Healthy Vegan Chocolate Sauce
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.My 5-minute Healthy Vegan Chocolate Sauce is more than just something to dip churros in. It’s silky, smooth, and utterly irresistible for pouring over everything, and made with simple ingredients like vanilla, sugar, and cocoa powder.
I created this super simple chocolate sauce recipe for smoothies and milkshakes, such as my kids’ beloved rich chocolate strawberry smoothie, but now I pour it over cookies, cakes, ice cream, and pretty much anything that needs a healthy dose of indulgent chocolate.
This sauce has become a staple in our fridge and is perfect for making this vegan homemade chocolate milk extra decadent or a vegan fudge brownie even more chocolatey. Plus, I can whip up a batch in minutes using four ingredients I always have on hand. It’s so easy, it should be illegal!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
Having this chocolate sauce in the fridge has changed how I react to my boys’ requests for chocolatey treats. I used to say no more than I said yes, but with this low-calorie chocolate sauce, I am more than happy to make chocolate milkshakes and healthy hot chocolate drinks for them, knowing that it’s made with a handful of wholesome ingredients.
I literally just put the vanilla, sugar, water, salt, and cocoa powder in a pot, set it to simmer, and stir until thickened. As it cools, it turns into a rich and irresistible drizzly sauce. It’s so good, my husband and kids spoon it warm into their mouths without hesitation before I even have a chance to save it. Ha!
This homemade chocolate sauce is worlds better than anything you can buy in a bottle from the grocery store and cheaper too! The flavor is so much richer and has a real chocolate taste, not just sugary sweetness. Plus, I can control the quantity of sugar or use stevia for a less sweet, lower-calorie chocolate sauce. Even my mother-in-law, who usually buys her chocolate sauce, has had this recipe ever since she got fed up with pricey store brands and now says my recipe is way better 😉
🥘 Ingredients
In addition to water, you only need a handful of whole food plant based ingredients to prepare this chocolate sauce recipe:
Unsweetened cocoa powder: I use unsweetened cocoa powder for a deep chocolate flavor. It blends smoothly into the sauce and makes it rich and silky.
Sugar: I add sugar to sweeten the sauce just right. Sometimes I use cane sugar, but coconut sugar works too for a slightly different taste.
Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla rounds out the chocolate flavor. It adds a warm and sweet note that makes the sauce taste homemade.
Sea salt: Just a pinch of sea salt balances the sweetness.
🔪 How To Make
Once you see how simple it is to make your own vegan chocolate syrup, you will not want the store bought kind again. Here is how I make it:
Whisk the ingredients: I add the cocoa powder, sugar, water, vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt to a pot. Then I whisk everything together until it is smooth with no lumps.
Simmer the sauce: I let the mixture cook on the stove while stirring often. After a few minutes, it thickens into a rich and glossy chocolate sauce.
Cool and store: I let the chocolate sauce cool down before pouring it into an airtight container. This way it stays fresh and ready to use whenever I need it.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for making my healthy vegan chocolate sauce is to stir it constantly while it simmers so it does not stick to the bottom of the pot. I learned this after one batch burned when I turned my back for just a minute, and the whole kitchen smelled like scorched chocolate. Now I stay close by and give it gentle stirs the whole time, and the sauce always turns out silky and smooth. It only takes a few minutes, so I usually use that time to chat with the kids at the counter or set the table while keeping one hand on the whisk.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Sift the cocoa powder: I like to sift the cocoa powder before whisking so the sauce turns out smooth. It keeps any lumps from forming in the pot.
- Thin if needed: If the sauce thickens too much, I add a splash of warm water. It blends right in and brings the sauce back to the perfect texture.
- Taste before cooling: I always give the sauce a quick taste before it cools. That way I can add a little more sugar if it needs extra sweetness.
- Cool before storing: I let the sauce cool completely before pouring it into a container. This keeps condensation from forming and helps it stay fresh.
📖 Variations
Here are some tasty variations I love for my healthy vegan chocolate sauce:
Add espresso powder: Sometimes I whisk in a teaspoon of espresso powder. It deepens the flavor and makes the chocolate taste even richer.
