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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Easy Chocolate Sauce

    Published: Jul 15, 2024 · Post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    jar of chocolate sauce with a spoon pulling out with text overlay that reads Easy Chocolate Sauce with chocolate chips, homemade, no cream, 5 ingredients.

    How to make chocolate sauce with chocolate chips. This easy homemade chocolate sauce is a simple, five ingredient recipe great for drizzling over cheesecake, dipping for fruit, or topping ice cream!

    gold plate with ice cream pie with a spoon drizzling chocolate sauce on top with pretzels, oreos, extra chocolate sauce, and ice cream pie in the background.
    Jump to:
    • About Chocolate Sauce with Chocolate Chips
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Chocolate Sauce with Chocolate Chips
    • Recipe Tips
    • Variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Nutrition Benefits
    • What to Serve with Easy Chocolate Sauce
    • Easy Chocolate Sauce

    About Chocolate Sauce with Chocolate Chips

    If you've ever wondered how to make chocolate syrup without cocoa powder, look no further because I'm going to show you how to make an easy chocolate sauce from chocolate chips.

    It's so simple my niece could easily make it with very little help from me when she was 8 years old (see the video we filmed in 2018).

    Everyone needs a good chocolate sauce recipe, and this one is ever so simple. A few steps is all it takes to have a homemade chocolate sauce, and you only need five ingredients (and one of those is water)!

    To be honest, the main reason I make this homemade chocolate sauce is to pour it on the easiest and best ever ice cream pie.

    But it really goes well for everything that can be improved by chocolate!

    As a chocolate sauce for cheesecake or for drizzling over ice cream. For dipping fruit or cookies. The sky's the limit for this easy chocolate sauce!

    jar of chocolate sauce with a silver spoon in it on a white wicker table with drink glasses in background.

    Reader Review

    "This is excellent. My search was for sauce recipe using milk, can't believe this worked so well. Thank you!"

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    The original recipe for the chocolate sauce came from my grandmother Nan, and it called for corn syrup.

    However, I don't always have that, so all you have to do is make a simple syrup before adding the milk.

    The other thing I changed regarding the original recipe is using milk instead of cream (which is another ingredient I never have).

    Using milk gives you a slightly thinner sauce than if you use cream, so it's great for drizzling.

    You can easily use less milk to make it thicker though (and see the recipe card for more suggestions).

    salt, vanilla extract, water, sugar, milk, chocolate chips with text overlay describing ingredient.

    Ingredients

    Sugar: Granulated sugar (regular old sugar) is what I use. You could use coconut sugar or brown sugar in a pinch if needed, but I haven't tested it. They might alter the flavor a little. Another option is to use light corn syrup or maple syrup and omit the water.

    Water: The water is used to make a simple syrup. Use less water for a thicker syrup.

    Milk: Any type of milk works in this easy chocolate sauce. I prefer whole milk or 2%, but coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk would also work. It might be a little thinner with the almond milk or soy milk, so use ¾ cup instead of 1 cup and add more if needed.

    Chocolate chips: My preferred choice for chocolate chips in this chocolate sauce is semi-sweet. Mini or regular chocolate chips are fine. Chocolate chunks or even a chopped chocolate bar would also work. Use non-dairy chocolate chips if needed.

    Ingredient Tip

    If you're using a non-dairy milk alternative, start with ¾ cup and add more only if you want a thinner consistency.

    Flavor enhancers:

    Vanilla extract: Whenever vanilla extract is involved, it's imperative you use real vanilla extract not imitation. Imitation will give your sauce a strange flavor. If you don't have any vanilla extract, it's ok if you have to omit it.

    Salt: Salt is optional, and I usually don't use it. However, a tiny pinch of salt helps intensify the sweetness of this easy chocolate sauce and gives it a little more depth of flavor. But make sure not to use more than 1/16 teaspoon (or a pinch).

