Emergency Chocolate Sauce Recipe

A quick and easy emergency chocolate sauce for those times when you need a really a good sauce in a flash! No long list of ingredients, you can make it the way you want with what you have at home, make it light or rich. Sounds good? Do read on!

My emergencies are usually when I have a bad dessert craving but don't really want much work. Happens usually post dinner(bad, I know!). Of course those times when kids unexpectedly  land up with friends and they want you to make dessert at moment's notice. And yes when I need a chocolate sauce for a picture for the blog or channel.  I don't know about you, but having an emergency sauce is very important for  me.

Usually chocolate sauce recipes call for a whole  list of ingredients. Alice Medrich, the queen of all things chocolate steps in as the savior. Her super simple sauce is almost a general guide, gives you all the liberty to play around and still end up with a good sauce! One more reason to love the lady! You can use milk or milk plus butter or cream or half milk and half cream. Alice Medrich sauce she uses only milk and no butter for the most intense taste.

You can use the sauce to drizzle over ice cream or desserts or pancakes, waffles or you know just eat it by the spoonful when no one is looking. I also love pouring some of this sauce over ice cream, top with toasted crushed peanuts. Something similar goes by the name Hot Fudge in Corner House outlets here in Bangalore. You could also add crumbled brownies if you have some lying in the freezer.

I would suggest you stick to the proportions below for the best results.  Start with 1/2 cup liquid and use more if needed. You may need more liquid especially if using chocolate with a higher percentage.  Try a small quantity first and see what works best for you.

Ingredients. Chocolate (Bittersweet, Semisweet or Dark) - 280 grams / 28 oz Use one of the below with the chocolate Full fat Milk - 1/2 to 3/4 cup as needed (120ml to 180 ml) Full fat Milk - 1/2 to 3/4 cup (120ml to 180 ml) + 30 grams soft unsalted butter Cream ( I use Amul 25% fat) - 1/2 to 3/4 cup (120ml to 180 ml) Half cream and half milk - Whisk together 1/4 cup (60 ml) milk and 1/4 cup cream to begin with. Add 2 tbsp (30 ml) milk and 2 tbsp (30 ml) cream combined as needed.

  

Vanilla 1 teaspoon

Method: 

Take 1/2 cup  milk or cream or half and half in a heavy saucepan. Add the chocolate (and butter if using). Place it directly in a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate melts and the sauce is smooth.  If the sauce looks too thick or curdled, add more liquid. Take it off the heat, stir in the vanilla if using. 

You can also 'test' the sauce by pouring it over ice cream. If it hardens too much, add some more liquid.

You can also make this in the microwave at 50% power. You will need to microwave for 2-3 minutes. The time will vary depending on the wattage of the microwave and the quantity of ingredients you would be using.

You can refrigerate the sauce for a few days or even freeze it. Rewarm it briefly before using.