Name: Mom's Hot Fudge Sauce
Ingredients: 1 8oz. package unsweetened chocolate baking squares; 1/2 c. butter; 1-1/3c. to 2c. sugar (to taste); 1 c. milk; 1 t. vanilla extract; 1/8 t. salt

Why it works: Milk and vanilla are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 5% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 19,187 recipes. Both carry ethyl caproate, which smells fruity, apple peel. The science ↓

Mom's Hot Fudge Sauce

Time2-3 minutes

Ingredients

Directions

Make the sauce

Melt the chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring constantly.
Add sugar and stir to dissolve.
Add milk. Cook, continuing to stir, for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in vanilla and salt.

Chill and serve

Cover and chill completely. Reheat before serving.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

467Calories

10 gProtein

28 gFat

42 gCarbs

What these numbers assume: 6 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Chocolate	1 oz (28g) semisweet	155
Milk	1 cup (244ml) whole	149
Butter	1 tbsp (14g)	102
Sugar	1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated	49
Vanilla	1 tsp extract (4ml)	12
Salt	1 tsp (6g)	0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

Milk + vanillatop 5% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together19,187 recipes

Shared aroma: ethyl caproate (fruity, apple peel).
Chocolate + vanillatop 5% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together10,020 recipes

Shared aroma: sotolon (curry, maple).
Butter + milktop 7% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together81,283 recipes

Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).
Sugar + vanillatop 8% of all pairs

Smell alikelow

Cooked together35,032 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
Chocolate + sugartop 13% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together15,404 recipes

Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

Sugar and vanilla barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 35,032 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Unsweetened chocolate: Provides the deep chocolate flavour and the thick, rich body of the sauce.
Butter: Adds fat for a smooth, glossy texture and a rounder mouthfeel.
Sugar: Sweetens the sauce and, as it dissolves, helps thicken it as it cools.
Milk: Adds moisture that loosens the chocolate into a pourable sauce.

The step that matters

Cook the milk in gently. Stirring constantly over heat keeps the chocolate and milk emulsified and prevents scorching on the bottom of the pan. Sugar that has not fully dissolved can leave a grainy texture, so it should be stirred until clear before the milk goes in.

“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.

Chocolate Cream171 recipes

Vanilla Ice Cream108 recipes

Chocolate Cookies76 recipes

Chocolate Fudge55 recipes

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Mom's Hot Fudge Sauce