Chocolate Gravy Is a Tasty Dessert Sauce: Step-by-Step Recipe

Say the word “gravy,” and you likely picture a rich, brown sauce being poured over pot roast and mashed potatoes. And while gravy as we know it is largely savory, here’s a sweet secret: There are dessert versions too! Take chocolate gravy for instance: This sauce is warm and indulgent like fudge sauce without being overly sweet or too thick. So you can drizzle it freely on top of ice cream, waffles, donuts or even biscuits when those sugar cravings strike. Even better? It’s quick to make with just a few pantry staples! Here’s the scoop on chocolate gravy along with an easy recipe to help you make it in 20 minutes or less.

What is chocolate gravy?

Chocolate gravy is a sauce made from butter, cocoa powder, sugar and flour. Its origins are believed to date back to the early 1900s in the South. “It turns out that chocolate gravy was born out of necessity, thanks to some poor farmers who didn’t exactly have a surplus of baking supplies,” explains Ron Stewart, chef and founder of Chef Ron LLC. “They needed something sweet to accompany their biscuit-based breakfasts, and thus chocolate gravy was born.”

Although chocolate gravy is traditionally poured over biscuits and served for breakfast, it’s also smothered over donuts, waffles, ice cream and French toast as an all-day treat.

The difference between chocolate gravy and fudge sauce

It’s easy to confuse chocolate gravy with fudge sauce as they’re both dark brown and thick. However, chocolate gravy is made using a flour and fat thickener called a roux, while fudge sauce gets its hefty texture from heavy cream and butter. This gravy being made from a roux also gives it a slightly thinner, more pourable consistency than the globby fudge sauce you find in the store. Overall, making chocolate gravy on a whim is hassle-free and offers an easy, inexpensive feeling of decadence.

How to make make chocolate gravy

Since chocolate gravy relies on pantry staples, you can make it right away. Here, JD Alewine, food blogger at ThemBites.com, shares a recipe that he notes is a “comfort food that brings back nostalgic memories for many Southerners.” Feel feel to douse this gravy over anything your sweet tooth desires, from these Grated Buttermilk Biscuits to Sheet Pan Pancakes. Yum!

Chocolate Gravy

Ingredients:

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
2 ½ cups whole milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. unsalted butter

Directions:

Total time: 15 mins
Yield: 6 to 7 servings

In medium-sized saucepan, whisk together cocoa powder, flour, sugar and salt until well combined.
Gradually add milk to dry ingredients, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
Place saucepan over medium heat and cook mixture, stirring constantly until it thickens and starts to bubble, about five to seven minutes.
Remove saucepan from heat and stir in vanilla extract and butter, until butter is fully melted and incorporated into gravy.
Allow chocolate gravy to cool slightly before serving.
Note: Any leftover gravy should be stored in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge. During this time, you enjoy cold or warm over your favorite treats.

Best way to reheat chocolate gravy

To reheat the gravy, pour your desired amount into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it in 15-second intervals. Stir the gravy after each interval, and finish microwaving until it’s fully warmed. Then, spoon the gravy over your dessert and savor its syrupy and indulgent qualities!

Hungry for more Southern-inspired favorites? Check out the stories below:

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