This Vegan Hot Fudge Sauce is made with no added sugar and it’s super simple to make at home. It’s a fool proof recipe for all your healthy desserts! Save This Recipe! Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
Sugar is a dangerous thing. It has addictive qualities similar to cocaine. Cocaine! Some people may think its biggest danger is rotting our teeth, but the perils of sugar go way beyond the cavities it may create.
Years ago, I started trying to eat an anti-inflammatory diet, which means limiting or avoiding added sugars. So, I cut it out from my diet.
At first it was really hard. Then, it got easier.
The less sugar you have, the less you crave it. And the other way is true, too. The more sugar you eat, whether it is natural sugars found in honey or maple syrup or the processed white stuff, the more you crave it.
Like cocaine.
So the good news is that after the initial period of wanting it everyday, it got a lot easier to just not eat sugary foods. There is one small thing that I will always crave though. Okay, it’s not a small thing. It’s a big, important thing.
Chocolate.
I needed to create something that would let me have some chocolate without adding sugar. Not an easy task.
I turned to my old friends, dates. Thank you, dates, for being nature’s candy and helping me get my chocolate fix.
I created a rich, lovely vegan chocolate fudge sauce that has no added sugar whatsoever. It’s dreamy.
Recipe Variations
I made this two ways. First I used full-fat coconut milk. I figured if I was relying only on the sugar from the dates, I’d want the flavor from the fat. The results were fantastic. Decadent.
Then, I tried it with unsweetened almond milk. I thought it would be much worse as almond milk is almost like water, but it was still really good. The almond milk makes it less caloric, so if you are looking for a lighter version, go for that one. Really, I think you could use whatever milk you have hanging out in your fridge right now.
I know you are going to want to make this amazing, healthy chocolate fudge sauce right away, so don’t worry about waiting until your next trip to the grocery store.
The last thing I experimented with was adding a little stevia. The dates lend a lightly sweet flavor to the chocolate sauce, not a super sweet flavor of traditional hot fudge sauce. The stevia sweetens it up a bit more. I loved it with just dates, but if you are looking for a slightly sweeter hot fudge sauce that is still healthy, try a little stevia. I list it as optional in the recipe as I liked it both ways.
So, after a few trials and errors, here is my epic vegan hot fudge sauce recipe.
Drizzle it on your favorite vegan vanilla ice cream, vegan brownie, or vegan shake!
No dairy, eggs, or refined sugar, but lots of deliciousness.
Ingredients You Need for Dairy-Free Hot Fudge Sauce
Honestly, the ingredient list might seem a little off. Can these simple ingredients really make a delicious, vegan hot fudge? Trust me, it’s the best vegan version you’ll ever try. Here’s what you need for the sauce:
Dates
Yep, dates. Ten pitted dates. Dates are a natural sweetener and make your fudge sauce deliciously creamy. Besides being vegan, dates are high on the health-benefit department too. They promote gut health, keep your bones strong, and have tons of antioxidants. Dates also add a subtle hint of caramel-like sweetness to the fudge.
Coconut Milk
Canned coconut milk is your best bet for this recipe. Use full-fat coconut milk, and you’ll love the richness. Coconut milk is an extract from the white flesh of your mature coconuts. Yes, coconut milk and coconut cream are higher in calories and fat. Totally worth it, in my opinion, but if you want a “lighter” version, just use unsweetened almond milk. This Oat Milk recipe would work, too!
Chocolate
Vegan chocolate sauce without chocolate? No sir! But to keep it vegan, we are using unsweetened pure chocolate. (Look for 100% cacao).
I don’t recommend substitutions here, but you can try using Dutch process cocoa powder. Vegan chocolate chips will work as well, but the sauce will be much sweeter since they have added sugar.
Salt
A pinch of salt is all you need to take your vegan hot fudge sauce from okay to amazing! If you’ve ever tasted salted caramel, you know what I’m talking about! Salt brings out the flavor–don’t skip it!
How to Make the Best Vegan Hot Fudge Sauce
The recipe is super simple. But, hey, no compromises on taste. Here are a few baby steps for you to make the most delicious vegan hot fudge sauce ever.
