This Is How to Make Southern Chocolate Gravy
Updated: Mar. 14, 2019
The idea of chocolate gravy is only odd until you've had some slathered on fresh-baked biscuits.
I can tell you, chocolate gravy isn’t as strange as it sounds. In fact, its unusual name should make your mouth water, especially when you have flaky, buttery biscuits nearby. This old-fashioned comfort food from the South uses just five basic ingredients, and isn’t seen nearly enough these days.
Interestingly, chocolate gravy made its way to the Appalachians and the Ozarks thanks to influences from the Spanish colonists. It was (and should be!) a Sunday morning treat.
How to Make Chocolate Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup baking cocoa
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Hot biscuits (These would work beautifully!)
Step 1: Whisk Cocoa With Milk
Sugar, cocoa powder and milk are the major components of this tasty sauce, and they need to be thoroughly mixed in a large heavy saucepan before anything else can happen. Just like with a savory gravy, nobody likes lumps. (If it’s meaty gravy you’re after, here are some tried and true tips.)
Step 2: Bring to a Boil
Because milk is involved, you can’t fire up the burner and walk away—it’s easy (and messy) for milk mixtures to boil over. Set the burner to medium heat and stir constantly for 7-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened into a gravy-like consistency. If you like yours thinner, that’s fine. Just stop a little sooner.
Step 3: Finish the Gravy
Butter gives the gravy extra richness and vanilla helps balance out that strong chocolate flavor. After removing the pot from the heat, stir your butter and vanilla into the mixture until the butter is completely melted and incorporated.
Step 4: Feast!
Pour the finished gravy over hot biscuits or pound cake (or both—chocolate for breakfast AND dessert). It also works on pancakes, ice cream and a bowl of fresh fruit.
Even though its name might throw you off, there’s nothing wrong with a rich chocolate sauce that you can eat at any time of day.
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Originally Published: March 14, 2019
