There’s something wildly nostalgic and comforting about a classic hot fudge sundae. For me, it takes me straight back to those Sunday evenings when we’d come home from a long day out, and someone in the house (usually me!) would sneak into the kitchen to fix up a glass layered with creamy vanilla ice cream and warm, glossy chocolate fudge. It wasn’t fancy — just honest, messy, and completely satisfying.
And while it’s easy to grab store-bought fudge sauce, making your own at home? Absolutely worth it. It’s creamier, richer, and has that deep chocolate flavor that hits just right. Best part? You likely already have the ingredients in your kitchen.
What You’ll Need
Here’s the simple magic that makes this dessert irresistible:
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Hot Fudge: Homemade is a total upgrade here. It’s not complicated — just a handful of pantry staples simmered into a glossy, chocolatey dream. No preservatives, no strange ingredients, just real flavor.
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Ice Cream: Vanilla is my top pick because it plays so well with the fudge, but seriously, use whatever you have. Chocolate, cookies and cream, mint chip… anything cold and creamy will do the job.
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Toppings: I keep it classic with whipped cream, chopped nuts, rainbow sprinkles, and a cherry. But honestly, anything that makes you happy goes.
Step-by-Step: Making a Hot Fudge Sundae
Let’s break it down simply. No stress. Just fun.
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Simmer the base: In a small saucepan, stir together cream, sugar, salt, and butter. Let that bubble gently until smooth and blended.
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Add chocolate: Toss in the chopped chocolate and stir until melted. Whisk in cocoa powder for that extra chocolate kick. Your kitchen will already start smelling like heaven.
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Scoop the ice cream: Grab a tall glass or dessert bowl. Add a generous scoop (or three) of your favorite ice cream.
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Drizzle that fudge: Pour the warm fudge sauce all over the ice cream. Be generous — this isn’t the time to hold back.
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Pile on the toppings: Swirl on some whipped cream, sprinkle your toppings, and crown it with a cherry.
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Serve immediately: Eat it before it melts — or don’t. I love when the fudge starts melting the edges of the ice cream. It’s messy in the best way.
Kitchen Notes From Experience
Here’s where the fun meets the practical stuff:
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I like to chill the glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before serving. It keeps the sundae colder longer — especially handy during summer.
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If you’re making fudge ahead, store it in a glass jar in the fridge. When you want to use it, warm it in a pan over low heat or in short microwave bursts.
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Want a glossier sauce? Stir in about ¼ cup corn syrup while it simmers. It stays soft even after cooling.
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Don’t forget to keep the ice cream in the freezer until the very last moment. The hotter the fudge, the faster it melts.
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If I’m feeling a little extra, I’ll crumble up a brownie and tuck it between the scoops of ice cream. It’s like a mini sundae brownie trifle.
Other Toppings That Work So Well
If you’re raiding your pantry or the kids want to go wild, here are some crowd-pleasers:
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Chopped Oreos
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M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces
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Butterscotch or chocolate chips
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Crushed graham crackers
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Mini marshmallows
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Gummy bears (especially fun for the little ones)
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Fresh fruit like bananas, strawberries, or raspberries
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Toasted coconut
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Toffee bits or crumbled peanut brittle
Which Ice Cream Flavors Go Best?
Classic vanilla is always a safe and tasty choice. But you don’t have to stop there. Chocolate lovers, try triple chocolate or rocky road. Fruity flavors like strawberry or raspberry ripple are great too. My personal favorite (after vanilla) is mint chocolate chip — that cool mint against warm fudge is magical.
Just one tip: try to go with real ice cream made from dairy. It tastes richer and melts beautifully with the fudge, unlike some of the frozen dessert options that stay weirdly solid.
Storage Tips
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Hot fudge: Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Store it in a clean mason jar or any airtight container. Heat just before serving.
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Make-ahead: You can make the fudge and prep the toppings in advance. Assemble the sundae fresh so the ice cream doesn’t get too soft.
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Freeze it? Yup — you can even freeze the fudge. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight and warm it up slowly.
Hot Fudge Sundae
This hot fudge sundae is pure comfort in a bowl—rich, velvety fudge sauce poured over cold, creamy ice cream and topped with all your favorite goodies.
Ingredients
For the Hot Fudge Sauce:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (natural cocoa preferred)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
- 6 oz dark or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
For Serving:
- Ice cream of your choice
- Whipped cream
- Chopped nuts
- Sprinkles
- Maraschino cherries
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the butter, cream, sugar, and a pinch of salt (if using). Set over medium heat and stir occasionally until the butter melts and the mixture just begins to simmer.
- Once simmering, turn the heat to medium-low and stir in the chopped chocolate. Keep stirring gently until completely melted and silky.
- Remove the pan from heat and whisk in the cocoa powder until fully blended. Return to low heat for about 30 seconds, just until everything looks glossy and smooth. Let the sauce cool for a minute or two before serving.
- To assemble your sundae, spoon some warm fudge sauce into the bottom of your bowl or glass. Add a generous scoop (or three) of ice cream, then drizzle more hot fudge over the top.
- Finish it off with a swirl of whipped cream, a sprinkle of chopped nuts, a dash of sprinkles, and a cherry right on top.
Notes
- Chill your bowls in the freezer ahead of time to keep everything cold longer.
- Want to go over the top? Layer in brownie chunks between scoops.
- Leftover fudge? Store it in a jar in the fridge. Reheat gently in a saucepan before your next sundae night.
- A touch of corn syrup (about ¼ cup) added at the start of cooking can make your sauce extra glossy and help it stay soft even when cold.
- Keep your ice cream in the freezer until just before serving—the fudge will melt it quickly.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 459Total Fat 38gSaturated Fat 22gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 72mgSodium 104mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 4gSugar 18gProtein 6g
TastyFitnessRecipes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although tastyfitnessrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
A Little Sundae Tradition At Home
At my place, hot fudge sundaes are our “Friday night movie treat.” Everyone builds their own — we put out a little topping bar and it’s always a mess, but in the best way. The kids always go overboard with sprinkles, and I sneak in extra whipped cream on mine. No one complains.
This dessert might seem simple, but it really does have a way of turning an ordinary day into something a little sweeter.
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