This Easy Chocolate Sauce is SO simple to make with just 5 ingredients and it's ready in less than 5 minutes. Perfect poured over vanilla ice cream or waffles and pancakes. A rich and indulgent ice cream sauce that the whole family will love.
Chocolate, cream, sugar, butter and vanilla is all you need to make the most incredible homemade chocolate sauce that has a lot of uses. You can serve it hot or cold, use it as an ice cream sauce or a chocolate dipping sauce for fruit.
This chocolate sauce recipe doesn't harden when it cools. It stays runny, perfect for pouring, so you can even make it in advance. We have a few different ways you can adapt the flavour too.
If you are looking for some more chocolate recipes to try, then why not try our Chocolate Covered Marshmallows, Easy Chocolate Mousse, Hot Chocolate Spoons, Chocolate Flapjacks, Microwave Hot Chocolate or Healthy Chocolate Mug Cake?
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Why you will love it
- Just 5 ingredients - Just a few simple ingredients, nothing fancy, and you have yourself an amazing sauce that tastes far more impressive than it is.
- Ready in under 5 minutes - It's as simple as heating the cream mixture and melting the chocolate into it. SO easy.
- Adaptable - We have a few different ways that you can adapt this sauce so it tastes different every time.
- So many uses - This is far more than just an ice cream sauce. Carry on reading to see out favourite ways to use it.
Ingredients needed
- Cream - We used single cream, but to make this thicker and more indulgent, you can use double cream. If you wanted to make it lighter, you could use full fat milk.
- Sugar - This helps to make the chocolate sauce extra sweet. We used caster sugar.
- Butter - This makes this ice cream sauce really silky smooth. Use unsalted.
- Vanilla - This is optional, but it adds a lovely extra flavour. Vanilla does to sweet foods what salt does to savoury. It helps to intensify the flavours. If you wanted a chocolate orange version of this, then use orange extract instead.
- Chocolate - The type of chocolate you use depends on how rich you want the chocolate sauce. We used milk, but dark and white chocolate work well too.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and variations
- White chocolate sauce - A white chocolate version of this is even richer, but really good. Simply swap the milk chocolate for white.
- Chocolate mocha sauce - Love mocha? Add a little amount of coffee granules to the mixture.
- Hardening chocolate sauce - If you wanted the type of sauce that hardens when it hits ice cream, then that is a mixture of coconut oil and dark chocolate and it's different from this runny sauce.
- Boozy - Who doesn't love a boozy chocolate sauce? If you want to make a grown up ice cream, then add a little Baileys or Disaronno to the cooled mixture.
- Vegan - If you wanted to make a vegan version of this chocolate dipping sauce, then you will need to use a vegan cream, butter and chocolate. It won't quite have the same richness, but it will be delicious.
How to make Chocolate Sauce - Step by step
One: Put the cream, butter, vanilla and sugar into a saucepan.
Two: Gently heat for 3-4 minutes.
Three: Add the chocolate.
Four: Stir until the chocolate has melted.
How to use Chocolate Sauce
We think this is a great chocolate sauce for ice cream. We love a classic vanilla ice cream, but this sauce works well on any ice cream. Pour it over chocolate chip ice cream for extra chocolatiness.
It doesn't have to be poured though, as it makes a great dipping sauce. If you are looking for a chocolate sauce for churros, then this is an easy option. It also makes a great chocolate dip for a fruit platter. Our kids love it for that. Make some little fruit kebabs and then dip it into this sauce.
When it comes to pancake and waffle toppings, it has to be this sauce. Stack them high, add some fruit and then smoother it in this.
You could even try it drizzled over our healthy Eton Mess recipe.
Storage
Store: You can make this in advance, as it stores well and it doesn't harden as it cools. It will keep in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 3 days. But make sure you check the date on the cream you used, as it might need to be used quicker than 3 days if the expiry date of the cream is before that.
