Make Ahead
by: Alice Medrich
August7,2014
4.7
7 Ratings
- Makes ten 3-ounce fudgesicles (if you don't fill them too full!)
Jump to Recipe
Author Notes
Why would you make these yourself? Check out the ingredients label on a commercial brand. The real question is: Why wouldn’t you? With only 6 ingredients (counting vanilla and salt), these are lean and clean, super flavorful, and refreshing, and you can use the type of milk and cocoa powder you like best. Believe it or not, low fat milk makes the most flavorful and refreshing pops of all, but you can have it your way. Adapted from Seriously Bittersweet (Artisan Book 2013) by Alice Medrich —Alice Medrich
- Test Kitchen-Approved
What You'll Need
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- 3/4 cupsugar
- 3/4 cupunsweetened natural or Dutch process cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoonscornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoonsalt
- 3 cupsmilk (any fat percentage)
- 1/2 teaspoonpure vanilla extract (optional)
- Equipment:
- Ice pop mold with 10 cavities (or 10 individual molds)
Directions
- Have a silicone spatula near the stove and either a heatproof pitcher or glass measure to pour the mixture into the molds while hot (into heatproof or silicone molds) or a bowl to cool the mixture before spooning it into molds.
- Combine the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt in a heavy medium saucepan. Whisk in just enough of the milk to make a smooth paste. Whisk in the remaining milk.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring with the whisk -- constantly scraping the bottom, sides, and corners of the pot -- until the mixture begins to bubble a little at the edges. Continue whisking and cooking for 2 more minutes.
- Off heat, whisk in the vanilla and scrape the mixture into the pitcher (for immediate filling) or into the bowl to cool.
- Fill the pop molds leaving at least 1/4 inch at the top to allow for expansion. If your mold has a cover with openings for sticks, cover and insert sticks. Otherwise, freeze until the mixture is thick enough to hold a stick upright and then insert sticks. Freeze until hard, about 4 hours if the mixture was cool, 6 or more hours if hot.
- Line a tray with wax paper. Fill a container with warm water deep enough to dip the full height of your molds. Dip the mold long enough to release a fudgesicle when you pull on the stick. Remove and set fudgesicles on wax paper. Wrap each in a piece of wax paper and/or put them in a re-sealable plastic freezer bag and return them to the freezer until serving.
Tags:
- Ice Cream/Frozen Desserts
- American
- Milk/Cream
- Chocolate
- Make Ahead
- Serves a Crowd
- Summer
- Fourth of July
- Memorial Day
- Gluten-Free
- Dessert
See what other Food52ers are saying.
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Marjorie E Wheeler
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FrugalCat
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Mindy Stone
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GourMel
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Clara
My career was sparked by a single bite of a chocolate truffle, made by my Paris landlady in 1972. I returned home to open this country’s first chocolate bakery and dessert shop, Cocolat, and I am often “blamed” for introducing chocolate truffles to America.Today I am the James Beard Foundation and IACP award-winning author of ten cookbooks, teach a chocolate dessert class on Craftsy.com, and work with some of the world’s best chocolate companies. In 2018, I won the IACP Award for Best Food-Focused Column (this one!).
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30 Reviews
Marjorie E. August 14, 2020
This is the 3rd TIME I'm making these....they are FABULOUS! I prefer regular unsweetened cocoa powder to the Dutch-processed; they just taste better. And I only use 2% milk to make them, so there is more of an 'icy' quality to them than a 'creamy' quality. They're great!
Happee June 27, 2020
Recipe came out beautifully! I halved the recipe and it ended up perfectly filling six 50ml popsicle molds. I used a can of unsweetened coconut milk ("Grace" brand) and tapioca starch instead of cornstarch. The result was a delicious, soft fudgesicle I could bite into. I'll definitely make this again!
jeanne August 6, 2019
I used unsweetened coconut milk, and dark chocolate cocoa powder(unsweetened). I also added a full teaspoon of vanilla. They were perfect!!!! SO delicious. I will make more for sure. I pulled out my kids old popsicle molds, they worked wonderfully.
FrugalCat July 6, 2017
I use whipped cream vodka instead of vanilla extract.
asilanaeru August 25, 2016
these are great! my favorite recipe for fudgesicles. i like 1/4 tsp more salt and a full tsp vanilla. i cook it long until it is like pudding before i freeze it. and ya, sometimes use coconut milk instead of regular milk. another thing. rum extract gives it a nice flavor.
Mindy S. August 23, 2015
TOTALLY LOVE THIS RECIPE! I love that there are so few ingredients and am able to gauge how much and what kind of sugar I put in my treats! yuuuummmmmm
GourMel March 11, 2015
Has anyone tried adding peanut butter to these? Or alcohol? What amounts would you suggest?
Clara September 29, 2014
Yum! Just like I remember, and so easy to make! I like the idea of a little instant espresso and may try that next time.
Kenna M. September 7, 2018
I did put espresso in them and it was awesome
saramin September 4, 2014
I made these ala "gianduja" with hazelnut milk and they were marvelous!
CarlaK August 28, 2014
Just made these again with 2 modifications that I think improved the final result. I increased the vanilla to 1 teaspoon which rounded out the cocoa/chocolate flavor. More importantly, I used Jeni's Splendid ice cream technique, subbed tapioca starch for the cornstarch and separately mixed it with 2 tablespoons of the milk. I only whisked it into the mixture when the mixture had come to a simmer and then continued to boil for the 2 minutes. This meant I didn't need to stand over it and whisk constantly while the mix came to a boil nor worry about gloppy cornstarch overcooked on the bottom of the pan. Easier and it worked great.
CarlaK August 21, 2014
Just made these last night with original unsweetened almond milk (30 calories per cup) and Valharona cocoa. Unbelievably delicious! Seriously thinking about subbing Truvia for the sugar and ending up with a 30 calorie per pop treat. Or maybe just subbing out part of the sugar...
RoseTex10 August 19, 2014
What great suggestions from everyone's comments....I'm learning thanks
Kate's K. August 17, 2014
Made with Nestles Toll House unsweetened cocoa powder because that is all the grocery had. These were good and fudgy. I found myself wanting another dimension of flavor and may add a couple of tablespoons of Amaretto next time. Also, letting them sit on the counter for several minutes softens them and makes them more slurpy :-)
Eryn L. August 14, 2014
These are AMAZING. I substituted coconut milk for regular milk and it worked perfectly.
RoseTex10 August 19, 2014
Didn't think about using coconut milk, will try it....thanks
Lorraine August 13, 2014
How about some instant espresso for a twist?
ustabahippie August 13, 2014
This is my recipe for chocolate pudding from the old cornstarch box! Glad to see how to make it into fudgesicles!
danielle August 13, 2014
think we could use almond milk instead of regular milk??
Alice M. August 14, 2014
I've been meaning to try some non dairy milks. I suspect that they will work just fine. Let us know.
Eryn L. August 14, 2014
Non-dairy milks work just fine for this!
RoseTex10 August 19, 2014
Yes, I only useed Almond Milk and its sooo thick and creamy. Wow what a surprise.
yvonne M. August 13, 2014
Can Stevia be substituted for sugar?
Alice M. August 14, 2014
Try the stevia, if you like it. I'm not sure the texture will be as nice. But what have you got to lose?
Andrew S. August 12, 2014
Excellent… nailed the consistency and general flavor of the traditional fudgesicle.
As a twist, dark chocolate cocoa powder was very good with this recipe.
magpiebaker August 11, 2014
The cornstarch helps to thicken the mixture, as if you were making pudding. It's also an emulsifier and helps keep everything suspended and evenly distributed. Hope that helps.
