Looking for a delicious and easy holiday gift or dessert topping? Look no further! This hot fudge sauce is simple, quick, and incredibly versatile for adults 21 years of age and older. Simply drizzle over ice cream or dip fruit and cookies in it.

A small clear glass full of hot fudge sauce on a textured white plate. There is fudge dripping down the sides of the glass. A silver spoon is above the glass and fudge is dripping off the spoon down into the glass.

A quick and easy dessert topping and gift

Take any dessert to the next level by topping it with this delicious hot fudge sauce.

In years past, I made this hot fudge as holiday and new year gifts for friends and colleagues and got raving reviews. It’s fun to hear how everyone eats it. You could even use it like fondue and dip in marshmallows, bananas, and graham crackers. Get creative!

Once it’s made, you can simply refrigerate or freeze in festive glasses and jars with covers until you’re ready to gift or eat.

A clear glass is set a white textured plate. The glass is full of fudge and some is dripping down the side of the glass. A silver spoon is sitting in the glass.

Ingredients used to make fudge sauce

With only seven ingredients, this fudge sauce only takes fifteen minutes to make. Here’s what I used:

Unsweetened cocoa powder – How the fudge gets its chocolate flavor and color.
Granulated sugar – This is where much of the sweetness comes from.
Light brown sugar – Brown sugar retains the moisture.
Whipping cream – Can easily be swapped for heavy cream. Whipping cream is slightly lighter but you can’t go wrong with either.
Kahlúa – Kahlúa is a rum and coffee liquor, which pairs well with chocolate.
Unsalted butter – Melting the butter gives the fudge a smooth and dense texture.
Vanilla – Finally, using vanilla will enhance all other flavors in this recipe.

A light blue pitcher with white snowflakes is pouring hot fudge over a white bowl of vanilla ice cream.

Kitchen Tools Required

This one pan dessert recipe makes prepping and cleanup easy and quick. To make the hot fudge sauce you will need the following:

1.5 quart or larger saucepan
Bowl for melting butter
Measuring tools: 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 cup, 1/4 tsp, 1 tsp
Glass containers for storing

A white bowl full of vanilla ice cream with fudge drizzled over it.

How to make hot fudge sauce with Kahlúa

This rich and delicious fudge sauce will be loved by all and only takes fifteen minutes of your time to prepare.

To start, add the unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar to the 1.5 quart or larger saucepan and mix.

Once mixed, melt the unsalted butter in a microwavable bowl for 30-40 seconds. Then, add the whipping cream, Kahlúa, and melted butter to the saucepan. Turn on the stove to a medium heat and stir until the mixture is combined.

Continue stirring very frequently so as to not burn the fudge. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, continue stirring for 60 seconds. Then, add the vanilla and stir for another 30 seconds.

Next, remove the fudge from the heat and cool. Once cooled, pour in a large glass container or small glass jars if gifting and place immediately in the refrigerator or freezer.

To serve, simply put fudge in a microwavable dish and reheat in 20-second increments, stirring in between.

Vanilla ice cream in a white bowl with fudge drizzled over it. A silver spoon is in the bowl. Next to the bowl is a small light blue pitcher with white snowflakes filled with fudge. Some is dripping down the side of the pitcher.

Hot Fudge Sauce with Kahlúa

Course: Dessert

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Servings: servings

Calories: 135kcal

Author: Elizabeth

This Kahlúa hot fudge sauce is the perfect gift and incredibly versatile for adults 21 years of age and older. Simply drizzle over ice cream or dip fruit and cookies in it.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup Kahlúa
8 tbsp unsalted butter melted
1 1/4 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Mix cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together in a 1.5 quart or larger saucepan.
Melt the unsalted butter in a microwavable bowl for 30-40 seconds.
Add whipping cream, Kahlúa, and melted butter to the saucepan.
Stir very frequently over medium heat so fudge doesn't burn and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, continue stirring for 60 seconds.
Add vanilla and stir for 30 seconds.
Remove from heat, cool, and store in a glass jar in the refridgerator or freezer.
Serve warm or at room temperature.