Orange flavor: I stir in a little orange zest or a splash of orange extract. It gives the sauce a bright and citrus flavor that pairs so well with fruit.
Extra Vanilla: I double the vanilla extract for a deeper, sweeter flavor. This version is one my kids especially love over pancakes.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Honestly, this homemade vegan chocolate sauce pretty much lives on our kitchen counter because we drizzle it over everything! We love pouring a chocolate river over tofu ice cream after dinner or drizzling it over warm and fluffy Nutella waffles.
My husband has officially declared it his favorite dipping sauce for vegan churros and freshly baked donuts. But the real reason I make this irresistible sauce every other day is because my kids make themselves chocolate milk every single day. Plus, on weekends, I go OTT on the chocolate sauce with this indulgent vegan peanut butter cup milkshake that literally is the best thick shake I have ever created!
🧊 Storage Directions
Refrigeration: I store the chocolate sauce in a glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I give it a quick stir before using since it can thicken as it chills.
Freezing: I pour the sauce into small freezer safe containers or even ice cube trays and freeze for up to three months.
Reheating: I warm the sauce gently on the stove or in the microwave until it loosens up. A splash of warm water helps if it is too thick after chilling.
❓Recipe FAQs
Why did my chocolate sauce turn grainy?
This usually happens if the sauce is cooked on heat that is too high or if I do not whisk it enough. I make sure to keep the heat low and stir often so it stays smooth. If it ever does look a little grainy, I just keep whisking gently and it usually comes back together. Staying patient while it simmers makes all the difference.
Can I make the sauce thicker?
Yes, you can let it simmer a little longer and it will naturally thicken. As it cools, it thickens even more, so I sometimes add a splash of warm water before serving if I want it a little thinner. I like having the flexibility to make it thicker for dipping churros or thinner for drizzling over fruit and pancakes.
Can I swap the sugar for another sweetener?
Yes, I have tried this recipe with coconut sugar, maple syrup, and even date sugar. Each one changes the flavor slightly, but the sauce still turns out delicious. Maple syrup gives it a warm sweetness, coconut sugar adds a hint of caramel, and date sugar makes it taste a little more earthy. I like experimenting depending on what I am craving or what my kids are in the mood for.
🥣 More Healthy Sauce Recipes!
Love this plant based sauce recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating 🌟 in the recipe below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page!
You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food, and if you have any questions, I’m here to help!
📋 Recipe Card
Healthy Vegan Chocolate Sauce
My 5-minute Healthy Vegan Chocolate Sauce is more than just something to dip churros in. It's silky, smooth, and utterly irresistible for pouring over everything, and made with simple ingredients like vanilla, sugar, and cocoa powder.
Servings: 10
Calories: 61kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½-1 cup sugar , see note
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into a pot and whisk to combine.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat and continue to whisk as it cooks and you see it thicken. About 3 minutes.
- Allow to cool, it will thicken more as it cools, then transfer to an airtight container.
- Serve as you want!
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for making my healthy vegan chocolate sauce is to stir it constantly while it simmers so it does not stick to the bottom of the pot. I learned this after one batch burned when I turned my back for just a minute, and the whole kitchen smelled like scorched chocolate. Now I stay close by and give it gentle stirs the whole time, and the sauce always turns out silky and smooth. It only takes a few minutes, so I usually use that time to chat with the kids at the counter or set the table while keeping one hand on the whisk.
- Sift the cocoa powder: I like to sift the cocoa powder before whisking so the sauce turns out smooth. It keeps any lumps from forming in the pot.
- Thin if needed: If the sauce thickens too much, I add a splash of warm water. It blends right in and brings the sauce back to the perfect texture.
- Taste before cooling: I always give the sauce a quick taste before it cools. That way I can add a little more sugar if it needs extra sweetness.
- Cool before storing: I let the sauce cool completely before pouring it into a container. This keeps condensation from forming and helps it stay fresh.
Nutrition
Calories: 61kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
