Mexican Chocolate Sauce Recipe With Variations

Name: Mexican Chocolate Sauce
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 4 min
Ingredients: 6 ounces dark chocolate (chopped or grated OR 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips); 1/2 cup heavy cream (at room temperature); 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 2 teaspoons coffee liqueur (such as Kahlua); 1 tablespoon sugar

Prep: 1 mins

Cook: 3 mins

Total: 4 mins

Servings: 16 servings

Yield: 1 cup

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This recipe makes a delicious topper for your ice cream or a great dipping sauce for churros—and has many other delicious uses, besides. See our list of uses and variations of Mexican Chocolate Sauce below the recipe.

Did you know?

No excuse is usually needed for eating chocolate, but if you should require one, here are a couple to choose from:

Cacao was first cultivated by the indigenous peoples of Mexico, so it is one of the most Mexican of foods.
Chocolate was used by ancient Mexicans as both a currency (cacao beans were “money”) and to make a bitter drink enjoyed only by the elite.

This is a basic recipe, a starting place. Don´t be afraid to tweak the ingredient proportions according to taste and/or to the use you will give your chocolate sauce. Increase or decrease the sugar to your liking. Omit the liqueur, if you prefer. Use more cream for a looser, more pourable sauce; use more solid chocolate for a thicker sauce that will harden more upon cooling (for use as a ganache or for making chocolate truffles, for example).

6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped or grated, or 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons coffee liqueur, such as Kahlúa
1 tablespoon sugar

Melt the chocolate. The chocolate does not need to actually cook at all, just melt completely. Use one of the following methods:
Microwave method: Place chocolate and heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl. Cook in microwave for a minute or so, making sure to stir every 20 seconds. Stop microwaving when mixture is smooth.

Direct stove-top method: Place chocolate and cream in saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until mixture is smooth. (Note: Be very careful when using this method, as a moment of inattention can lead to the chocolate's burning).
Hot water bath method: Place chocolate and cream in a metal bowl. Place the bowl in pan of very hot water in such a way that the water comes one-third to half the way up the sides of the bowl. Stir ingredients gently until mixture is smooth.
Stir in the cinnamon, coffee liqueur, and sugar. Pour into a serving dish and enjoy.

Any leftover sauce can be stored in a tightly covered glass jar in the refrigerator for a week or so. Reheat before using.

What to Use Chocolate Sauce For?

Pour your delicious Mexican Chocolate sauce on:

ice cream
fruit such as bananas, cherries, or strawberries
pound cake or bread pudding
dessert crepes
oatmeal or other hot cereals

Use it as a dipping sauce for:

Churros
Pretzels or other salty snacks
Slices of apples or pears
Doughnuts and other pastries

Add it to:

Milk, hot or cold
Smoothies or milkshakes
Coffee (hot or cold) for a mocha drink

Whip it to make a mousse.

Recipe Variations

Add some spicy heat by mixing in a bit of ground chile (such as chile piquín or powdered chipotle) together with the cinnamon. Start with 1/4 teaspoon ground chile, test, and add more until the sauce is as hot as you like it. (Note: Do not use “chili powder”—the spice mix used to make chili soup—as that generally contains cumin and other ingredients that do not pair particularly well with chocolate.)
Use dark brown sugar or grated piloncillo instead of white sugar for added flavor.
Trade the Kahlua for another, less-well known, Mexican liqueur such as Guayacura Damiana, Agavero, Reserva del Señor Almendrado, or Kalani Coconut Liqueur.
Play around with the spices used. Add a pinch of cloves or trade the cinnamon for a teaspoon of “pumpkin pie spice” (which is usually a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice).
Use Mexican (the round tablets used in Mexico for preparing hot chocolate, such as Ibarra or Abuelita brand) instead of dark chocolate for a more rustic sauce. Cut the amount of ground cinnamon in half, as these products already include some spices.

Edited by Robin Grose

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
89	Calories
6g	Fat
8g	Carbs
1g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories	89
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g	8%
Saturated Fat 4g	18%
Cholesterol 9mg	3%
Sodium 5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g	3%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 13mg	1%
Iron 1mg	5%
Potassium 67mg	1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.