Homemade Chocolate Sauce

Prep 5 minutes
Servings 14 (2 tablespoons per serving, 1 & 3/4 cups total)

Homemade Chocolate Sauce is incredibly easy to make without any corn syrup or dairy and rivals anything you’ll buy at the store! Whip up a batch in only 5 minutes and then drizzle it on all your favorite desserts.

chocolate sauce in glass jar

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.

5 STAR REVIEW

In the time it takes to go to the store and buy some chocolate syrup, you could have already made some and be enjoying it. That’s how quick and easy this homemade chocolate sauce recipe is.

You only need 4 ingredients (plus water) – no corn syrup or dairy – just cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and vanilla. You end up with smooth, sweet, chocolate lava! I think it’s even better than Hershey’s.

Possible Variations

  • Make it creamier. Use milk instead of water and stir in a tablespoon of butter at the end. Either or both will provide a richer, creamier texture.
  • Turn it into mocha chocolate sauce. Just add a teaspoon of espresso powder.
  • Give it a spicy Mexican flair. Include a dash of cayenne pepper or chili powder.
  • Add some peppermint extract. This would make give it a holiday vibe and it great for Christmas gifts.
5 from 98

Homemade Chocolate Sauce

Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 14 (2 tablespoons per serving, 1 & 3/4 cups total)
This is the best Homemade Chocolate Sauce recipe! It's so quick and easy to make with just 4 ingredients and no corn syrup or dairy. It tastes better than Hershey's!

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions 

  • In a cold saucepan, whisk together the cocoa and the sugar until all lumps are removed. Add the salt and the water and bring to a boil over medium-medium high heat. 
  • Reduce to a gentle simmer; stirring constantly. Simmer for about 30 seconds and then remove from heat. Let cool and then add in the vanilla.
  • Pour into a glass jar and allow to cool. {The chocolate sauce will be very thin when it finishes boiling, but it will thicken quite a bit as it cools.}
  • Refrigerate until needed.

Notes

Possible Variations. Add a teaspoon of espresso powder for a mocha flavor, a dash of cayenne pepper or chili powder for a Mexican flair, or some peppermint extract for the holidays.
Make it creamier. Using milk instead of the water will give it a creamier texture. You can also stir in a tablespoon of butter at the end.
Storing leftovers. Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Simply reheat in the microwave for a few seconds and give it a stir before serving. If you use chocolate sauce a lot, this recipe can easily be doubled.

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
chocolate sauce being spooned on top of vanilla ice cream

Chocolate Sauce vs. Hot Fudge Sauce

The difference between chocolate sauce and hot fudge sauce is that hot fudge usually uses cream and butter, making it thicker than chocolate sauce, which uses sugar and water. So, technically this is chocolate sauce, but it definitely thickens up as it cools, so it’s like in-between. Basically, perfect.

What to use chocolate sauce for?

  • Pour it over ice cream.
  • Stir it into milk.
  • Drizzle it over brownies or angel food cake.
  • Layered it in a chocolate trifle.
  • Use it as a dip for fruit.
  • Give it as a gift! Make a trio of sauces – one regular, one spicy, and one minty!

How to Store Leftovers

Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Simply reheat in the microwave for a few seconds and give it a stir before serving.

More Chocolate Recipes To Try:

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTokFacebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Share this post

About Amy Flanigan

Well, hey there! Amy here, founder and COO at BellyFull. If you’re looking for tried and true, fuss-free, budget-friendly, delicious, every day recipes, you’ve come to the right place.

You May Also Like

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
Don't forget to click the ⭐ star rating below




104 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Tina G
May 3, 2026 10:39 am

I made this recipe and I am not going back to store bought EVER again! It is so easy to make and even better to eat!!! I did use the butter and milk in mine and measured the vanilla with my heart. ;) There are suggestions on how you can use the chocolate sauce like on ice cream or in milk, but it’s pretty darned good by the spoonful, too!!!

Jo Ann Kramer
April 18, 2026 1:58 pm

I made this today and used half and half instead of water and added butter at the end as I wanted an extra rich sauce and it is absolutely delicious! So easy and like all the other comments…I will never buy store bought again!

JS
April 14, 2026 8:20 am

This is perfect, as is! thank you!!

Steven Van Erem
April 1, 2026 9:05 am

Excellant Chocolate Sauce! Made recipe as written, very good!
Next time I will try it using whole milk and a little butter.
Thank you for all of your recipes!

DEE
February 20, 2026 8:01 am

I made this with milk and added shaved Choc from bunnies in the freezer and my goodness it is rich and flavorful 🤗. Thank you Amy 👍.

Sheryl
February 15, 2026 8:55 pm

This chocolate sauce is spot on. Easy to make and tastes better than the syrup in the big brown bottle!

Deborah L D'Alessandro
April 25, 2026 5:08 pm
Reply to  Sheryl

I knew I was in trouble when I saw this recipe and realized it has ingredients I always have in my pantry. . . So yummy and easy to make. I tried it because a friend brought over brownies and ice cream and my son in law asked if we had chocolate sauce . . . So I surprised him the next night with sauce for our leftover dessert. I’ll try not to make too often because it is addictive if you’re a chocolate lover.

Marni Esposito
January 24, 2026 3:53 pm

This recipe is PERFECT! Just the perfect balance of sweetness. The ingredients are on hand and I’ll never buy that nasty store bought chemical loaded garbage. Thank you!

Kathie
January 20, 2026 8:52 am

The recipe is so easy and tastes delicious. I’ll never use store bought chocolate sauce again!

Amm
December 15, 2025 2:19 am

I’ve made this numerous times, it is the best! Easy and so good. I love that it doesn’t require milk either.

Sarah
December 5, 2025 9:39 am

This was SO quick and easy and tasted excellent! I will never buy it from the store again, thank you!

I
July 19, 2025 4:38 am

So easy, thankyou

Bodge
June 20, 2025 6:53 pm

Why have I not been making this all my life?! So good!!

Becky B
May 4, 2025 5:26 pm

Love, love, love this recipe!

Linds
April 17, 2025 7:48 pm

I never ate chocolate sauce because of all the yuck in it. Thank you for sharing. It’s soo good. I drizzle it in my vanilla yogurt in the mornings.

Karen
February 16, 2025 8:21 am

Absolutely Delicious! It thickened up nicely. I made it for a strawberry crepe topping and everyone enjoyed it. I will use some of the leftovers for the decoration of my chocolate martinis!

Dremrsmajk
January 5, 2025 7:24 am

Super easy, GREAT

Terri kellums
December 19, 2024 9:15 am

I made this with date sugar for a lower glycemic impact. I used 2/3 c of the date sugar and 3/4 c of cold water. The date sugar contains fiber so it needs more water. The taste is awesome! I can’t wait to try some of the variations you suggested.

Linda
December 1, 2024 2:51 pm

This is fast, easy and tastes outstanding

Denise
November 28, 2024 5:39 pm

Perfect… and so quick…. Love it!!

Rhonda
November 19, 2024 12:45 pm

Wow this was so delicious and easy! Going in my permanent recipe binder, thank you for sharing!!