Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Finding things for the kids can be a bit difficult. I discovered a gallon of milk that needed to be used up right away. Something happened and the rotation got messed up.

The best way to get the kids to down a gallon of milk in a single day is to make chocolate milk. Only I didn’t have chocolate syrup so I needed to improvise and make my own homemade chocolate syrup.

Why make your own homemade chocolate syrup

Making homemade chocolate syrup allowed me to save another trip out of the house to hunt some down. I hadn’t thought to stock any ahead of time.

Another great reason to make your own chocolate syrup is that you can control what is in it, Using higher quality cocoa like the Ghirardelli cocoa powder I had in the house from a sale I found on Amazon a couple of months ago. This is a great way to reduce the chemicals in your family’s diet. You can even use alternative sweeteners for your family’s needs.

What you need to make chocolate syrup

Making chocolate syrup is easy and doesn’t take a lot of ingredients. Just simple clean staples.

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup sugar or equivalent sweetener
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup water

How to make homemade chocolate syrup

Making your own chocolate syrup is easy and doesn’t dirty a lot of dishes. I made enough to make a full gallon of chocolate milk but you can easily multiply this recipe if you need more.

Place your dry ingredients into a saucepan.

Add vanilla extract and water.

Turn on low heat.

Whisk until blended and lumps have dissolved. Simmer do not boil.

Why add salt to chocolate syrup?

A lot of people ask why salt is added to chocolate syrup. This may seem odd but adding a tiny bit of salt helps to bring out the sweetness without having to add a ton more sugar.

What kind of cocoa do you use in homemade chocolate syrup?

This can be made with any powdered cocoa you have on hand. For the classic taste use Hershey’s. You can always step things up and use premium Ghirardelli chocolate like we did which would make an amazing ice cream topping. No ice cream? Make your own no-churn ice cream.

Ways to Use Your Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Chocolate Milk: Mix it with cold or warm milk for a quick and delicious glass of chocolate milk.

Hot Chocolate: Stir it into hot milk for a rich and creamy hot chocolate drink.

Chocolate Pancakes or Waffles: Drizzle it over pancakes or some homemade chocolate waffles for a decadent breakfast treat.

Ice Cream Topping: Pour it over ice cream to create a classic chocolate sundae.

Chocolate Milkshake: Blend it with ice cream and milk to make a creamy chocolate milkshake.

Chocolate Fondue: Warm it up and use it as a dipping sauce for fruits, marshmallows, or other treats in a fondue pot.

Chocolate Coffee: Add a spoonful to your morning coffee for a homemade mocha.

Chocolate Martini: Use it as an ingredient in a chocolate-flavored martini or cocktail.

Dessert Sauce: Use it as a drizzle over cakes, pies, or other desserts.

Chocolate Yogurt Parfait: Layer it with yogurt and granola for a tasty parfait.

Stuffed Desserts: Use it as a filling for pastries, donuts, or crepes.

Chocolate Dipped Treats: Dip strawberries, bananas, or other fruits in the syrup and let it cool for a chocolatey coating.

Chocolate Spread: Use it as a spread on toast, pancakes, or waffles.

Chocolate Popsicles: Mix it with milk or yogurt and freeze it in popsicle molds for a frozen treat.

Chocolate Oatmeal: Stir it into your morning oatmeal for a sweet twist.

Chocolate Martini Rim: Dip the rim of a martini glass in the syrup and then in cocoa powder for a decorative touch.

Chocolate Truffles: Use it as a filling for homemade chocolate truffles.

Chocolate Flavored Whipped Cream: Mix it with whipped cream for a chocolatey topping for desserts.

Chocolate Milk Foam: Whip it into a frothy foam to top off your drinks.

Homemade Chocolate Milkshake Syrup: Freeze it in ice cube trays, then blend it with milk and ice cream for a customized milkshake.

Chocolate syrup is one of those things that is worth keeping on hand to make a fun treat when you need it. I like to keep some in the pantry so even on a rough day I can quickly use some canned milk and chocolate syrup to make a quick and easy treat for the kids.