Espresso Fudge Sauce

A jar of fudge sauce.

I’m having a flashback.   I was 10 years old sitting in the family room at Myne and Granddad’s house.  We had set up the card table and were playing Rummikub – like gin rummy but with numbered tiles.  In between games, Myne warmed a pot of her home-made fudge sauce and spooned it into bowls of vanilla ice cream — one of my favorite treats.  Granddad loved it too.      

cocoa, flour, sugar and butter in a pot.

Though he’s been gone for more than 20 years, I can still hear Granddad’s drawl, calling me, “dahh-lin'”.    It’s weird the way it all comes back to you.  Having her fudge sauce now, still conjures those images.

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adding evaporated milk to pot.

Who knows? Maybe Emily will have similar recollections down the road.  What I remember is the thickness of this fudge sauce.  It was practically like a pudding when chilled, but when it was warmed up this rich topping was gooey and sublime.  

whisking Espresso Fudge Sauce/

The brown can with the yellow lid was the ubiquitous standard for chocolate sauce in those days.  I guess Hershey’s is fine, but it doesn’t compare to Myne’s homemade deep, dark, fudgy goodness.  

adding vanilla to Espresso Fudge Sauce

I will admit to taking a liberty with this recipe.  Hers doesn’t call for espresso powder, but I find that it actually intensifies the chocolate flavor.  (I hope Granddad would approve).

fudge sauce spooned onto ice cream

Fudge sauce is WAY different from plain old chocolate sauce.

While chocolate sauce sits obediently atop an ice cream perch, fudge sauce slicks down the icy dome and settles in a warm molten dam at the base of the bowl.

It was something I had never given thought to before until I tried to capture a photo with the fudge sauce topping a bowl of vanilla.  No matter how many times I tried, that sauce had other ideas.

Best to give in, get the best shot you can and enjoy the creamy, fudgy reward.

More sauces and toppings for ice cream you’ll love:

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Spooning fudge sauce over a dish of ice cream.
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4.50 from 8 votes

Espresso Fudge Sauce

The deepest, darkest, fudgiest sauce for ice cream, berries or your favorite desserts!
Author: Lisa Lotts
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword fudge sauce
Dietary Restrictions Egg Free, Vegetarian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 20

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 5 tablespoons flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder optional
  • 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

  • In a medium saucepan, blend sugar, flour, salt and cocoa powder. Add milk, water and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sauce begins to bubble and thicken, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

NOTES:

Don’t be tempted to increase the temperature when cooking — it will get there. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan so the fudge doesn’t stick.
Store the sauce in the refrigerator. Reheat to serve warm over ice cream, the way Granddad liked it.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 69mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.5mg

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13 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    The pictures of the fudge sauce slowly sliding down the spoon on top of the ice creams is THE picture. I want to grab that spoon and forget the ice cream all together. This looks so fantastic!

    1. I’m so glad you like it, Katrina! Thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    Isn’t it funny how those childhood memories stay so vivid in your mind. I just did a post with similar ties. And for this sauce….I am counting the ways to use it….or just eat it off the spoon.

  3. Such a brilliant idea can’t wait to make as per your recipe, thanks

  4. 5 stars
    Yikes that looks good, my mom just loved hot fudge sauce and I recreated her recipe years ago,only problem is it’s too dangerous to have around the house, I’d eat it all long before it ever got near a bowl of ice cream 🙂

    1. That can be a problem. Best to make it for an occasion with other people around!

  5. 5 stars
    Oh my God. Have seen espresso fudge sauce. Must now have espresso fudge sauce. Because I am a sucker for hot fudge, and the espresso in it sounds SUBLIME. Also – what a lovely memory!

  6. 5 stars
    ooo you’re right, so much better than the plain chocolate sauce!

  7. Betty Burdick says:

    5 stars
    Lisa, this sauce is calling my name! I feel like I should be able to reach right into my computer screen and pick up that spoon or a strawberry dipped in that yummy fudge sauce. Thanks for sharing.