Freeze: You can freeze this and we do it by pouring it into ice cube trays, and then you have individual portions.
Defrost: Defrost it in the fridge and then you need to give it a good whisk once it is defrosted as it will have separated.
Frequently Asked Questions
You only need a little bit of cream for this recipe, so you are probably going to have some left over in the pot you bought. You can freeze it in an ice cube tray.
To make a quicker version of this, you can melt it all together in the microwave. It will take less than a minute.
How thick or thin you want it will depend on preference. If you want it thicker, then use double cream and add a little more chocolate. If you want a thinner sauce, then add some milk to loosen it up.
Extra tips
• For some extra flavour, add a pinch of salt to the sauce.
• You can leave the sugar out if you wanted a lower in sugar version of this.
• Pour this sauce over homemade brownies to make them extra indulgent.
• For a grown-up boozy version, add some Disaronno, rum or Baileys.
• A little pinch of cayenne adds an amazing flavour to this sauce.
More dessert recipes
If you’ve tried this chocolate dipping sauce, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Easy Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients
- 125 ml (0.5 cups) Single cream
- 25 g (5 teaspoon) Butter
- 0.5 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon Caster sugar
- 60 g (0.33 cups) Chocolate - milk
Instructions
- Put 125 ml Single cream, 25 g Butter, 0.5 teaspoon Vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon Caster sugar into a saucepan.
- Gently heat for 3-4 minutes.
- Add 60 g Chocolate.
- Stir until the chocolate has melted.
Recipe tips
- For some extra flavour, add a pinch of salt to the sauce.
- You can leave the sugar out if you wanted a lower in sugar version of this.
- Pour this sauce over homemade brownies to make them extra indulgent.
- For a grown-up boozy version, add some Disaronno, rum or Baileys.
- A little pinch of cayenne adds an amazing flavour to this sauce.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
Gail Crook
Hi. Just made the recipe. My sauce is runny. I tried clicking on the faqs but they don't open on my mobile. Can you advise how to fix my sauce so it's less runny please? I did substitute cream with half milk and half yogurt as I don't do cream. Can I reheat it later and add cornflour and water slurry to thicken it without tainting the flavour?
Dannii Martin
Hi. I am not sure what you mean by the FAQs don't open? As they are all there - you don't to click them to open them. To make it thicker, use double cream and more chocolate. If you changed the ingredients and used milk and yoghurt then you won't have a thick sauce. No, I would not recommend using a cornflour slurry - it will change the flavour completely.
Amy Nash
So easy and delicious! Never going to have to go back to storebought again!
Casey
SO easy! Kiddos loved it and said it was SO much better than anything store bought!
Natalie
I always love to spread some chocolate sauce over my ice cream. Your chocolate dip was perfect, kids couldn't get enough, lol!
Katherine
This choc sauce is perfect on so many desserts!
Mahy
I think this will be my next favorite sauce. I mean, it looks amazing and I bet it tastes super delicious!
Mirlene
We love anything chocolate! I always keep this chocolate sauce recipe when I want to make something quick for my kids dessert!
Andrea
What a quick and easy topping for all sorts of desserts.
Dana
This is such an easy recipe and so so dangerous now that I know how to make it and pretty much always have this stuff on hand haha.
kushigalu
Love how easy and delicious this chocolate sauce recipe is. Thanks for sharing.
Beth
Love it, love it, LOVE IT! This is so perfect for ice cream, cake, and even biscuits. That's totally a thing!
Kathleen
This chocolate sauce is super quick and easy to make. I love that I can make it at any time I want to add a little extra to my dessert.
Shadi
It was so delicious and everyone loved it! Thank you for this amazing recipe!
veenaazmanov
This is so quick and easy and the best dessert option too. Love the combination to enjoy this yummy sauce.
Tavo
the chocolate sauce was truly easy to make and delicious!
Kali A
I always have this recipe handy! It's so easy and delish!