• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Comfortable Food
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Seasonal
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Seasonal
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Sauce Recipes

    Chocolate Gravy

    BY: Ben Rayl UPDATED: February 11, 2025 Leave a Comment

    RecipePrintComments
    5 from 2 votes

    This sweet and smooth chocolate gravy is the perfect warm topping for biscuits or waffles when you're craving something sweet. It's easy to make in 5 minutes, uses minimal ingredients, and the velvety warm chocolate gravy will comfort you with each bite.

    chocolate gravy featured
    Contents
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works
    • 🍽 Key Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make chocolate gravy
    • 💭 Cooking tips
    • 📖 Recipe Variations
    • 🥗 What to serve with
    • 🙋 Frequently asked questions
    • 🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
    • 👪 Serving size
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🌟 Why this recipe works

    Although chocolate gravy might not sound appealing, if this is the first time you have heard of it - let me tell you that it's actually seriously delicious!

    Unlike warm chocolate sauce, chocolate gravy is thickened with a roux, which gives it a thick texture that is perfect for pouring over desserts like pound cake, chocolate brownies, cinnamon rolls, or even Oreo cheesecake. It's just enough sweetness to satisfy your cravings without going overboard.

    Chocolate gravy is made with pantry ingredients like cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, sugar, milk, butter, and vanilla extract and can be served up in 5 minutes.

    The cocoa powder gives it a rich, deep chocolate flavor that's complemented perfectly by the sugar, butter, and vanilla extract. It's thickened with flour, and when served over warm biscuits or waffles - the velvety texture is heavenly.

    If you're looking for a decadent and easy dessert topping, this Southern-style chocolate gravy is perfect. It's the perfect indulgence that won't put a dent in your calorie budget and will WOW your guests!

    🍽 Key Ingredients

    With just a few pantry staples, you'll have this irresistible warm silky gravy ready in 5 minutes to pour over your favorite desserts.

    chocolate gravy ingredients

    Cocoa powder - The cocoa provides a rich chocolatey flavor. Use high-quality cocoa powder for the best flavor. I like to use Hershey's cocoa as it is 100% cacao.

    All-purpose flour - All-purpose flour helps thicken the gravy and gives it a smooth texture.

    Sugar - Sugar adds sweetness and balances out the bitter cocoa powder.

    Milk - Milk helps thin out the gravy and gives it a creamy texture.

    Butter and vanilla extract - The butter and vanilla extract give the gravy an added depth of flavor, making it even more irresistible.

    Substitutions

    Cocoa 

    If you don't have any cocoa powder on hand, you can use ½ cup of chocolate chips instead. 

    Milk

    For a dairy-free alternative, use almond or coconut milk in place of regular milk.

    Granulated sugar

    Powdered sugar can be used in place of granulated sugar. You will need ¼ cup less, as it is sweeter than granulated sugar.

    🔪 How to make chocolate gravy

    This easy and delicious chocolate gravy recipe is sure to be a hit. With only 5 minutes of prep time and minimal ingredients, all you need to do is whisk the ingredients until the gravy is thick and beautiful! Check out the full instructions below.

    Cooking instructions

    Step 1
    Add the sugar, cocoa powder, flour, and salt to a medium saucepan or large skillet and cook over medium heat.

    Add the sugar, cocoa powder, flour, and salt to a medium saucepan or large skillet and cook over medium heat

    Step 2
    Pour and whisk the milk into the pan slowly until the gravy becomes thick and smooth (around 5 minutes). Once the gravy starts to boil, it will thicken.

    Pour and whisk the milk into the pan slowly until the gravy becomes thick

    Step 3
    Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.

    Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.

    Step 4
    Serve warm gravy over hot buttermilk biscuits or buttermilk pancakes.

    Serve warm gravy over hot buttermilk biscuits 

    💭 Cooking tips

    Thick gravy

    If the gravy is too thick, you can thin it out with a bit more milk.

    Smooth gravy

    To get the gravy smooth without lumps, it is important to cook the gravy in the saucepan over low-to-medium heat, stirring constantly.

    chocolate gravy variations

    📖 Recipe Variations

    For added flavor combinations, why not give one of these delicious variations a try? With the same easy recipe as a base, you can add a few extra ingredients to give your chocolate gravy a unique twist.

    Peanut butter chocolate gravy

    Replace the butter with peanut butter and add a dash of cinnamon for an extra flavor boost.

    Mint chocolate gravy

    Add ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract in addition to the vanilla extract.

    Orange chocolate gravy

    Add a teaspoon of orange extract to the gravy and grate the zest of 1 orange for a zesty twist.

    buttermilk biscuits what to serve

    🥗 What to serve with

    Chocolate gravy served over hot biscuits is the best way to enjoy this velvety gravy, but there are plenty of dishes that pair well with it. Try pouring your sauce over these easy delicious recipes:

    Pancakes

    Freshly made pancakes with hot chocolate gravy are just heavenly in the morning or brunch. The two recipes combine perfectly, and there's no better way to enjoy that silky sauce than poured over our Aunt Jemima pancake recipe or our fluffy sour cream pancakes.