    Recipe Cost

    • sugar ⅓ cup: $0.08
    • water ⅓ cup: $0
    • milk 1 cup: $0.24
    • chocolate chips 2 cups: $2.44
    • vanilla extract 1 teaspoon: $0.60

    TOTAL COST: $3.36 or $0.11/serving (Based on San Diego grocery stores 2024)

    Note that this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.

    How to Make Chocolate Sauce with Chocolate Chips

    green saucepan with a silver whisk stirring water and granulated sugar together.
    1. Step 1: Heat sugar and water in a saucepan.
    milk pouring into a green saucepan with sugar and water with a silver whisk.
    1. Step 2: Pour in milk. Simmer.
    bag of chocolate chips pouring into a green saucepan with milk and sugar syrup combined with a whisk.
    1. Step 3: Add chocolate chips.
    green saucepan with chocolate sauce being stirred together with a silver whisk.
    1. Step 4: Whisk until smooth.
    hand pouring a teaspoon of vanilla extract into chocolate sauce with a silver whisk in a green saucepan.
    1. Step 5: Add vanilla extract.
    hand whisking chocolate sauce together in a green saucepan.
    1. Step 6: Stir until smooth.

    Recipe Tips

    The only main thing to stress about this homemade chocolate sauce is that this is more of a drizzling sauce and not very thick.

    However, if you serve it straight from the fridge, it is pretty thick and can hold up on a spoon (unlike most of the photos which show when the sauce was slightly warm or at room temperature).

    You can also cut back on the amount of liquid you use to make the sauce. For a thicker sauce, start with about ⅔ cup of milk. Add more if you want a thinner sauce.

    How to Fix a Mistake

    • Too thin: If your sauce is too thin, you can try cooking it for a little longer to evaporate some of the liquid. Or add additional chocolate chips. Also, when it's kept in the refrigerator, it thickens more.
    • Too thick: Add a little extra milk or water in one tablespoon increments and whisk completely until the sauce has your desired consistency.

    Make-Ahead Ideas

    This is great for making ahead of time. No need to do anything special to make this ahead of time.

    Prepare as directed then transfer to a container, and refrigerate or freeze.

    white wicker table with a jar of chocolate sauce with a silver spoon drizzling sauce into it.

    Storage Suggestions

    Transfer this easy chocolate sauce to an airtight container, and refrigerate or freeze.

    It keeps in the fridge for up to 14 days or in the freezer for 2 months.

    If you are freezing this chocolate sauce made with chocolate chips, I recommend freezing it in smaller portions.

    That way, you don't have to defrost the entire batch to get some of this chocolate sauce in your life.

    To reheat:

    In the microwave: Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl, and heat in 30 second intervals at 100% power. Stir and repeat until warm.

    In a saucepan: Pour the sauce into a saucepan, and heat over medium-low, stirring often, until warm.

    plate of fresh strawberries with a bowl of chocolate sauce and a strawberry dipping into the sauce.

    Variations

    Ingredient Substitutions

    Milk: Any plain milk will work as long as it isn't fat free. If you are using a milk that has a thinner consistency than whole or 2% dairy milk, start by using ¾ cup and increasing as needed.

    Chocolate: Any type of chocolate chips will work. You can also use chunks or chop a chocolate bar. Milk chocolate will make this very sweet, so you might want to reduce the amount of sugar you use.

    Flavor enhancers: You can add a little peppermint extract (use ⅛ teaspoon and increase as desired) to make this a peppermint chocolate sauce. Another option is to add almond extract (use ⅛ teaspoon). A pinch of salt also gives this a more intense sweet flavor.

    How to Make Allergy-Friendly

    This is naturally gluten free, egg free, soy free, and nut free (depending on the type of milk you use).

    You can easily make the chocolate sauce dairy free by using dairy free chocolate chips and non-dairy milk like coconut milk, oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk. The sauce might be a little bit thinner, so start by using a little less milk and add more if needed.

    saucepan with homemade chocolate sauce next to a springform pan with crushed chocolate cookies and chocolate sauce.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you make chocolate sauce without cream?

