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    Home > Recipe Index > Desserts > (The best!) Easy Chocolate Sauce Recipe / Chocolate Fondue

    (The best!) Easy Chocolate Sauce Recipe / Chocolate Fondue

    Published: Nov 15, 2018 · Modified: Jan 12, 2022 by Nicki Sizemore · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This ultra silky, easy chocolate sauce recipe does double duty as fondue! Made with just chocolate and heavy cream (with a touch of vanilla and salt), it comes together in minutes. Drizzle the sauce over ice cream, or serve it as fondue with your favorite fixings for dunking. It's the ultimate easy dessert.

    Close up of spoon dripping chocolate sauce into a bowl.

    Easy chocolate sauce recipe

    This easy chocolate sauce recipe is a total game changer. Instead of melting chocolate with cream in a saucepan or in the microwave - which results in a thick, often goopy texture - the sauce is made in a mini food processor. The result is the creamiest, silkiest, lightest chocolate sauce ever!!

    How to make this easy chocolate sauce:

    • Place coarsely chopped dark chocolate (I prefer 70% cocoa content) in a mini food processor, then process until finely chopped.
    Process shot showing chocolate chopped in the food processor to make the easy chocolate sauce.
    • In a small pot, bring heavy cream, vanilla and salt to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate in the food processor, then process until smooth. Done!
    Process shot showing finished chocolate sauce in the food processor.

    Easy chocolate sauce recipe for ice cream

    This is the ultimate chocolate sauce for ice cream sundaes. The silky texture and rich chocolate flavor pairs well with just about any kind of ice cream or gelato.

    Side-shot of chocolate sauce drizzling over a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

    Easy chocolate fondue

    The sauce is also an amazing fondue! Serve it in a bowl (there's no need to heat it) with fresh fruit, cookies, marshmallows and/or potato chips (try it) for dunking. It's a fun dessert that the whole family will love.

    Hand dunking a marshmallow into a bowl of chocolate sauce.

    Vegan chocolate sauce

    For a vegan chocolate sauce, swap out the heavy cream for coconut cream.

    Hand dipping a strawberry into a bowl of chocolate sauce.

    FAQ

    Can I make the chocolate sauce ahead?

    Yes! This easy chocolate sauce lasts for two weeks in the fridge. Simply reheat it in the microwave before serving.

    How do you make chocolate sauce from scratch?

    All you need are good quality dark chocolate, heavy cream, vanilla extract and salt. Process the chocolate in a food processor until finely chopped, then pour in hot cream, vanilla and salt. Process again until smooth. The result is the silkiest chocolate sauce ever.

    What is the difference between chocolate sauce and syrup?

    Chocolate syrup typically has corn syrup added to it. This homemade chocolate sauce has no added sugar!

    Watch the video!

    Get the recipe!

    Easy chocolate sauce recipe drizzling over a bowl of vanilla ice cream
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    The Easiest Chocolate Sauce Recipe / Chocolate Fondue

    This recipe is adapted from the chocolate sauce in my cookbook, The Food Processor Family Cookbook. It’s the creamiest, silkiest, lightest chocolate sauce ever, and it comes together in minutes using only four ingredients! Drizzle the sauce over ice cream, or serve it as fondue with your favorite fixings for dunking (we’re partial to fresh fruit, ladyfinger cookies and marshmallows, if my daughter gets her way). For a vegan variation, swap out the heavy cream for coconut cream.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chocolate fondue recipe, chocolate sauce recipe, easy chocolate sauce recipe
    Servings: 1 ¼ cups
    Author: Nicki Sizemore

    Ingredients

    • 4 ounces good-quality bittersweet chocolate, (I prefer 70% cocoa content), coarsely chopped
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Pinch sea salt

    Instructions

    • Place the chocolate in a mini food processor. Pulse until evenly chopped into small pieces. Once it’s evenly chopped, process until very finely ground.
    • Heat the heavy cream, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then immediately pour the hot cream over the chocolate in the food processor.
    • Process just until the mixture turns silky, about 5 seconds. Be careful not to overmix, as it could result in a grainy sauce.
    • Drizzle the chocolate sauce over ice cream, or serve it as fondue with fresh fruit, cookies, etc. for dunking.

    Notes

    Do Ahead: The chocolate sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. To reheat, microwave the sauce on high in 15-second intervals, stirring after each, until warmed through.
    Tips:
    • You'll need a mini food processor to make this easy chocolate sauce, or you can use a high speed blender such as a Vitamix.
    • Use a good quality dark chocolate. I prefer a chocolate with 70% cocoa content (since you're adding cream, the chocolate won't be too strong).
    • There's no need to add any sugar to this chocolate sauce! The chocolate provides enough sweetness. 
    • For a vegan chocolate sauce, swap out the heavy cream for coconut cream.

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    *This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale (at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting FromScratchFast!!

    More Desserts

    • Healthy Gluten Free Apple Honey Cake (Paleo!)
    • Gluten Free Pie Recipes (+ New Class!)
    • Easy Maple Glaze (for donuts, scones, cakes and more!)
    • Easy Homemade Strawberry Sauce (and how to serve it!)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michel says

      March 07, 2017 at 6:43 pm

      This is a special request from Charlie for his birthday! It was a hit on Valentine's Day.

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        March 07, 2017 at 8:28 pm

        Aww, this makes me so happy! I hope Charlie has an awesome birthday. We need to get the kids (and adults) together again soon!

        Reply
    2. Sue Byrnes says

      February 09, 2017 at 12:50 pm

      Looks terrific and easy and love Ella's face

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        February 09, 2017 at 1:53 pm

        Thanks, Sue!! xoxo

        Reply

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    Meet Nicki

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    Welcome! I’m Nicki Sizemore, a trained chef, recipe developer and cookbook author. My mission is to help you make wholesome & delicious food from scratch without spending hours in the kitchen. All of my recipes are naturally gluten-free.

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