This luscious Keto Chocolate Sauce is smooth and creamy and full of rich, fudgy flavor. Drizzle it over your favorite keto ice cream for an amazing dessert experience!
Here we are in the dead of winter and I am craving ice cream. A big bowl of keto ice cream topped with ribbons of this luscious keto hot fudge sauce. It’s one of my favorite things in all the world.
You know those people who are always complaining that they are cold? I am one of those people. And yet, I could eat ice cream with hot fudge sauce any time of year. It doesn’t matter if it’s high summer and broiling, or dead winter and freezing. A sugar-free dessert like this makes me happy!
But it’s not just for ice cream. This keto chocolate sauce is so darn good, you can drizzle it over keto brownies, spread it on some keto chocolate chip cookies, or spoon it over keto cheesecake. Or you could just eat it with a spoon!
Why you will love this recipe
I first created this hot fudge sauce way back in 2015, and it was delicious. But much has changed in the intervening years and I wanted to see if I could make it better. Do I even need to tell you that it was a success?
This sauce is just as thick and velvety and chocolatey as it ever was. It pours over that ice cream, melting it just slightly as it goes, and becoming more fudgy as it cools against the frosty dessert.
But I also made it a little bit lighter in calories, and it stays gooier and softer. I switched out the sweetener so it no longer recrystallizes as it cools. And it’s easier to reheat.
And the best part is that you can adapt it for interesting flavors. Consider mint extract instead of vanilla. Or orange extract! Or coffee, or raspberry, or caramel. Can you see why I am craving ice cream?
Reader Reviews
“Very good recipe. I made this tonight and served it on top of low-carb vanilla ice cream with toasted pecans. My teenage daughter and I both thought it was delish!” — Tanya P.
“THE. BEST. FUDGE. SAUCE. EVER! I frankly eat it like pudding.” — Sheila B.
“Oh my goodness, I have now me this over and over. I keep the leftovers in the refrigerator. Swirl this in some low carb ice cream (no matter the flavor) it is to die for! Thank you!!!!!” — Nancy
Ingredient Notes
- Heavy whipping cream: This is the creamy base of the hot fudge sauce. You could also use coconut cream.
- Water: I used a little water to help thin the sauce and reduce the calories and fat a bit. Your ice cream provides plenty of that anyway!
- Allulose sweetener: The sweetener you use determines the final consistency of the sauce. You can use erythritol, but it will solidify and recrystallize as it cools. Allulose makes it more fudgy, and it stays creamy (although it still firms up).
- Butter: This helps the sauce thicken and also adds creaminess.
- Unsweetened chocolate: Make sure to choose chocolate that is 100% cacao, with no sweeteners at all. It is lower in carbs and also helps the fudge thicken and set properly.
- Espresso powder: This is optional but it really brings out the chocolate flavor.
- Pantry staples: Vanilla extract and salt.
Step by Step Directions
1. Add the wet ingredients: Combine the cream and water together a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the sweetener and butter.
2. Simmer the mixture: Bring to a simmer, whisking until the sweetener dissolves. Cook 5 minutes, whisking frequently. Do not let it boil.
3. Add the chocolate: Remove from heat and add the chopped chocolate and let sit 3 minutes, to melt. Add the vanilla extract, espresso powder, and salt, and whisk until smooth.
4. Use as desired: Drizzle over your favorite low carb ice cream or use as chocolate fondue. It can also be used to glaze cakes or donuts.
5. To rewarm: Place the desired amount of sauce in a bowl and microwave on 50% power in 20 second increments. You can also add the sauce to a heat-safe bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, stirring frequently.
Tips for Success
As mentioned above, the sweetener you use makes all the difference. Allulose keeps this keto chocolate sauce softer and it won’t recrystallize. You can use other sweeteners but the consistency won’t be quite the same.
I prefer unsweetened chocolate for recipes like this, so I can control the sweetness and the consistency. Many sugar-free chocolate brands contain erythritol, and that will change the outcome.
I often add espresso powder to chocolate recipes to deepen and enhance the chocolate flavor. It does not make the recipes taste like coffee or mocha in small quantities, but it does bring out the best notes of the chocolate.
Different brands of unsweetened chocolate can affect how thick the sauce is. If you find your sauce not thickening up as it cools, whisk in a little cocoa powder (1 to 2 teaspoons). Alternatively, if it’s too thick, return to low heat and whisk in some cream. Different brands of unsweetened chocolate can
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a very different recipe than my Sugar-Free Chocolate Syrup. That recipe is made with water and cocoa powder, and is a thinner syrup similar to Hershey’s. It’s great for beverages and cocktails, although it works as an ice cream topping too. This Keto Hot Fudge Sauce is cream based and made with real chocolate, so it has a richer flavor and a velvety consistency. Both are great recipes!
Store this sugar-free chocolate sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week. It It will firm up and become more like soft fudge in the fridge. To use, gently warm until melty.
This keto hot fudge sauce recipe has 3.9g of carbs and 1.9g of fiber per serving. That comes to 2.0g net carbs for 2 tablespoons.
Serve this sugar free hot fudge sauce over:
Keto Chocolate Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup allulose sweetener
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder optional
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Whisk the cream and water together in a measuring cup. Pour into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the sweetener and butter.
- Bring to a simmer, whisking until the sweetener dissolves. Cook 5 minutes, whisking frequently. Do not let it boil.
- Remove from heat and add the chopped chocolate and let sit 3 minutes, to melt. Add the vanilla extract, espresso powder, and salt and whisk until smooth.
- Drizzle over your favorite low carb ice cream or use as chocolate fondue. It can also be used to glaze cakes or donuts.
Kirsten says
Sssoooooo gooooodd!!