    Yes! You can make chocolate sauce using milk. And any kind of milk will work in this recipe.

    Does this chocolate sauce work as a chocolate syrup for chocolate milk?

    It's best for warm milk for hot chocolate. Otherwise, the chocolate sauce has a slightly more challenging time mixing into the milk completely.

    Is chocolate sauce the same as chocolate syrup?

    No, but they can sometimes be used interchangeably.
    Chocolate sauce is usually made with milk, cream, or butter. Chocolate syrup usually has a thinner consistency and less richness.

    gold plate with ice cream pie drizzled in chocolate sauce next to pretzels, oreos, a jar of chocolate sauce made with chocolate chips, and a pan with ice cream pie.

    Dessert Tip

    Nan always kept this chocolate sauce in her freezer to heat up and serve with ice cream or cookies for an effortless yet lovely dessert that everyone loves.

    Nutrition Benefits

    Let's be real: there aren't many nutrition benefits to a chocolate sauce.

    But what it lacks in nutrition, it makes up for in taste and fun. And sometimes we need fun foods in our life.

    So enjoy this chocolate sauce made with chocolate chips without guilt because guilt is not welcome around food.

    Nutrition Tip

    We need tasty food in our life, even if it's not full of vitamins and minerals. Remember to enjoy a variety of foods, including treats, that you have access to.

    spoon drizzling chocolate sauce into a small glass next to a jar of chocolate sauce on a white wicker table.

    What to Serve with Easy Chocolate Sauce

    This is a fabulous chocolate sauce for cheesecake, or you can drizzle it over ice cream, apple slices, brownies, cookies, anything!

    You can even use it in homemade bushwacker recipe or top Tia Maria cocktails.

    But in my opinion, the most important thing to serve with this chocolate sauce is Easy Ice Cream Pie. If you make the chocolate sauce and you don't make that, you are severely missing out!

    Serving Tip

    Not only is this a great chocolate sauce for ice cream and cheesecake, it's also excellent for dipping graham crackers, marshmallows, or fruit.

    wooden table with a white plate with apple slices drizzled in chocolate sauce and a small bowl of easy chocolate sauce.

    Final thoughts:

    You will want to keep this recipe for how to make chocolate sauce with chocolate chips because it's so simple and delicious.

    It's definitely more saucy than it is thick, so take that into consideration when you are serving this.

    Enjoy this homemade chocolate sauce over ice cream or cheesecake, with strawberries or apple wedges for dipping, and drizzle over apple slices. You can even make apple nachos with sliced apples, this chocolate sauce, and chopped nuts.

    MORE CHOCOLATE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

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      Bourbon Hot Chocolate
    • plate of sliced red and green apples with a bowl of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
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    • German Chocolate Brownies from Living Well Kitchen
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    • Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies from Living Well Kitchen #glutenfree #cookie #dessert #healthier
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    white wicker table with a jar of chocolate sauce with a silver spoon drizzling sauce into it.

    Easy Chocolate Sauce

    How to make chocolate sauce with chocolate chips and no cream. Simple, 5 ingredient recipe dipping and topping cheesecake or ice cream!
    4.97 from 58 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 1 minute minute
    Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Servings: 32
    Author: Meme
    Total Cost: $3.36 or $0.11/serving

    Ingredients

    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup water
    • 1 cup milk whole, 2%, or non-dairy milk
    • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips one 12 oz. bag
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Stir together the sugar and water in a medium saucepan and heat over medium.
      green saucepan with a silver whisk stirring water and granulated sugar together.
    • After 2 minutes, add in milk. Bring to a simmer.
      milk pouring into a green saucepan with sugar and water with a silver whisk.
    • Add in chocolate chips, and remove from heat. Stir until chocolate chips are completely incorporated.
      bag of chocolate chips pouring into a green saucepan with milk and sugar syrup combined with a whisk.
    • Add vanilla extract, and stir until smooth.
      hand pouring a teaspoon of vanilla extract into chocolate sauce with a silver whisk in a green saucepan.
    • Serve warm or cold. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks (or freeze for a month or so).
      hand whisking chocolate sauce together in a green saucepan.

