A bit of history in a recipe’s headnote always catches my eye. So when I stumbled upon Kathy Marie’s recipe for Sander’s Hot Fudge Sauce, a recipe passed down by her 82 year-old mother-in-law who grew up in Detroit, I figured it had t be great. Her mother-in-law recalled what a treat it was in high school to go Sander’s Ice Cream Parlor for a sundae.
I tend to glorify the past—what it would be like to live in another era (have you seen Midnight in Paris?). This image of a young woman sitting at the Sander’s counter, savoring her ice cream sundae, topped with this very hot fudge sauce in the 1940s made me feel nostalgic for a long lost era. So I made it, poured it liberally over my favorite ice cream, and savored each bite. Get ready for a chocolate blast from the past.
You need just five ingredients to make this hot fudge sauce: caramels, milk, chocolate, vanilla ice cream and vanilla extract.
It starts with a pound of caramels in a double boiler. Good start, right?
Then we add the milk and stir continuously until smooth.
Next mix in all that lovely chocolate.
Stir to ensure it is melted and smooth.
And this is where it gets interesting: you then stir in a cup of vanilla ice cream! This makes the sauce creamy.
Then add a dash of vanilla for good measure.
Mix until super-smooth.
Then pour it liberally over your favorite sweet treat.
I went with ice cream only because I’m wishing it was summer, but this would be to-die-for over a hot brownie sundae!
Kathy Marie, thank you (and your mother-in-law) for sharing this recipe with us.
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Description
My mother-in-law grew up in Detroit (she’s 82 now!) and told me it was a treat to go to Sander’s Ice Cream Parlor for a sundae when she was in high school. She got this recipe from an old friend and shared it with me. Oh, my! You’ve got to try this!
Ingredients
- ½ cups Whole Milk
- 1 pound Caramels
- ½ pounds High Quality Milk Chocolate
- ½ pints Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Preparation Instructions
1. Place milk and caramels in a double bloiler, heat over medium heat and stir continuously until a hot smooth cream is formed. Remove from the heat.
2. Chop the chocolate into uniform small pieces and add to the above hot cream. Stir continuously until the chocolate is completely melted and incorporated into the hot cream.
3. Mix in the vanilla ice cream and vanilla extract and stir until completely melted and thoroughly combined.
4. Serve immediately over your favorite ice cream. Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring between heating times, until desired temperature is reached.
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Three Many Cooks is the always-entertaining food blog of Pam Anderson and her two daughters, Maggy and Sharon. Pam is a well-known and much-respected food writer and author, Maggy is a “hippy adventurer meets 1950s housewife,” and Sharon refers to herself as a recovering food snob learning to survive on a graduate student’s budget. Theirs is a strong relationship both inside and outside the kitchen, and it shows in the food they create and the stories they tell.
34 Comments
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Nancy in CO on 4.13.2012
Michigander now living in Colorado (unfortunately had to move to get a job) and missing Sander’s hot fudge (and bumpy cake). I always loved Sander’s hot fudge and it’s caramel undertones. Made this recipe and it really does re-create the hot fudge of my youth!
MichMia on 4.10.2012
Calif checking in here. My Sanders memories include a tuna on whole wheat, water in a paper cup, followed by the creme puff with hot fudge. Yum! @Nancy, so funny. I remember standing behind the seated lunch people as my Aunt shopped for our carmel coffee cake. Brings tears to my eyes…
Nancy on 4.9.2012
When I was a little girl growing up in the Detroit area, my mother and I would do the shopping on Saturdays. Occasionally she would take me to Sanders for lunch. The thing was, there was only counter seating, so we would pick someone to stand behind, and wait until they had finished their meal.. Then, it was our turn to sit down and have the absolute best BBQ sandwich, followed by a yummy ice cream filled cream puff with fudge sauce for dessert. The 60’s were the best!
Darcell on 4.9.2012
Oh no the Michigan secret is getting our. You can also buy it online.H
Michkaren on 4.9.2012
To really enjoy that Sander’s hot fudge the way we Michiganders do, put some vanilla ice cream in a cream puff instead of pastry cream and smother with the hot fudge. What a treat it was to go get one of those with my grandma!
Sue Williams on 4.8.2012
My sister in law a Michigan transplant turned me on to Sanders a few years ago. We are able to purchase the sauce locally in DFW area. No better substitute for a late night sweet tooth, spoon full of Sanders. Or, a real dreamy treat, little Blue Bell topped with Sanders!
Heather C. on 4.8.2012
@ Stellap: Yes, those three stores are open.
Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Laurel Park Place Mall in Livonia and 6837 Kercheval in
Grosse Pointe, MI. I don’t know the exact location of the GP store, as I’m not on that side of town a lot, but I know for certain that the Livonia and Novi shops are open.
Paula B. on 4.8.2012
Oh my! I’ve heard of Sander’s even here on the east coast and this fudge sauce looks incredible. I have quite an array of hot fudge recipes but that won’t stop me from trying this. Agree – a brownie sundae sounds incredible.
Amy R on 4.8.2012
I am another Michigan native by birth. Saunders hot fudge sauce is just about the greatest stuff ever. I live near Philly and still order it so I can have some whenever I want it. I send it to my bro for Christmas because he moved away, too. It is a special treat!
Susan K on 4.8.2012
Boy, does this bring back memories! I remember begging my grandmother to take me to Saunders for a hot fudge sundae. mmmmmmmm. the best!
