adding the brandy/whiskey and vanilla extract. Adjust salt if needed.
Storage & Freezing
Store the fully cooled hot fudge sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. When you're ready to use it, reheat it on the stove or in the microwave until it's warm and pourable. Add a small amount of water to thin it out if it has become too thick. Avoid storing hot fudge sauce at room temperature since it can spoil quickly and become unsafe to consume.
Freezing is an excellent way to extend its shelf life and have gluten-free hot fudge sauce available for your favorite desserts. Freeze the gluten free fudge sauce for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, leaving space at the top for expansion. When you want to defrost the frozen hot fudge sauce, simply move it to the fridge and let it thaw for a few hours or overnight. Once it's defrosted, you can reheat it on the stove or in the microwave. While the texture of the sauce may slightly change after freezing, it will still be delicious to taste.
How to serve Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce
Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce is served warm over ice cream or other desserts. To serve, heat the sauce in a saucepan or microwave until it is warm and pourable, but not too hot. Drizzle the gluten free hot fudge chocolate sauce generously over gluten free brownies or a big bowl of vanilla ice cream, and enjoy! Optional toppings could include whipped cream, nuts, or sprinkles. And let's not forget the cherry on top to make it a real ice cream sundae.
FAQ - Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce
Hot fudge and chocolate sauce differ mainly in texture, with hot fudge being thicker and richer, and chocolate sauce being noticeably thinner.
Corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are related but different. Corn syrup is made from corn starch and is mainly glucose, while HFCS is derived from corn syrup and has a higher proportion of fructose. HFCS is a more highly processed and concentrated form of corn syrup. It is commonly used as a sweetener in processed foods and beverages.
Baking in grams
I share my recipes in grams and by weight since baking by weight is the most accurate way to bake. Digital Scales are very affordable and very affordable. You can purchase them on Amazon for less than a set of measuring cups. Measuring cups are very inaccurate and can cause significant errors when it comes to gluten-free baking or baking in general. Especially since I bake with gluten-free flours which weigh differently than “regular” flours. I do provide some ingredients like spices and leavening agents in measuring spoons. To learn more about Baking with a digital scale, make sure to check out my post about Baking by weight.
Note about Ovens and Oven Temperatures
All my recipes are tested and developed with a conventional oven. I always bake my baked goods on the rack placed in the MIDDLE of my oven. This way the heat coming from the bottom will not burn my baked goods.
If you are baking with convection (fan-forced), please adjust the recipes accordingly. Be also prepared that the convection oven can cause your baked goods to dry out quickly and still be raw inside. Be aware that it takes at least 15-20 minutes for a standard American Oven to be fully preheated. I highly recommend investing in an Oven Thermometer.
Substitutions and Modifications
Any dietary or ingredient modifications/substitutions to this recipe may alter the end result in appearance and taste. I test my recipes several times as published in this post and The Gluten Free Austrian Blog is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you find on our website.
More Recipes to try
📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Hot Fudge Sauce
Old fashioned fudge sauce is a rich and decadent dessert topping. It's naturally gluten free and vegan. It has a smooth and creamy texture, with a deep chocolate flavor and a hint of sweetness. This classic sauce is perfect for drizzling over ice cream, cakes, or any other dessert for a deliciously indulgent treat.
Ingredients
Gluten Free Fudge Sauce
- 85 grams dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 250 grams water
- 70 grams dutch processed cocoa powder
- 50 grams brown sugar
- 50 grams white sugar
- 135 grams corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 20-30 grams gluten free whiskey or bourbon (optional)
Instructions
How to make Old Fashioned Fudge Sauce
- To make the fudge sauce, chop the dark chocolate and set it aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine corn syrup, cocoa powder, both sugars, water, and salt.
- Stir with a whisk to prevent burning, and cook until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and add the chopped chocolate, stirring until melted.
- Return the pan to the heat and simmer for a few minutes over medium-low heat, stirring until it is shiny and glossy. This will take 2-3 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and allow the sauce to cool a few minutes before adding the brandy/whiskey and vanilla extract. Adjust salt if needed.
Notes
Corn Syrup: Can be substituted with Golden Syrup or Agave Syrup (which will change the flavor)
Coffee Fudge Sauce: For the coffee lover, add 1 tablespoon of instant espresso or substitute half of the water with strong coffee.
Storage: Store the thoroughly cooled hot fudge sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. When you're ready to use it, reheat it on the stove or in the microwave until it's warm and pourable. Add a small amount of water to thin it out if it has become too thick. Avoid storing hot fudge sauce at room temperature since it can spoil quickly and become unsafe to consume.
Freezing: Freeze the gluten free fudge sauce up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, leaving space at the top for expansion.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 251
Calories are a guestimate and randomly generated.
Marta says
I topped my homemade vanilla frozen custard with this GF hot fudge sauce and it was the perfect addition. So rich and velvety that you'd never believe it was gluten free!
Gloria says
I have a few chocoholics in the house. I know this will be a hit for sure. Love to make homemade sauces.
anna says
I'm never using ordinary chocolate sauce again, after trying this fudge sauce! It is delicious! Love how thick and smooth it was drizzled over some brownies!
Amanda Dixon says
This chocolate sauce is divine! It was super simple to make with the perfect rich flavor. So much better than anything you'd buy.
Janet T. says
At what temperature should I set my stove?
Daniela says
This sauce is made stove top 🙂 The oven is not needed
Mikayla says
I just love chocolate sauces, the addition of the bourbon was great and added just a hint of added flavor!
Moop Brown says
Fudge sauce was one of my favorite ice cream toppings growing up and I like the versatility of this recipe and how well it pairs with a variety of different desserts.
silvia says
I had a little bit of corn syrup at home so I used to make this fudge, next time I want to try it with agave syrup. My family loves chocolate and this fudge is great to have around to add to ice cream and desserts.
Monica says
Such a perfect topping! We tried it and loved it - I am definitely saving this for topping our homemade ice creams over the summer. Hot fudge for life!
Debbie says
This is a wonderful old fashioned hot fudge sauce. Using the dark chocolate and cocoa really gave this a deep warm flavor. This is my new go hot fudge .