Some traditions are simple, but they stick with you. This thick, chocolate gravy poured over warm biscuits has been the start to many birthday mornings and a weekend favorite in our family for years. With just a few basic ingredients, you can have this chocolatey, made-from-scratch treat on your table in no time.
It’s funny how some traditions sneak up on you. You don’t plan them. You don’t even realize they’re happening until one day, you look around and realize — this is ours now.
That’s exactly how Chocolate Gravy over biscuits became a birthday tradition in our family.
It all started with my late mother-in-law, she was always in the kitchen and always made some of the best home-cooked meals – especially when my wife and I first moved in together. She would arrive at our apartment with trays of food like she was catering an event for a hundred people. Sometimes it felt like we would have mashed potatoes for days. But she loved to cook for her family and the way it would bring everyone to the table.
Chocolate Gravy was one of her special recipes. Growing up in Michigan, I never heard of such a thing before I met my wife. My mother-in-law was from Tennessee, where it’s a thing. And it was one of my wife’s favorites growing up.
Every once in a while, the family would request for me to make this chocolate gravy on a weekend morning. Over time, we started to realize that when a birthday rolled around, especially on a weekend like my oldest son’s this year, the request comes in: “I want chocolate gravy and biscuits for my birthday breakfast.”
Now, it’s one of those things we look forward to the most. A birthday isn’t official until there is a plate of fresh biscuits and a pot of Chocolate Gravy on the stove, ready to ladle over the top.
Every time I make it, I think of her. I know my wife does. Then at some point, she tells the kids it’s like Nana is with us, and I can picture her with her black-and-white checkered apron on, smiling, knowing that we keep her spirit alive in these everyday moments.
So, this is more than a recipe for us. It’s an amazing dish that could become a part of your family’s story as it has become a part of ours.
Whether you make it for a birthday breakfast, a lazy Sunday morning, or just because you need a little extra chocolate goodness in your life, I hope it brings you as much joy as it has brought us.
What do you need to make chocolate gravy over biscuits?
- butter, softened
- Hershey Powdered Cocoa
- all-purpose flour
- sugar
- milk
- vanilla extract
How do you make chocolate gravy?
1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, and sugar until well combined. Pour in the milk and whisk until all of the ingredients are combined.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the mixture and cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring often as the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the softened butter, and add the vanilla extract.
4. Remove from heat and serve warm over freshly baked biscuits.
What do you serve with chocolate gravy over biscuits?
Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits: You have to have the classic biscuit! The biscuits are the perfect base for soaking up all that warm, chocolatey goodness.
Pancakes or Waffles: You can always swap out the usual syrup and pour this chocolate gravy over a stack of pancakes or crispy waffles for a decadent twist on breakfast.
Fresh Berries: A handful of strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries adds a bright, fresh contrast to the rich chocolate sauce. We especially love strawberries.
Crispy Bacon: If you love that salty-sweet combination, serve some crispy bacon on the side. The smoky, salty flavor is so good alongside the chocolate.
Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream can take your chocolate gravy breakfast to the next level.
Ice Cream: That’s right. Chocolate gravy makes an incredible topping for a scoop of vanilla ice cream—almost like homemade hot fudge sauce!
More Breakfast Ideas
If you’ve had a chance to make this Chocolate Gravy recipe, please let me know in the comments and rating below. And take a picture of it! Please share it on social media and tag me! I’d love to see it!
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Chocolate Gravy Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Hershey Powdered Cocoa
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 cups whole milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, and sugar until well combined. Pour in the milk and whisk until all of the ingredients are combined.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the mixture and cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring often as the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the softened butter, and add the vanilla extract.
- Remove from heat and serve warm over freshly baked biscuits.
Eric Olsson is the food blogger of RedBeansAndEric.com. He publishes new recipes and interviews weekly. He has developed recipes and written articles for the famous Camellia brand in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been mentioned in Louisiana Cookin‘ magazine and has had recipes featured in Taste of Home magazine – with his Creole Turkey recipe being runner up in their annual Thanksgiving recipe contest. He lives outside of Detroit, Michigan, with his wife and four children.
Kevin Foodie
Well, this is new. Never heard of chocolate glaze. Happy your wife and step mom kept it a family tradition. I appreciate you sharing the recipe with us. Hope to try it some day. It look like it would also go pefect with pancakes.
Red Beans and Eric
Hi, Kevin. Yes it’s good on pancakes and waffles. The kids request it for ice cream, too but I haven’t done that yet.
Kelly Flickinger
OH MY! My kind of breakfast!!
Red Beans and Eric
Yeah you right! You can’t go wrong with chocolate!
Elaine
Wow. I love chocolate and never thought of this. Looks yummy.
Red Beans and Eric
It’s so good! Thank you, Elaine!
Vaishali
Living in Alabama, I had heard of chocolate gravy but never tried it. This recipe is a keeper. Everyone in the family loved it.
Laurie
MMMMM. This is delish!