Three-ingredient hot fudge sauce is one of my favourite quick and easy treats that the whole family will love. It takes only minutes to make, but tastes wonderful poured over ice cream for an impromptu sweet indulgence.
Hot fudge sauce
Dessert, pudding, afters, sweet… whatever you call it, occasionally I indulge myself – just a tad – at the end of a meal. A bowl of good ice cream is a quick and easy starting point, but I’m a big fan of jazzing it up a bit with something like this fudge sauce.
I love hot sauces on ice cream. The contrast of hot and cold brings back memories of lunch at home in my first year at primary school; my mother would give me the occasional treat of ice cream topped with hot homemade jam. Bliss!
To make the most of the effect, allow the ice cream to soften enough to scoop, but re-freeze the scoops on a cutting board covered with clingfilm. The ice cream will be frozen hard when you serve it, and won’t melt too quickly from the hot sauce.
This easy fudge sauce recipe is really simple to make: just don’t turn the heat up too high. It keeps well in the fridge, and can be reheated, but again, take care: don’t reheat too much or too fast, or it can split or turn to toffee. This sounds like an ominous warning, but it really isn’t. Just heat gently.
How to make hot fudge sauce
Step one – Measure out equal weights of the ingredients – unsalted butter, brown sugar and double cream.
Step two – Put all three ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat on the stove top on a low heat, stirring constantly as the butter melts and sugar dissolves.
Step three – Simmer for a few minutes, stirring all the time as the sauce thickens. Once it’s glossy and has reached a thick, fudgy consistency that coats the back of a spoon, it is ready. If you cook it too long, it will turn to toffee!
Top tips for easy hot fudge sauce
- This recipe is very scalable. If you need to make more, simply use equal weights of unsalted butter, brown sugar and double cream. 12.5 g of each per person is a generous portion.
- Try using different sugars. For a lighter and fudgier sauce, use light brown sugar; for a deeper flavour, use dark brown.
- Any leftovers will keep for a couple of days in the fridge, sealed in a jar. Reheat gently in a saucepan, or in the microwave to serve.
- Don’t just serve on ice cream! Spoon over an equally quick steamed pudding, over cheesecake or serve sandwiched into a cake.
- For a really wicked treat, there’s nothing quite like a spoonful of fudge sauce straight from the jar!
For more easy sweet sauces that are delicious on ice cream, try my 2 ingredient vegan chocolate sauce, or my honey caramel sauce.
The perfect three-ingredient hot fudge sauce: simply stir the ingredients together over a low heat until smooth and delicious.
- 25 g unsalted butter
- 25 g soft brown sugar
- 25 g double cream
-
Measure out equal weights of the ingredients - unsalted butter, brown sugar and double cream.
-
Put all three ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat on the stove top on a low heat, stirring constantly as the butter melts and sugar dissolves.
-
Simmer for a few minutes, stirring all the time until the sauce is thick and fudgy. Serve straight away.
Top tips for Three Ingredient Hot Fudge Sauce
- This recipe is very scalable. If you need to make more, simply use equal weights of unsalted butter, brown sugar and double cream. 12.5 g of each per person is a generous portion.
- Try using different sugars. For a lighter and fudgier sauce, use light brown sugar; for a deeper flavour, use dark brown.
- Any leftovers will keep for a couple of days in the fridge, sealed in a jar. Reheat gently to serve.
- Don't just serve on ice cream! Spoon over an equally quick steamed pudding, over cheesecake or serve sandwiched into a cake.
- For a really wicked treat, there's nothing quite like a spoonful of fudge sauce straight from the jar!
Nutritional Information
- This recipe is 9 Weight Watchers Smart Points
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Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in 2007, but was rewritten and republished with new photos, step by step instructions and hints & tips in April 2019
Anonymous
Hot fudge sauce and homemade vanilla bean ice cream – perfect together :)
Jane
I must learn to make ice cream, it is on my list of kitchen things to do. This sauce would be amazing with it.
Gloria
Soon, very soon (at least I hope), we will get some warm weather. Warm weather means ice cream. What a great topper to have around. I think it might find it’s way on a few other things too.
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
Honestly, why would anyone care to fuss around with caramel sauce if you can just make this easy 3 ingredient fudge sauce? I personally burn 80% of my homemade caramel and this recipe looks like the perfect alternative! SAVED!
Kirsty
I absolutely love this kind of sauce, and love that I can make it at home. I’d have it on all kinds of things, pancakes, ice-cream and anything I can get away with.
Amanda
So easy to make and perfect for ice cream. Definitely something I will have to make for the family.
Denise
This looks incredible! I can imagine finding many different things to top with this hot fudge sauce, it would become quite addicting.
Helen
I just eat it straight from the jar!
Annie @ Annie's Noms
I was completely sold on “three ingredient” this looks divine and I love how easy it is. I would want to drink it haha, I love homemade hot fudge sauce!
Helen
It is IDEAL for drinking!
Stephanie
This sounds super easy and delicious. Perfect way to make ice cream special.
Helen
Nothing like a easy hot sauce
Gemma
Hot fudge sauce on ice cream is the epitome of desserts, so simple and so tasty. This is a keeper of a recipe.