Kim H on 4.8.2012
As a Detroit transplant now in Seattle, I thank you for this recipe! And I remember (and miss) the bumb cake.
Lisa D. on 4.8.2012
My parents grew up in Detroit and sometimes when we would visit my grandparents we would get a Sanders caramel cake. AMAZING! I can’t wait to try the sauce.
Jo-Anne on 4.8.2012
Now this sounds like a yummy hot fudge sauce………………….
Chimay on 4.7.2012
I went to Sanders for lunch when I worked at Montgomery Ward in an outdoor mall. I loved their eggsalad sandwiches. But best of all was/is their Sanders Hot Fudge Cream Puffs!! with water in a paper cone cup!
Leslie on 4.7.2012
My sweet friend from Michigan turned me on to this, and it is indeed amazing! Try a bit in your coffee. It’s super yummy!!!
Jennifer on 4.7.2012
How long will this keep?
kiki on 4.7.2012
caramels and chocolate? I’m in.
Jen @ Midwestern Modern Momma on 4.7.2012
I grew up in NE Ohio and have settled in the Toledo area with my Detroit-born husband. He was raised on the love of Sanders. I never knew what it was until we were at Meijer one day and he stuck a jar of Butterscotch Caramel in the cart. It is now a pantry staple in our house. It goes in my morning coffee, on all ice cream sundaes, over brownies, and any other spot you can think of covering things with caramel. The fudge sauces are always on hand for milkshakes, hot fudge sundaes and more. We love Sanders so much that our son had a Bumpy Cake birthday party this year! And we ship gift packs for out town friends as holiday gifts. So excited to try this recipe:)
mckake on 4.7.2012
Oh one more thing!
Everyone from Michigan can now raise their right hand and point to their home town
mckake on 4.7.2012
Sanders!! What a treat to read this! I, too, am a (Detroit) Michigander now in Chicago and my mom brings a jar every time she visits. How about Hudson’s Maurice Salad Dressing? I would love to find that recipe! Thanks for a trip down Memory Lane.
Also – I think Meijer’s sells the chocoate sauce.
stellap on 4.7.2012
Heather, are those three stores still open? There was one in Birmingham, but it has closed.
Heather Crane on 4.7.2012
@Kristin E: I’m a Michigander, too! Sanders has opened in new locations here in Michigan! Livonia, Grosse Pointe Shores and Novi. They’re full service and serve the old fashioned sandwiches, too. Please do visit one the next time your in the Mitten.
Charlie Kent on 4.6.2012
Oh yum this sounds and looks great will have to try it out. The only thing is I am on a diet but I defo will write this down and keep it :O)
Cathy on 4.6.2012
I too grew up going to Sanders. Having the cream puff sundae was heaven! Don’t even get me started on their Chocolate Bumpy cake………
Kristin E. on 4.6.2012
YUM – I saw this and didn’t have time to try it. A MUST DO very soon! I’m from Michigan and although I am only 45, I remember going to one of the last Sander’s Stores that was not too far from our house. My mom still sends the Hot Fudge Sauce to me in Arizona too … mmmmm, soooo good!! Thanks for posting and drawing attention to this recipe!
Diane Carol on 4.6.2012
The BEST way to have Sander’s Milk Chocolate Hot Fudge Sauce is served over a cream puff stuffed with ice cream (vanilla is preferred, but butter pecan is a close second)! As a kid, this was a favorite treat (getting to go to the ice cream shop)….delicious baked goods…remember the chocolate “bump” cake filled with buttercream and that heavenly ganache?????). For my 50th birthday party, we had a Hot Fudge Cream Puff “bar” instead of cake….for my friends who had never had the pleasure….they are now hooked! Cream puffs are a cinch to make and you can freeze them…..
Oh the days….I remember my mom mailing Sander’s across the country, and then across the state when I moved back to Michigan….for years! Now, thankfully, we can get it in our store here! Do try this!
stellap on 4.6.2012
I also live in Michigan, and love Sanders! I think I have this recipe from a Detroit News food section article from the 1970’s. I’ll have to look it up. See my recipe for buttercream icing, Sanders-style, in my recipe box, which is from the same article.
I have the Sanders milk chocolate ice cream topping in my frig right now. My mother loved the butterscotch (I don’t know if they make it any more). A big fav at Sanders’s was the hot fudge cream puff. Yummm.
Aunt B on 4.6.2012
YumO! thanks for sharing, I will have to try this.
Heather Crane on 4.6.2012
This looks like a great recipe.
For those of us with less luck making sauces, you can purchase Sander’s Hot Fudge Sauce online. http://www.sanderscandy.com/Dessert-Toppings-s/1814.htm
Heather (Heather's Dish) on 4.6.2012
basically the hot fudge sauce dreams are made of!
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh on 4.6.2012
The Mr just tried to jump through the screen. Better grab him an aspirin for the impending headache. (Hot fudge sundaes are his favorite)
Yogamama on 4.6.2012
This looks amazing!
Chris on 4.6.2012
Thanks for the shout out about Detroit and Sanders Hot Fudge Sauce! We have so many made in Michigan products that we are very proud. Would love to see a blot post about them one day!
Aparna B. (Not A Leaf) on 4.6.2012
I’m from Michigan and Sanders Hot Fudge is a staple in our lives during the summer!! Mmm nothing beats making a hot fudge sundae if it doesn’t have the Sanders on top!