Sunday, January 10, 2010

Post #173: Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce


From Homemade hot fudge

I love ice cream. I love brownies. I love hot fudge sauce. In fact, I have such a bad sweet tooth, that I took up running just to make sure that I could indulge in my two favorite food groups: sweets and carbs (this does include beer and whiskey with diet coke). Now that I am preggers, I do not run (or drink). I know some "Super Women"- pregnant ladies do (run that is), but I am not one of them. That does not keep me from staying very active though or from eating my sweets in an insane abundance. Gonna enjoy it while I can! Can I get an AMEN?

This year (actually last year), I chose to keep my Christmas treat giving simple. In order to do this, I had to fight the urge to make everything I saw in recipe books, online recipes, and food blogs. It was not easy. I love to give and I love to try new recipes! So, I made a list and chose few items to bake or make.

This recipe from my number one standby for awesomely special recipes, Southern Living, made the cut. I share this recipe now, because it really is a simple but great gift to give to anyone year-round, especially for Valentine's day which is just around the corner. It smells great while making it over the stove.

Here is how I did it:

from Southern Living Magazine, December 2009 edition, page 204.

Hot Fudge Sauce

Makes 31/4 cups Hands-On Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Melt 1 (8-oz.) package unsweetened chocolate baking squares and 1/2 cup butter in a large, heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Add 2 cups sugar, and cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds or until blended. Add 1 cup milk, and cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated and sugar is dissolved. Do not boil. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 tsp. vanilla extract and 1/8 tsp. salt. Pour desired amount of sauce into container. You can cover and chill sauce for up to 2 weeks.

Note: To reheat, microwave sauce in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring occasionally, at HIGH for 15- to 30-second intervals or until warm.

Add ins: 
Espresso-Hot Fudge Sauce: Add 2 tbsp. instant espresso with sugar.
Whiskey-Hot Fudge Sauce: Stir in 3 tbsp. Southern Comfort (of course!) with vanilla and salt.
Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Hot Fudge Sauce: Substitute 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar for 1 cup granulated sugar. Stir in 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon with vanilla and salt.

My Tips:
  1. Definitely pour sauce into glass jar gift containers after it has been freshly made. The warmer it is, the easier it is to pour. 
  2. While I used glass syrup containers purchased from the 99 cent-store, I recommend using wide-mouth jars.
  3. Be sure you remember to refrigerate unused hot fudge sauce. When giving the sauce as a gift, be sure to include a reminder for your recipient to do the same. Food poisoning is never a good gift to give!
  4. If you do plan on giving this gift for Valentine's Day, I would cut the brownies into heart shapes using a sturdy heart-shaped cookie cutter.
  5. I think this would be a good gift paired with other sundae toppings, such as nuts, sprinkles, M&M's etc...
Have fun making this very easy treat. Have even more fun giving it away!

6 comments:

Leslie said...

What a yummy treat! The brown sugar cinnamon sounds dangerous and irresistible.

Jennifer said...

Oh my gosh that looks so good, the brownies and the sauce! Did I ever give you my address, now I cant remember!

Anonymous said...

mmm.. the homemade hot fudge sauce sounds wonderful!

Julie said...

Sounds delicious! I'll bet it's good on everything...ha!

Jennifer said...

Holy cow! That looks SO good!!!!

Unknown said...

Oh. My. Goodness. This sounds delectable too! You are so good! Praying that you are feeling well! : )