Home Recipe IndexDesserts Chocolate Bourbon Sauce (Boozy Chocolate Sauce)

Chocolate Bourbon Sauce (Boozy Chocolate Sauce)

by Emily
Bourbon Sauce in a jar next to greenery and a plate of pretzels. A spoon drizzling chocolate sauce back into jar

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for details at the bottom of this page. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on this chocolate bourbon sauce post. We hope you enjoy using this bourbon chocolate sauce to pour over ice cream, dip chocolate pretzels, and more!

Welcome to December! It’s the season to be jolly! Have you started to prepare for the holidays by cooking and baking? Every December, make lots of holiday recipes to share with friends and family. Some of these recipes include: 

This year, I’m starting the holiday season with chocolate bourbon sauce. This sauce is a versatile addition to your holiday cooking–you can use it to top ice cream, dip pretzels, mix with steamed milk to make hot chocolate, and more! 

A jar of chocolate bourbon sauce sitting in front of a plate of pretzels and greenery
Do You Like Bourbon? What About Chocolate?

Before we get to the recipe, I want to share some cooking tips & tricks as well as answer some potential questions you have about this recipe. Let’s get started! 

Chocolate Bourbon Sauce Tips & Tricks

Here we list some helpful tips & tricks to help you make this chocolate bourbon sauce. We hope it helps!

An overhead shot of bourbon sauce next to pretzels and greenery
Isn’t This a Perfect Holiday Dessert?
  • As you cook this bourbon sauce, stir often. Chocolate can burn easily if left unattended. 
  • I recommend using a whisk when making this recipe. A whisk helps remove clumps caused by the unsweetened cocoa powder.
  • If you desire less bourbon flavor, reduce the amount of bourbon from 1/3 cup to 1/4 cup.
  • I use water for this recipe to keep it dairy-free. Some people prefer using cream. If you do use cream, constantly stir and heat slowly to keep it from curdling. 
  • You can eat this sauce hot. When hot, it has a thinner texture that drizzles easily.
  • You can also eat this chocolate bourbon sauce chilled. When chilled, it has a thicker texture similar to Nutella. 
A side shot of greenery, reindeer candles, a Christmas tree, and dessert.
Such A Fun Dessert for Parties–Top Ice Cream or Cakes With Chocolate Bourbon Sauce.

Chocolate Bourbon Sauce Frequently Asked Questions:

Now that we learned some tips & tricks for this chocolate bourbon sauce, we can answer some questions you may have about this recipe! If we did not answer your question, feel free to leave a comment below or email us at [email protected]

Is This Sauce Allergen-Free? (Gluten, Soy, Nut, Etc.)

For the most part, this recipe is free of any major allergens. It does not contain any soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, dairy, or eggs. 

This chocolate sauce does contain bourbon. While most experts state that bourbon is safe for those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease because of the distilling process, some people still choose to avoid those made with rye or wheat. Check the bourbon to find brands made with corn if you feel uncomfortable consuming those with gluten-containing ingredients. 

Greenery next to a wooden tray filled with pretzels and a dessert sauce.
How Would You Use This Sauce?

As always, read the packaging of your ingredients to make sure the products do not contain any allergens. Further, check to make sure these ingredients do not have any cross-contamination during the manufacturing process. 

What Types of Chocolate Do You Use?

I use bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate bars to make this chocolate bourbon sauce. I prefer to use chocolate bars instead of morsels or discs. This is because some brands add extra ingredients such as edible wax, dairy, soy, or oils into the morsels and discs to help with the melting process. Once made, the sauce can have a different texture based on those added ingredients. 

That being said, you can find chocolate morsels that avoid adding extra ingredients. For example, Enjoy Life Foods has morsels and chunks that do not contain soy, wheat, eggs, dairy, or any other added wax or oil ingredients. 

Finally, this recipe uses unsweetened cocoa powder. You can also find this ingredient in the baking aisle of the grocery store!

Chocolate sauce in a jar with a spoon sitting in front of greenery
This Sauce Is Easy to Make and Store.

How Do You Store This Chocolate Bourbon Sauce?

To store this chocolate bourbon sauce, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Some airtight containers include jars or glass Pyrex. 

Note: Storing in the refrigerator may harden your sauce. Remove it from the refrigerator a few minutes before use to soften it again. Further, you can microwave it in a microwave-safe bowl for a few seconds to soften it as well. 

How Long Does Chocolate Bourbon Sauce Last?

When stored properly in an airtight container, it can last a few months in the refrigerator. It never lasts that long in our household!  

A close side shot of a jar of chocolate bourbon sauce. A spoon over the jar drizzling chocolate sauce
YUMMY!!! Liquid Heaven!

How to Use This Sauce?

In our household, we use this chocolate bourbon sauce in lots of different ways. Below, we list some ways you can use this sauce!

  • Add the sauce on top of some ice cream
  • Spoon the sauce onto pretzels, apples, or bananas (much like you would do with Nutella)
  • Mix with steamed milk to make boozy hot chocolate
  • Top baked goods such as cakes with this chocolate bourbon sauce. 

Let us know how you use this sauce at home in the comment section!! 

We Hope You Enjoyed Learning How to Make Chocolate Bourbon Sauce

In the end, we hope you enjoyed learning about how to make chocolate bourbon sauce. Beyond being a yummy topping to eat at home, it is also the perfect homemade treat to hand out to all of your friends and family–Just make sure to inform them of the alcohol content!

If you would like to read more about cooking, you can find further recipes on our blog. We listed some of our favorite Carving A Journey dessert recipes below! For reference, many recipes are influenced by our blended Korean and Southern heritage.

A shot of chocolate bourbon sauce in a jar next to greenery and pretzels.
The Holidays Are Here!

Further Carving A Journey Recipes:

If you have any questions or comments, you can also email us at [email protected].

And, finally, we would love to hear from you through our social media as well! You can follow us at @carvingajourney on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Or, if you would like more articles like these, you can subscribe to our blog by joining our mailing list. We hope you enjoyed learning about chocolate bourbon sauce! Thank you so much for stopping by!

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Chocolate Bourbon Sauce

5.0 from 1 vote
Recipe by Emily Course: Desserts, Recipes, Southern RecipesCuisine: SouthernDifficulty: Easy
Servings

12

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar

  • 1/4 Cup Light Corn Syrup

  • 3 TBSP Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

  • 1 Cup Water

  • 10 Oz Bittersweet Chocolate

  • 1/2 TSP Kosher Salt

  • 1 TSP Vanilla

  • 1/3 Cup Bourbon

Directions

  • In a medium saucepan, bring the brown sugar, corn syrup, cocoa powder, and water to a rapid simmer over medium-high heat. Continuously stir until the sugar dissolves.
  • Reduce the heat and let it continue to let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until it reduces and thickens. During this process continue to stir often to keep the mixture from burning on the bottom.
  • Add the chocolate, salt, and vanilla extract and return the mixture to a simmer while whisking. Once simmering, add in the bourbon. Continue to whisk until the sauce is thick and glossy.
  • Let it cool slightly before serving. You can serve hot or chilled. If you serve hot, the chocolate bourbon will be thinner. Chilled, it will be thick like Nutella.

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