This 15-minute chocolate sauce recipe is made with cocoa powder (no melted chocolate!) and a handful of pantry staples. It comes together quickly on the stove and turns into a smooth, glossy sauce that works on everything from ice cream to cheesecake to a plain slice of cake that needs to be dressed up as dessert.
Smooth and shiny
This chocolate sauce earns its keep by being simple to make and showing up whenever you need it. It's a vintage, old-fashioned pantry recipe and an easy homemade alternative to bottled syrup.
It takes 15 minutes on the stove, and it's forgiving as long as you stir and don't distract it. Since it uses only cocoa powder, it's a great recipe for beginners who are apprehensive about working with melted chocolate.
Keep a jar of it in the fridge (it lasts for weeks), and use it for last-minute desserts or when you want something chocolatey without committing to a full bake.
Uses
- Pour it warm as a sauce (similar to hot fudge) over homemade brownies, scoops of this incredible dark chocolate ice cream, or the classic vanilla ice cream, and make the simplest desserts feel finished.
- Drizzle it over banana pieces or fresh strawberries for a quick snack.
- Use it for drip cakes or to drizzle over cakes and desserts, like this baked Oreo cheesecake. I don't recommend it on its own as a filling as it doesn't have enough volume.
- Use it as store-bought chocolate syrup (like Hershey's) to make a quick glass of chocolate milk.
Testing Notes
Whisk from the start: First, whisk the cocoa powder with the sugar before adding the liquid to prevent cocoa lumps later. And whisk continuously when you combine the dry and wet ingredients in the pan. This ensures smooth incorporation without lumps.
Use the right tools: A heavy-bottomed saucepan ensures more even heating; a flexible whisk helps you reach into the corners; glass or heat-resistant jars are perfect for storage.
Start cold: Add the liquid to the dry ingredients in the pan before turning on the heat, to help the sugar dissolve evenly.
Low to medium heat: This sauce does not like to be rushed. Gentle heat prevents scorching and keeps the texture silky.
Find your perfect consistency: as it cools, it will thicken. If it's too thick for your taste, add a teaspoon at a time of milk or cream to lighten it.
Reheating from the refrigerator: Scoop out the amount you need into a small saucepan over very low heat, whisking it gently until it becomes smooth. Alternatively, microwave it in 15-second bursts, stirring between intervals, until it's warm and pourable.
Rescue a thin sauce: Whisk in a small amount of cocoa powder off-heat, or simmer gently (very low) while whisking until it reduces to the right consistency. Be careful with how much cocoa you add, or it will lose too much of its sweetness.
Fix a grainy texture: If it feels gritty, remove from heat and whisk in a little warm milk or water (just a teaspoon at a time) to re-emulsify. Then strain through a fine-mesh sieve if needed to discard solids.
For a shinier and richer sauce, add a little butter. Whisk in a small amount of unsalted butter while the sauce is still warm.
Ingredients
Sugar: This gives the sauce sweetness and also helps give it gloss and viscosity. Granulated white sugar works beautifully, but you can substitute it with brown sugar for a deeper, caramel-like color and flavor.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: This is where the chocolate flavor really comes from.
Milk: Milk adds creaminess, body, and richness. Whole milk is ideal for richness, but you can substitute it with half-and-half or even heavy cream for a super decadent sauce. For a dairy-free version, you can use almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. You can also use water if you are not into dairy.
Vanilla extract: It heightens the chocolate, rounds off the edge of sweetness, and adds warmth. You can also use other extracts (almond, peppermint) or even a splash of liqueur (like rum or brandy) for depth.
Pinch of salt: It enhances the chocolate flavor, balances the sweetness, and prevents the sauce from tasting flat. Use fine sea salt or kosher salt.
Process steps
Mix
Mix the ingredients in a medium saucepan before placing it on the stove. Make sure the cocoa and sugar are well integrated.
Whisk constantly
This is important to avoid scorching and lumps. If using a non-stick pan, use a silicone whisk.
Final mixture
The sauce will thicken considerably as it cools down, so don't worry if it's quite thin when you remove it from the heat.
Whisk frequently as it cools so it doesn't form a skin at the top. Transfer to a jar when it's at room temperature.
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4-Ingredient Chocolate Sauce with Cocoa Powder
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup milk
- pinch of sea salt, optional, but recommended
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Put ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ cup milk, and a pinch of sea salt into a medium saucepan. Whisk them all immediately to begin combining. The mixture will look grainy and lumpy.
- Set the pan over medium-low heat and whisk it constantly as the mixture warms. The sauce will gradually change from a thick, lumpy paste into a smooth, glossy liquid as the sugar dissolves and the cocoa incorporates, about 4-5 minutes.
- Continue whisking until you see small bubbles forming around the edges of the pan. Do not allow the sauce to come to a rolling boil. Once you see these first bubbles, immediately remove the pan from the heat.
- Turn off the heat, whisk in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until it is fully incorporated.
- Let the sauce cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes, whisking occasionally to prevent a skin from forming.
- Transfer the sauce to a clean glass jar or airtight container. Once it's cooled to room temperature, refrigerate it for up to 2 weeks.
Judith says
You say to put 1 tsp vanilla in at the beginning before heating and whisk in 1 tsp vanilla at end but list only 1 tsp vanilla in the ingredients. Is it 1 or 2? Thanks
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Judith, it's only 1 teaspoon added at the end, so the flavor is sharper. Thanks for the heads-up; it's already corrected in the recipe card.