Silky Melted Chocolate Bar (Printable version)
Silky chocolate bar sauce ideal for drizzling desserts, dipping fruit, or swirling into drinks.
# What you need:
→ Chocolate
01 - 7 oz chocolate bar (milk, dark, or semi-sweet), chopped
→ Optional Additions
02 - 2 tbsp heavy cream
03 - 1 tsp unsalted butter
04 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
05 - Pinch of sea salt
# How To:
01 - Chop the chocolate bar into small, uniform pieces to promote even melting.
02 - Place chopped chocolate and unsalted butter, if using, into a heatproof bowl.
03 - Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water ensuring the bowl bottom does not touch the water, stirring gently until chocolate is nearly melted.
04 - Remove from heat and incorporate heavy cream and vanilla extract if desired, stirring until smooth and glossy; add a pinch of sea salt to enhance flavor if preferred.
05 - Use immediately as a sauce or dip. If sauce thickens upon cooling, gently rewarm over the double boiler before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It takes just 10 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for last-minute dessert emergencies when you need something that feels special
- One chocolate bar is all you need, which means you can make this without special shopping or complicated pantry items
- The sauce transforms into whatever you need it to be, whether that's a dip for strawberries, a topping for ice cream, or a swirl in your morning coffee
02 -
- Water and chocolate are enemies. Even a single drop of water will make your chocolate seize into a grainy, unusable paste. Keep everything bone dry until you add the cream intentionally.
- Overheating is the other silent killer. Keep that water barely simmering, never boiling. I learned this when I got impatient and turned up the heat, creating a chocolate bottom that tasted slightly burned.
03 -
- Chopping your chocolate bar into uniform pieces is the single best thing you can do to ensure smooth, lump-free sauce every time
- A tiny pinch of sea salt is magic. It doesn't make the sauce taste salty, it makes it taste more like chocolate. Trust me on this one.