Need a quick chocolate syrup for your favorite dessert or coffee drink that's ready in the time you can say "yes please"? This chocolate sauce recipe is it. 🙂 Just two minutes to make, with all of the decadence and none of the processed sugar.
"Happy for a quick recipe for chocolate sauce that's equally delicious. No need for the store bought stuff. Even my husband loves it."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Sid, One Happy Dish reader
To be honest, this recipe was created for those few times a year that I just really need a little chocolate syrup sweetness in my life. 😉 I got so tired of buying a huge bottle of something store-bought, and having most of it expire before I even had a chance to use it up.
With a little testing and tweaking of various natural sweeteners and quantities, I could NOT believe how good this final result was. This chocolate sauce tastes every bit as good as the commercial version, and I actual prefer this one because it tastes so deliciously natural.
Bonus: you don't even need to turn on the stove for this one. It literally does take just two minutes to make.
Did you know?
Chocolate sauce is technically a fermented food since the cocoa powder used to make it is produced from fermented cacao beans. The fermentation process lasts for about a week before the fermented beans are roasted and processed into powder. And even though the high heat used during processing will kill any beneficial bacteria from the fermentation step, you can still thank them for helping to give your chocolate syrup its irresistibly rich and alluring taste we've all come to know and love. 🙂
This chocolate sauce goes great over fresh fruit, added to a latte, or over pancakes or crepes like these mini almond flour crepes. Want to learn how to make chocolate from scratch? You have to try this homemade dark chocolate recipe. 🙂
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Literally takes 2 minutes to make
- Only 3 simple ingredients needed, plus a little water and a touch of salt
- Quick dessert fix for vanilla ice cream or fresh fruit
- Great for a fun pancake or waffle breakfast
- No added processed sugar!
🌿 Ingredients
I normally use maple syrup to sweeten this recipe, but honey or agave syrup work just as well. And just a note on the vanilla: I love a good vanilla powder, but the same amount of vanilla extract works too and is easier to find; feel free to use either. Also, make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder (cacao powder is also good!)
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
First, heat a little water in the microwave for about a minute. It should be hot to the touch but not boiling. Then, place the water and the same amount of both cocoa powder and maple syrup in a mixing bowl along with a pinch of sea salt and a little vanilla. Use a whisk to mix everything together and eliminate any clumps from the cocoa.
And that's it! You can use your chocolate sauce right away in hot cocoa or a coffee drink, or drizzled over ice cream or fresh fruit. 🙂
To let it thicken, just place it in the fridge for at least an hour. And if you'd going for more of a chocolate syrup rather than sauce, simply cut the amount of water in half.
📋 Substitutions
As written, this chocolate syrup is gluten free, dairy free and vegan. Feel free to make any of the following substitutions or adjustments.
- Cocoa powder - substitute cacao powder instead; both are delicious
- Maple syrup - use honey or agave syrup instead
- Sea salt - feel free to leave out if necessary
- Vanilla - I like pure vanilla bean powder, but vanilla extract also works
📖 Variations
- Chocolate syrup - use half the amount of water to make a thicker chocolate syrup rather than chocolate sauce
🔪 Equipment
I used the following equipment in this recipe:
- mixing bowl
- whisk
🍱 Storage
This chocolate syrup recipe will stay fresh for up to two weeks or more if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
🎉 Top tip
If you opt to make chocolate syrup (with less water) and it's not as runny as you'd like when you take it out of the fridge, simply let it sit out at room temperature for up to 15 minutes and give it a little stir. Or you can heat a little up again in the microwave for 20 seconds or so if you'd like to pour warm syrup over your favorite dessert.
Enjoy!
💭 FAQ
Unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder work best for making chocolate sauce or chocolate syrup. Choose a high-quality brand for best flavor and results.
The easiest way to make homemade chocolate sauce thicker or thinner is to adjust the amount of water used in the recipe. Use less water to achieve a thicker chocolate syrup, and more for a thinner sauce. Additionally, chilling the sauce in the fridge for at least an hour will make it thicker.
Yes; natural sweeteners like pure maple syrup, honey or agave syrup all work great for making homemade chocolate sauce or chocolate syrup.
Chocolate sauce will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks or more in an airtight container in the fridge.
🍳 Recipe
2-Minute Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Combine: Heat the water in the microwave for around a minute or until it's hot to the touch. Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk for a minute to mix well.
- Enjoy: Use immediately or chill for at least an hour in the fridge to thicken the sauce.
Miz
Thanks for this quick recipe! Went perfect with crepe and banana 😍
Allison
Wonderful! You're very welcome! 🙂
Sid H.
Happy for a quick recipe for chocolate sauce that's equally delicious. No need for the store bought stuff. Even my husband loves it.
Allison
Amazing to hear! Thanks for the 5-star review, Sid!