    French toast

    Crispy French toast topped with butter, warm syrup, and a generous pour of chocolate gravy? There's nothing quite like it! French toast is a classic family favorite, and when you add a layer of creamy chocolate sauce over it, the dish is taken to the next level. Try out our Brioche French toast recipe, French toast casserole, or banana and Nutella roll-ups, and pair it with the chocolate gravy for a delicious breakfast.

    Muffins

    For a perfect mid-morning snack, try pairing your chocolate gravy with freshly made muffins. The silky sauce is the perfect addition to our blueberry and maple crumble muffins, or even our festive cream cheese pumpkin muffins.

    🙋 Frequently asked questions

    Why is my chocolate gravy not thickening?

    If your chocolate gravy isn't thickening, it's most likely because the heat is too high or you haven't cooked it long enough. Make sure that when you cook the gravy, it is over low-to-medium heat and stirring continuously. This will help ensure that your sauce thickens properly.

    Why is my gravy lumpy?

    Lumpy gravy is usually caused by adding the milk too quickly, which causes the pan to cool and the flour to congeal. To avoid lumps, make sure to pour in the milk slowly while whisking vigorously.

    Can I make chocolate gravy in advance?

    Yes, you can make chocolate gravy ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

    buttermilk biscuits storing

    🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating

    Chocolate gravy is the ultimate dipping and topping treat that can be stored in the fridge and reheated time and time again.

    Fridge - The chocolate gravy can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Reheating - To reheat, simply place the saucepan over low heat and stir the leftover gravy until warm. Alternatively, you can also reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each interval with a heatproof spatula until completely warm.

    👪 Serving size

    This chocolate gravy recipe yields around 3 cups of sauce, which is enough to serve 6 people. For smaller sized portions, the recipe can easily be halved.

    Making this delicious Southern recipe is sure to be a hit with family and friends. It's an easy treat that you can whip up in minutes that pairs perfectly with your favorite desserts. Give it a try, and let us know if you like it.

    Love this dessert recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Try one of my comfort dessert recipes for your next meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

    📋 Recipe

    chocolate gravy featured

    Easy Chocolate Gravy (Southern Style!)

    This sweet and smooth chocolate gravy is the perfect warm topping for biscuits or waffles when you're craving something sweet. It's easy to make in 5 minutes, uses minimal ingredients, and the velvety warm chocolate gravy will comfort you with each bite.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved! Share
    Course: Dessert, Dressing
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 cups
    Calories: 588kcal
    Author: Ben Rayl

    Ingredients
     

    • ⅓ cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 3 tablespoons All-purpose flour
    • 1 cup Sugar
    • 1 pinch Salt
    • 1½ cups Milk
    • 3 tablespoons Butter
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • Add the sugar, cocoa powder, flour, and salt to a medium saucepan or large skillet and cook over medium heat.
    • Pour and whisk the milk into the pan slowly until the gravy becomes thick and smooth (around 5 minutes). Once the gravy starts to boil, it will thicken.
    • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.
    • Serve warm gravy over hot buttermilk biscuits or buttermilk pancakes.

    Notes

    Thick gravy
    If the gravy is too thick, you can thin it out with a bit more milk.
    Smooth gravy
    To get the gravy smooth without lumps, it is important to cook the gravy in the saucepan over low-to-medium heat, stirring constantly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 588kcal | Carbohydrates: 126g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 117mg | Fiber: 6g | Iron: 3mg

    More Sauce Recipes

    • roasted red pepper sauce - featured 2
      Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
    • creme anglaise - featured
      Creme Anglaise
    • Tzatziki Sauce - Featured
      Tzatziki Sauce
    • white gravy
      Country Style White Gravy

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Chef Ben Rayl

    Hi, I'm Ben!

    I believe comfort food unites us, and I want to inspire you to cook at home with everyday ingredients. It is easier and takes less time than you think, costs less than eating out, and tastes a million times better.Read More

    Feel free to share our recipes on your blog using a photo and link back to the original recipe.

    Italian Recipes

    • Focaccia - Featured
      Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • Tiramisu - Featured-1
      Easy Tiramisu Recipe

    Comfort Casseroles

    • chicken and broccoli casserole
      Chicken Broccoli Casserole
    • beef enchilada casserole with cheese on top
      Beef Enchilada Casserole
    • chicken wild rice casserole
      Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
    • cabbage roll casserole
      Cabbage Roll Casserole

    Best Comfort Recipes

    • Three cheese lasagna
      Three-Cheese Lasagna (Easy & Delicious)
    • Mac and cheese tuna casserole
      Mac and Cheese Tuna Casserole (Easy Recipe)
    • white chicken lasagna - featured
      Best Ever White Chicken Lasagna Recipe
    • lima-bean-soup - butter beans Featured image
      Best Butter Beans Recipe Ever

    Footer

    About

    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Disclosure
    • Accessibility

    Recipes

    • Dinner Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes

    More

    • 35 Easy Soup Recipes with Few Ingredients

    Favorites

    • Bruschetta Recipe
    • Breakfast Casserole with Bacon
    • Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
    • Chicken and Biscuits
    • Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2025 Comfortable Food · All Rights Reserved

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.