Homemade Chocolate Sauce

So I'm trying really hard to stay away from high fructose corn syrup. Yeah, yeah, it's supposed to be nearly identical to table sugar and is okay in moderation... At least that's what they want you to keep telling yourself... But since I was already a little wary of it and after the recent discovery of mercury in some of the foods containing high fructose corn syrup, I've decided to see what I can do about making my favorite things that usually contain high fructose corn syrup. Near the top of the list? Chocolate sauce. I love chocolate milk and putting chocolate sauce on my homemade vanilla ice cream (another high one on my no-more-high-fructose-corn-syrup list). So I've found a very yummy chocolate sauce recipe. I haven't licked a spoon mid-cooking that much in a long time.

Edited to add: I've added a picture of both this chocolate sauce and a very delicious caramel sauce. They go fantastically together.

Chocolate Sauce
Courtesy of Recipezaar.com



1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup sifted unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
1 cup water
2 teaspoons vanilla

In heavy-bottomed 2 quart pot, combine sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Whisk to combine. Gradually stir in the water. Stir until well combined.

Set over medium heat; stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil Boil three minutes, stirring frequently with whisk and reducing heat if syrup threatens to boil over. Remove from heat; pour into heatproof 4 cup measure or pitcher. Cool briefly.

Cool on counter (uncovered) until room temperature, strain through fine strainer into container of 2-1/2 cup capacity. Stir in vanilla.

Store, covered, in refrigerator.