If there is ever a time when you want to say ‘well done’ – whether it is for a good mark at school, doing well at sports, tidying up a bedroom or just for good behaviour – an indulgent sundae is the best way to say it (well, it works in my house).
MAKES about 250ml/9fl oz/1 cup sauce
PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes
COOKING TIME 5 minutes
FOR THE HOT CHOCOLATE FUDGE SAUCE
100g/3½oz dark chocolate, 70% cocoa solids, broken into small pieces
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
115g/4oz golden/light corn syrup
80ml/2½fl oz/1/3 cup double/heavy cream
40g/1½oz/1/3 cup icing/confectioners’ sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
a pinch of salt
FOR THE SUNDAE
ice cream
decorations, such as:
• crumbled meringues or biscuits/cookies
• sliced bananas or other favourite fruit
• whipped cream (this is a bit over the top but if they deserve it, then so be it!)
• popping candy/space dust
• over-the-top decorations, such as wafers, paper umbrella, sparklers, morello cherries
1 To make the fudge sauce, put the chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder in a large heatproof bowl. Rest the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, so that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted. (Alternatively, you can do this in the microwave in 5-second bursts on Defrost or Low.) Remove from the heat and stir in all the remaining ingredients until smooth and well blended.
2 Layer up the sundae ingredients in tall sundae glasses or ice cream bowls and add whatever decorations you like. Spoon a little of the sauce over the ice cream and serve straight away.
Lifesaver topping
hot chocolate fudge sauce
Once you have spooned some sauce over the ice cream, leave the rest to cool, then transfer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. You can serve it cold or gently heat whatever quantity you need.
Having a jar of home-made chocolate fudge sauce in your refrigerator is dangerous, of course, as it’s very tempting to dip your finger into it every time you see it! But it will be a real hit spooned over an ice cream sundae, as a pancake filling, poured over chocolate cake or pudding or spread on top of cupcakes.