Celeste Conlin says
I followed the recipe but it was very runny…not sure what I did wrong but the taste was spot on!
Carolyn says
What kind of chocolate did you use? And what sweetener?
BBear says
OMG! This sauce is wonderful! Love the silky texture. Used half lakanto powdered and half powdered allulose as that is what I had on hand. I decided to freeze the leftovers to see if it would be like chocolate ice cream. It was the silkiest, smoothest and richest chocolate ice cream ever and so much easier than an actual ice cream recipe. Thank you for your delicious recipes.
Cindy says
Hello,
Just wondering if it would hurt the recipe any if I doubled or even tripled it. Which is what I would like to do for a birthday party this week.
Thank you!
Carolyn says
I don’t think it would but watch it carefully so it doesn’t seize.
Ann Marie Harrington says
Can I substitute regular sugar instead of swerve and would it be the same measurement. I made the sugar free one and it is fabulous! Wanted to try using regular white sugar.
Carolyn says
I am sorry, I don’t cook with sugar so I really can’t advise!
Patricia says
HORRIFIC TYPOS IN MY ORIGINAL COMMENTS BECAUSE YOU CAN’T FRIGGING SEE WHAT YOU TYPE AS IT IS GRAYED OUT….GRRRRRRRRRRRRR… CORRECTIONS AS FOLLOWS:
SCANT 1/3 CUP NOT 1/2
SQUARES NOT SQUARED !!!!
Carolyn says
I have no idea what you mean when you say “grayed out”. That doesn’t happen to me when I write comments…
Patricia says
Oops… I meant to say scant 1/3 cup powdered sugar NOT 1/2. So difficult to read the text as I write.
Patricia says
This absolutely is the most delicious and simple Hot Fudge Sauce. I was slightly shy of 2 1/2 oz of unsweetened chocolate so I reduced the cream to 3/4 cup and scant 1/2 cup powdered sugar. I also added a touch of instant Espresso Powder and a couple of squared of 90% Lindt chocolate. OMG! This is heavenly and so idiot proof easy to make. I know I will make it again and again if only to drizzle on my iced coffee and whipped cream.
J9 says
Thank you…I’m new to baking Keto and did not know that.
Carolyn says
This article will probably help a lot: https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/best-keto-sweeteners/
J9 says
Followed the directions exactly..except I used .Lakanto powdered sweetener and Bakers unsweetened chocolate. Came out runny and a bit grainy. What could I have done wrong.
Carolyn says
Well, no, you didn’t follow the recipe exactly. Because Lakanto powdered sweetener is 2x as sweet as sugar, which mean you only use half as much, reducing the bulk that you are adding to the sauce and making it thinner. And since Swerve Confectioner’s has added fiber, it helps thicken the sauce.
deb dana says
good, followed instructions and appearance and consistency were good. somehow the taste was not as good as when i merely melted together lundy’s no sugar dark chocolate chips ( yes they are pricy) and some coconut oil. that was truly heavenly imho but i do love coconut oil. it reheated very well in the microwave on the melt setting. i think your recipie is lower calories though since coconut oil is very caloric. i assume you MUST store in frig due to dairy content?
Amanda says
Hi there! I loved the idea of this recipe but something I did or used made it crystallize and almost granular in the fridge, there were little star shaped cracks in the surface and it has a crispy sound and texture when scooped with a spoon. It’sAlso extremely dense like fudge I used heavy whipping cream, powdered swerve and an unsweetened baker’s chocolate bar, following the recipe
Carolyn says
Yes, well that is the nature of erythritol based things. You could try using half BochaSweet or allulose next time.
Tori says
All I can say is WOW! Made this in 10 minutes. I was a little short on Swerve so I added 1/2 T Bocha Sweet you turned me onto in your caramel sauce. Otherwise the same recipe. It was rich, thick, velvety and creamy. The chocolate was incredibly decadent. I am moaning thinking of it. Thank you so much for your keto genius. We diabetics salute you!
Lynn Ellis says
I just finished making this chocolate sauce. I used 90% Lindt because that’s all I had. I have to confess, I ate three or four teaspoons just to taste test it. Yummy. Actually, it tastes like chocolate pudding. I LOVE chocolate pudding. Hopefully, it will thicken up when I put it in the fridge. I made a Keto cheesecake yesterday and that’s what I’m going to use this on if there’s any left. How could I make this into chocolate pudding? Is it possible? Thanks for your recipes. Love them.
Tanya Payne says
Very good recipe. I made this tonight and served it on top of low-carb vanilla ice cream with toasted pecans. My teenage daughter and I both thought it was delish!
Juanette says
How many Tbls of cocoa to replace chocolate please
Carolyn says
That’s actually something you can Google, I am sure. I didn’t make it with anything but unsweetened chocolate.
MARY ANN TURK says
Hi Carolyn! Thank you for all you do to make our low carb lives better. I love this sauce and have made it many times, but I always wonder how long it will keep in the refrigerator. It’s just my husband and I, and we don’t use it all right away. Do you know?
Carolyn says
It will keep pretty much as long as your cream is fresh. So that can be up to a week or more.
Crystal says
Can I sweeten it with powdered monk fruit instead?
Carolyn says
I think so but I haven’t tried it myself.
Sarah says
Absolutely fantastic! I followed your recipe and then added a pinch of kosher salt.
Carolyn says
Love the salt addition!
Sam says
I made it exactly to spec but my carbs were 11.7 with 8 sugar etoh and 2.5 net carbs. What did I do wrong?
It tasted wonderful. The chocolate was 100% Caocoa ghirrideli (sp?)
Carolyn says
You didn’t do anything wrong, except when using erythritol, I don’t count them as carbs. They have zero impact on blood sugar. My nutritional disclaimer below each recipe is clear about that. Hope that helps!