    Video

    Notes

    *Makes 2 cups
    *This has a thin, drizzling consistency. If you want a thicker sauce, use directly from the refrigerator. You can also try using 2 tablespoons of water instead of ⅓ cup or decrease the amount of milk to ¾ cup.

    What to Use in This Recipe

    Le Creuset Multifunction Pan
    Saucepan
    three whisks in different sizes
    Whisk
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    Meme

    This post was originally published on May 29, 2013. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.


    Chocolate Sauce with Chocolate Chips Nutrition Facts

    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Chocolate Sauce
    Serving Size
     
    1 tablespoon
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    77
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    4
    g
    6
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    1
    mg
    0
    %
    Sodium
     
    4
    mg
    0
    %
    Potassium
     
    74
    mg
    2
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    8
    g
    3
    %
    Sugar
     
    6
    g
    7
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    15
    IU
    0
    %
    Calcium
     
    16
    mg
    2
    %
    Iron
     
    0.7
    mg
    4
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joy

      November 22, 2024 at 6:52 pm

      5 stars
      This is a quick and easy recipe that my family loves!

      Reply
      • Meme

        November 22, 2024 at 7:04 pm

        yay! i'm so glad!

        Reply
    2. Frith Trezevant

      December 25, 2024 at 6:33 am

      5 stars
      Ok. So I had no chocolate chips so I just measured out 12 oz of chocolate … that’s about 300g. I mean the sauce is delish. But not drizzly. It is oooooozingly gorgeous. Looking forward to having it with a crustless cheesecake later today but not sure it will not turn into rock in the fridge … I will try freezing it in ice cube trays. You don’t need much at all time and it will thin out beautifully when warmed with some cream for later recipes. Thanks for the idea of it. 🙂

      Reply
      • Meme

        December 27, 2024 at 11:24 am

        glad you enjoyed it! if you want more of a drizzling sauce, you can always add a little more milk! and warming it up helps it to thin out as well

        Reply
    3. Marian Geist

      January 10, 2025 at 3:27 pm

      This recipe was too runny. I ended up using 4 cups of chocolate chips to get the consistency that I wanted.

      Reply
      • Meme

        January 15, 2025 at 10:07 pm

        I'm sorry you didn't like the consistency! Depending on the chocolate chips and type of milk you use, it can definitely be a little thinner.

        Reply
    4. Angshink

      March 22, 2025 at 2:39 pm

      Followed the directions perfectly. This was way too thin. Like water thin. The recipe needs to be fixed and updated.

      Reply
      • Meme

        March 22, 2025 at 4:03 pm

        Hi! I'm sorry it didn't work out how you wanted. I've tested/made this recipe over 25 times since I first posted it in 2013. I put a lot of info in the post on how to adjust the amounts to your desired consistency in the most recent update of this recipe in July 2024.

        Reply
    5. Lori Zold

      April 16, 2025 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      I made this with Swerve granulated sugar replacement, unsweetened oat milk, and no sugar added semi-sweet chocolate chips. I SWEAR it tastes just like Hershey’s syrup. My husband, a newly diagnosed diabetic, was missing ice cream sundaes and now he can have it without the sugar spikes. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Meme

        April 16, 2025 at 7:49 pm

        YAYYY! I am so glad! Thank you for coming back to share 🙂
        If you need more diabetes friendly recipes, try these:
        Casserole recipes
        Thanksgiving recipes

        Reply
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    Meme holding Watson at a restaurant in san diego.

    Hi, I'm Meme!

    A thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist here to help you enjoy food, make eating easier, and live free of diets & shame.

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