After I made my banana sorbet, it occurred to me that it would be nice to have it with some chocolate sauce. I went looking for a bottle in the supermarket, but the only brand that i like was Hershey, and it was quite pricey. So I thought, maybe I can try to make my own.
Most of the available recipes for an easy version of chocolate sauce are actually quite simple and straightforward. But I didn't plan to make this until the very last minute. My guests were due to arrive in one hour, and I didn't have time to dash out to the store to get the necessary ingredients.
So I made do with whatever I have in the larder, which was a can of condensed milk, my favourite Van Houten pure cocoa and pasteurised milk.
It turned out pretty good. In fact, spoon licking pretty good! I didn't add any sugar as the condensed milk was already sweet. If there is a scale of bittersweet and sweet on opposite ends, the sweetness of this would be just at the mid point. So it is perfect for those who do not have a strong sweet tooth.
When it has cooled, there will be a top layer of crystallisation. You can reheat it to break up the crystals and smoothen it out again, but don't discard it. It makes a beautiful dessert garnish or topping, kinda like the caramelised layer on a creme brulee, only much darker.
This should keep for weeks as it was cooked with all stable ingredients. But ours only lasted one week as I also used it to make hot cocoa drinks, spread it on bread - exactly like Nutella! and made chocolate milkshakes. YUM!
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| After it has cooled, it will thicken slightly to almost a fudgey consistency. Leave it out in room temperature and it will become slightly runny again. |
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| Remember this childhood favourite? Bread with icecream (my banana sorbet) with chocolate sauce...OO! |
Easy Chocolate Sauce
Makes about 2 Cups
- 1 can (500g) sweetened condensed milk (I use F&N)
- 25ml pasteurised milk
- 2/3 cup unsweetened pure cocoa powder (I use Van Houten)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1. Pour the condensed milk and pasteurised milk into a heavy based stainless steel saucepan. Gently heat it up and stir until the milk is very hot but not boiling.
2. Add in the cocoa powder and gently stir until the mixture becomes a thick sauce. Keep stirring and bring the mixture temperature to very hot.
3. Remove from fire and stir in the vanilla extract. Let it cool down before pouring into small clean glass jars.
Your bread with ice cream and chocolate sauce looks delicious! Definitely better for us to make our own, outside sauce is full of preservative and too sweet!
ReplyDeleteHi Mich, yea, one of the things i really dislike is the colouring and preservatives, so i am glad i learned to make this. My son loves chocolatey stuffs (which kid doesnt i suppose!) and i dont like to deny him of it all the time, so this is a good way that i can give him what he likes and knowing that its all good stuffs.
DeleteHi Esther,
ReplyDeleteYour can of chocolate sauce will be very quickly at my house... My husband and boy eat chocolate like crazy and wouldn't miss out eating their ice cream with this smooth and creamy chocolate sauce.
PS. For comment regarding my potato and rosemary bread, I would reckon that you need to insert the potatoes and rosemary before the second prove. Otherwise, the insertion of potato and rosemary will deflate the bread resulting a less soft and fluffy texture. This bread recipe that I used is really good and I reckon that you don't have to wait for the second prove for too long. Maybe the method that you suggested might work but I still prefer the traditional way of baking bread... Please let me know if what you said works for you as I'm interested to know.
Zoe
Thanks Zoe, i will add my comments about this bread directly at your recipe post site.
DeleteHi Esther,
DeleteHappy that you like this recipe! Like what you said, the bread is very soft and moist inside and best of all, this recipe is so straight forward and easy to bake.
Zoe
Esther, I like this! Is creamer sold in cans the same as condensed milk? As far as I remember I have not seen any condensed milk, you know the susu cap junjung from my childhood days.
ReplyDeleteHi PH, yes it is also called krimer sold in cans at tesco and the other supermarkets. Just double check that it is not evaporated milk as the packaging are very similar, i always get confused and have to double and triple check.
DeleteGood idea la...I never thought of using condensed milk. Ive actually been thinking of a dessert to make...coz I've got 18 clear small cups which are perfect for mini desserts and I've been thinking of what to make....it has to be easy, and can make ahead of time. Was thinking of crushed Oreo as base, sliced bananas (or maybe your banana sorbet would be good...?) then top with this choc sauce? What do you think?
ReplyDeleteOooo yum! That sounds guuuud! Can i also suggest that after the sliced bananas, you add a mixture of sour cream+cream cheese+icing sugar on top, then a nice dollop of choc sauce, and finished off with a sprinkle of icing sugar. It will look super classy and indulgent. Once you're done , pls remember to take photos and upload to FB and let us admire heehee.
DeleteHow much sour cream to cream cheese (Philadelphia?) to icing sugar?
DeleteBy the way...the milk really only 25ml? So little ah?
Yes, the milk is only to thin the mixture a little coz the condensed milk is very thick. Add no more than 35ml, else it will be too runny. Proportion of sour cream, cream cheese and icing sugar is 1/4 cup, 110g, 1/3 cup. Should be more than enough. Beat them with electric beaters for 1 min until its evenly blended. Then spread over the banana slices. Philly is expensive, try Tatura. I find them just as good, a little bit less salty.
DeleteHi Esther, OMG, OMG... this is definitely to die for chocolate sauce. Yours look sooooo good and silky smooth. I can imagine as I make this I'm sure to lick spoon non stop. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Have a nice day ahead,regards.
Amelia, yes, as i was making it, i couldnt resist licking the spoon, so had to keep changing spoons!
DeleteDear Esther,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely recipe. I love condensed milk, I always have them in my cupboard, and coco powder, and milk; so that means ... I can always make my own chocolate sauce! How wonderful is that!! Many thanks again ~
Hi Jane, thanks for dropping by :) yes this chocolate sauce is so handy to have around, and so easy to make. Dangerous!
DeleteHi Esther! I never thought of making chocolate sauce, and I didn't know there is condense milk in it. How interesting! This will be very dangerous for all my family members and it will not last too long... :D
ReplyDeleteHi Nami, yes we Malaysians love our condensed milk...:p i have been taking it with my hot drinks since i was a kid...its addictive!
Deletegood morning esther, yeah, this sounds easy and i also like that it doesnt require us to chop up chocolates too. I shall kiv this , thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for following Carole's Chatter. Have a fantabulous week.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I tried making chocolate sauce before, but it turned out failing miserably. I should try again with this recipe!
ReplyDelete