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.
Contents
🌟 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.
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.
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.
Step 3
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.
💭 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.
📖 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.
🥗 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, Nutella and banana stuffed 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.
🧊 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.
🍳 Related recipes
If you want more breakfast recipes that will go with this chocolate gravy, check out our 35 sweet breakfast ideas for a delicious morning. And if you're looking for something to bake, our list of 37 fun things to bake has got you covered!
These recipes are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and make for a delicious start to the day or weekend brunch. And if you want to learn more about Southern food, I invite you to read my article on Southern seasonings that you must have in your pantry.
👪 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
Easy Chocolate Gravy (Southern Style!)
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.
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