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!