- Put pitted dates and water in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- Turn the heat off after a minute. Cover the pan and let them sit for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the water and add the dates and coconut milk into the blender and whizz till you get a smooth texture.
- Pour the mixture back into the saucepan so you can add chocolate to it.
- Bring everything to a slow boil while stirring regularly. Turn off the heat and keep stirring while the sauce cools.
- As it cools, you’ll see the sauce thicken more.
- Add to your favorite ice cream treat, banana splits, or brownie dessert! You can serve this hot right after making it, or let it cool to room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Other Sweeteners?
If you use another sweetener besides the dates, your vegan hot fudge will have added sugar. The recipe as written, has no added sugar. However, if you don’t have dates, you can try maple syrup, brown rice syrup, agave nectar. These are all vegan sweeteners Of course, it will still be better than the store-bought kind that’s sweetened with corn syrup!
How Do I Thicken the Fudge Sauce?
No xanthan gum, guar gum, or arrowroot powder are needed! This recipe as written produces a thick, rich vegan hot fudge! This gooey hot fudge sauce is next level good!
Can I Add Other Flavors?
Yes, please! Vanilla extract is a classic addition for more flavor. I also love peanut butter and almond extract. If you like any other nut, go for it!
How to Store the Sauce?
You’ll want to store any leftover sauce in an airtight container (like a mason jar) in the refrigerator. You can expect between 2 to 3 weeks shelf life.
I hope this sauce does the same for you as it did for me. Now grab a spoon, and let’s dig in!
I served my hot fudge sauce as a super healthy hot fudge sundae. It’s made with banana ice cream, which I’m sure you’ve all tried by now, right? If not, you just have to freeze some bananas, and then process them in your food processor (not sure if a blender works as I always use my food processor for this). This makes for a healthier dessert!
That’s it! Top your banana ice cream with some of this healthy hot fudge sauce and you have yourself a hot fudge sundae that’s only about 200 calories and 100% real food with no added sugar.
Of course, you can also grab your favorite vegan ice cream and serve it that way. So delicious!
If you try this Vegan Hot Fudge or any of my healthy recipes, please let me know! Leave a star rating and comment below so other recipes can see which recipes are tried and true. I appreciate you! If you make a Happy Healthy Mama recipe and share your picture on Instagram, I’ll feature you. Make sure to tag me!
Vegan Hot Fudge
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1/2 cup 1x
Description
A vegan hot fudge chocolate sauce with no added sugar!
Ingredients
- 10 pitted dates
- 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk (or unsweetened almond milk)
- 1 (1 oz.) square unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
- pinch of salt
- pinch of pure stevia, or to taste (optional)
Instructions
- In a small sauce pan, cover your dates with water. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let them sit for about 5 minutes.
- Drain the dates and transfer them to a blender. Add the milk and blend until the dates and milk are super smooth. Put the date and milk mixture back into the sauce pan and add the chocolate and salt. Gently bring it to a slow boil, mixing the whole time, and then immediately turn off the heat and continue to stir while it cools.
- Stir in the stevia, if using.
- Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Notes
The sauce will thicken as it cools. It will become thinner and pourable again if you reheat it after storing it in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 152
- Sugar: 11 grams
- Fat: 9 grams
- Saturated Fat: 7 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 16 grams
- Fiber: 2.6 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
Great recipe for a summer.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful ice cream. I will make it for my family
This is straight up genius! Your recipes never cease to amaze me. Pinned!
Thanks for the pin, Alexis!
This looks wonderful! Just found your blog! I don’t use any refined sugars and prefer to use pure maple syrup or coconut to sweeten my recipes. Dates in this chocolate sauce are wonderful! I’ve seen dates in chocolate icing and pudding before and I love how simple yours is. Looks thick and creamy.
Glad you stopped by! 🙂 This really is a thick and creamy chocolate sauce that seems a lot more sinful than it is!
I’m with you on trying to remove sugar from my diet. I’ve been working on it for about two weeks now. I am going to give your no sugar added chocolate fudge sauce a try the next time I try to make some Paleo ice cream from coconut milk!
I have been wanting to try the coconut milk ice cream, too. I’m sure it’s wonderful!
Oh my! You are a genius! I’m all over this since I loooove chocolate and I have all the ingredients 😉
It’s meant to be!!