Easy Homemade Chocolate Sauce
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Rich, glossy, and deeply chocolatey—this Homemade Chocolate Sauce is your go-to drizzle for ice cream, cakes, pancakes, or anytime you need a little chocolate magic. Made with simple pantry staples and ready in just minutes, it’s better than store-bought and endlessly versatile.
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Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Sauce
- Quick and easy (done in under 10 minutes!)
- Uses pantry ingredients
- Keeps for weeks in the fridge
- Tastes amazing warm or cold
What’s ice cream without chocolate sauce? I can’t imagine it. Now that I’m making my own, I can also ask, “What’s ice cream without homemade chocolate sauce?” I’m a convert, and I’m never going back.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This homemade chocolate sauce is made with simple, real ingredients you likely already have:
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – the base of the chocolate flavor
- Granulated sugar – adds sweetness and shine
- Salt – just a pinch to balance the sweetness
- Water – helps dissolve and blend the cocoa
- Vanilla extract – adds a warm, rich finish
- Butter – optional, but gives a silky texture
Tip: For a deeper flavor, use Dutch-process cocoa powder.
How to Make Chocolate Sauce
- Whisk cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and water together in a saucepan.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until it begins to simmer.
- Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract (and butter if using).
- Cool slightly before serving—or pour it warm over ice cream!
It thickens as it cools. For a thinner sauce, add a splash of warm water.
Serving Ideas
- Drizzle over ice cream or frozen yogurt
- Swirl into your morning oatmeal or coffee
- Dip strawberries or marshmallows
- Pour over pancakes or waffles
- Stir into warm milk for instant hot chocolate
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. If needed, reheat gently before serving.
Yes! Simply omit the butter or use a plant-based alternative. It’s naturally dairy-free without it.
Yes, but it will shorten the shelf life. For a richer sauce, use milk or half-and-half, but refrigerate and use within a few days.
You can! Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently.
More Chocolate Recipes to Try
If you love this chocolate sauce, you might also enjoy:
- Easy Fudgy Chocolate Cake Recipe with Ganache
- Dreamy Chocolate Pudding
- No-Bake Chocolate Pie (3 Ingredients)
- Fudgy Brownies Recipe (A Fudgy Cakey Brownie)
- Chocolate Bundt Cake
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Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/2 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Equipment
- Squeeze Bottles for drizzling and refrigerating
Instructions
- Whisk together in a cold saucepan, the cocoa powder, and sugar until well mixed. Add the cold water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and when cooled a bit, the vanilla.
- Store in the refrigerator in a glass jar. This will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Consistency: The chocolate sauce will be thin while it’s warm, but thickens up quite a bit as it cools.
- Storage: The recipe yields approximately 14 ounces of chocolate sauce. To store it in the refrigerator, you will need a 14-ounce capacity lidded jar or squeeze bottle (reader recommendation!).
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
I have made this recipe now twice and I love it. I just made my second one so I wanted to tell you. And I found the most adorable plastic (bottle with little black polkadots on it). The recipe specified a glass jar, but I just fell in love with this and it has worked since the first time so I’m doing it a second time.
Thank you,
Deane
Hi Deane! I’m so happy you found this recipe and tried it! I make it so often and always keep it in a lidded jar– but a squeeze bottle would be SO easy! I’m off to Amazon to look for one too! Thank you for trying and the recipe and sharing your inspiration!