I made an interesting discovery last Thanksgiving. You can bake the most beautiful pies in the world and the kids will go for the ice cream–the “a la mode”, sans pie. I can still see the delighted small bodies bent over the gallon tub, digging up scoops, followed by mock battles over the spray whipped cream.
What put this over the top is the chocolate syrup that my sister in law pulled out of her cupboard. Sundaes!
Although it is admittedly not prime Sundae weather in most of the country, chocolate syrup has many uses. Add it to milk for instant chocolate milk or hot chocolate, transform your coffee into a mocha latte, or use it in your homemade Irish Cream (more on this later). And one of my favorites, fill a store-bought Oreo pie crust with mocha chip ice cream, then drizzle with chocolate, for an elegant dessert that is almost no work, but a guaranteed show stopper!
On the downside commercial chocolate syrup usually contains high fructose corn syrup and isn’t a bargain priced item even if you skip the organic. And my kids can go through a bottle in… about 30 seconds.
So I decided to make my own with organic cocoa and real (organic) sugar. Mmmm… an indulgence you can actually feel good about. The kids are going to have fun tonight!
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 c water
- 1 1/2 c sugar
- 1 c cocoa
- 1 t vanilla
Directions
1. Mix sugar and cocoa.
Mix Cocoa & Sugar
2. Add water and bring to a boil, pressing out any lumps with the back of a spoon. Boil for a couple minutes. Add vanilla.
Boil Syrup for a Couple Minutes
3. Cool and store in refrigerator.
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
What are some of your favorite uses for chocolate syrup?
This could be a very dangerous foodstuff to have around! Yum!
Making good food can be a dangerous business!
I am lovin’ the simpleness of this recipe. You can make so much really tasteful food and drink without all this crap added to ready-products. Simple cocoa, bit of sugar – simply beautifully fantastic!
I totally agree–much better for you and not hard at all! (And the kids were really happy last night!)
I bet kids love it, but I won’t hesitate to try it as well
I can’t tell you how long it has been since I thought about home made chocolate syrup, Inger. When my kids were small and huge chocolate syrup fans, I use to make my own “healthy” version using carob “beans.” They were never the wiser.
Thank you so much for stirring up this recipe. It needs to be rekindled…
There is no reason the kids should have all the fun!
I discovered invert sugar recently. lol Homemade choco syrop is for sure thausand times tastier and healthier too then store bought one. thanks for sharing
You had me at chocolate! I am attempting to replace the store bought items in our home with homemade healthier versions…my kids sooo thank you for this one since we are almost out of ‘chocolate sauce’! I am excited to look at your other recipes as well
I can verify that my kids are big fans! Hope you enjoy!
This sounds great!
Who would have thought it would be so simple to make? Thanks for sharing – I’m excited to surprise the kids with this!
If your kids are like mine you will be the most awesome Mom if you make it!
This is awesome. My son has allergies to corn and we want to make an ice cream cake for his birthday this weekend. Was hoping to find a recipe w/out corn syrup. Corn products is in just about every food product made in this country. Read the labels and you’ll see. That makes it very hard for someone w/ a corn allergy. Thanks again for your recipe.
I am glad this was helpful. Hope your son has a great birthday!
you’ll put hershey’s out of business with this one! i had no idea it was so easy to accomplish–great share!
The only thing challenging at all is crushing out the cocoa powder lumps. My kids always get excited when I make this–and don’t care if I miss an occasional lump
I’ll bet a hand held blender that we use for soups would work easing this job.
What a good idea–hmm, that might be a good Christmas list item!
I’ve been wondering if it was possible to make your own chocolate syrup. I love this recipe! But I’m concerned about the amount of sugar in it. Would it be possible to make it with Stevia, Splenda, or another sugar alternative? Also how long would the shelf-life be on the homemade chocolate syrup?
I keep it in the refrigerator. I believe that the sugar acts as a preservative but it goes quickly in our house (!) so I can’t really say how long it lasts. You might be able to use a sugar substitute–probably would have best luck with one that you can cook with and measures like sugar since the the sugar also has a bulking function–or you could adjust the amount of water. If you try this, I’d love to hear how it works.
What is so terrific about this recipe is that you can make the syrup with either dark or milk chocolate cocoa, and vary the amount of sugar to taste.
My buying club vendor just started carrying dark cocoa powder and I have been meaning to try that.
An excellent idea. Next time we need chocolate syrup, I’m heading back here to make the recipe. Thank you, Inger.
I’ll be making some soon myself. Not sure why winter seems to be a time when chocolate syrup is needed…
I love this idea! A LOT!!
You know I may have to make some this weekend!
You are wonderful! The makings that I have always had on hand. Oh boy! I spent so much time looking on line. My creativity must have been asleep instead of creating. Thank you so much Inger.
I sometimes use exotic ingredients but try to use things that people have on hand where possible. Life is too busy for extra trips to the store! I hope you enjoy this! And if you like caramel, take a look at the milk jam recipe at http://artofnaturalliving.com/2013/02/05/caramel-y-milk-jam-or-dulce-de-leche/