Homemade Chocolate Sauce

No need to buy the stuff off the shelf! You can make your own homemade chocolate sauce recipe with just a few pantry staple ingredients that will taste so much better than what you get in a bottle.

Love chocolate? Then you must try my Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters and my favorite Chocolate Cake!

What To Do When That Chocolate Craving Hits

This recipe was sporadic. Just like my life. Spur of the moment changes mess with a control freak like me but sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

It was 9 p.m. on a Friday night and I wanted something sweet. There were no cookies, cakes, or cupcakes around. All I had to my name was some vanilla ice cream. When you are in the mood for chocolate, vanilla just doesn’t seem to cut it.

I decided to accompany my ice cream with some warm chocolate sauce. I searched the internet for an easy chocolate sauce recipe. I settled on one and headed to the kitchen. There was only one problem. I did not have cocoa powder which the recipe required. I searched the cupboards up and down for cocoa powder. Nothing. I almost sat back down on the couch in defeat before I remembered my semi-sweet chocolate chips tucked away in the back of the cabinet for desperate moments like this. That’s when my experiment began.

Key Ingredients

All of the ingredients serve a purpose in making this a rich chocolate sauce. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips and added a bit of sugar to sweeten the sauce up to my liking. I personally do not like my chocolate too sweet. I also added a pinch of salt to bring out the natural sweetness in the chocolate. There is actually surprising science behind adding salt to sweets. Adding salt registers our sweet taste cell.  Who knew? I also added water to thin out the sauce and corn syrup to provide a nice gloss.

How To Make It

• Begin by heating chocolate chips and heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. The chocolate typically takes about 2 minutes to melt. (You do not want the chocolate to burn!)
• When the chocolate is melted stir in salt, sugar, water, and corn syrup. Stir to combine.
• Take off the heat and serve immediately.

TIP: No corn syrup? Just double the water! The taste will be unaffected.

Tips and Variations

• If you are feeling creative add in vanilla or almond extract to your chocolate sauce. Alcohol (brandy or rum) make good additions too. You can even use this sauce as a dip for fresh fruit. This recipe is very easy to double or quadruple.
• Add some peanut butter or Nutella to the melted chocolate to add more flavor!
• Flash freeze this homemade chocolate sauce spread thin on wax paper, then crumble to make your own chocolate shavings and use them on ice cream!
• Change up the chocolate! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate would work here.

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Instructions

• Store leftover homemade chocolate sauce in an airtight container in your fridge for up to a week.
• Freeze cooled chocolate sauce in an airtight, freezer-safe container or plastic bag for up to 6 months.
• Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until warmed through and pourable.

More Chocolate Recipes To Try

• Chocolate Brownies
• Easy No-Bake S’Mores Bars
• Chocolate Fudge Cake for Two
• Easy Cream Cheese Truffles
• Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Never miss out! Need more quick & easy recipes in your life? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter or follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for all the daily updates.

We love to hear your feedback: If you try this recipe, I’d love to know! Leave a star rating below, and don’t forget to take pictures and tag me on Facebook and Instagram!