Hershey’s chocolate syrup is a sweet, chocolate-flavored liquid that can add chocolate flavor to a variety of foods and beverages. Some of the most common uses for Hershey’s syrup include:
Using in Desserts
Hershey’s syrup is commonly used to add chocolate flavor to desserts such as:
- Ice cream sundaes – Drizzled over ice cream
- Milkshakes – Added to milkshake mixes
- Banana splits – Drizzled over banana slices
- Parfaits – Layered with whipped cream and fruit
- Chocolate mousse – Folded into mousse mixture
The syrup blends smoothly into these desserts, adding rich chocolate taste without overpowering other flavors. Just a small amount can give a strong chocolate boost.
Making Chocolate Drinks
Hershey’s syrup is also popular for making chocolate beverages such as:
- Chocolate milk – Stirred into cold milk
- Hot chocolate – Whisked into hot milk or cream
- Chocolate shakes – Blended with ice cream and milk
- Mojas – Added to coffee drinks
- Flavored lattes – Added to espresso drinks
The syrup dissolves easily into liquids, making it simple to prepare chocolate drinks. Just a tablespoon or two is usually enough to give a chocolate taste.
Using in Baking and Cooking
In addition to desserts and beverages, Hershey’s syrup can be used to add chocolate flavor to various baked goods and other foods such as:
- Pancakes – Drizzled over pancakes before serving
- Waffles – Poured over waffles
- French toast – Topped with syrup
- Crepes – Spread with a thin layer of syrup
- Fruit – Drizzled over strawberries or bananas
- Yogurt – Swirled into plain yogurt
- Oatmeal – Stirred into oatmeal
- Granola – Drizzled over granola
The syrup mixes well into batter for chocolate chip pancakes, muffins, and other baked goods. It can also be used as a sauce for chicken or pork dishes.
Fun Recipes with Hershey’s Syrup
Beyond the basics above, Hershey’s syrup can be used in fun, creative dessert recipes such as:
Chocolate Fondue
Melt chocolate chips and stir in Hershey’s syrup to make a smooth chocolate fondue for dipping fruit, cake, marshmallows, and more.
Chocolate Popcorn
Drizzle popped popcorn with Hershey’s syrup and toss to coat for a sweet, chocolatey snack.
Chocolate Lasagna
Layer sheets of graham crackers with Hershey’s syrup, sweetened ricotta, and whipped cream to make a tasty chocolate lasagna.
S’mores Pops
Dip marshmallows in Hershey’s syrup, then coat in crushed graham crackers to make s’mores on a stick.
Chocolate Dipped Fruit
Coat apple slices, strawberries, banana chunks, and other fruit in Hershey’s syrup for easy chocolate-dipped fruit.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition facts for Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup are:
| Serving Size | 2 tbsp (33g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 100 |
| Total Fat | 0.5g |
| Sodium | 25mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 24g |
| Sugars | 22g |
| Protein | 0g |
As you can see, Hershey’s syrup is high in sugar with about 22g per serving. It provides 100 calories per serving, mostly in the form of carbohydrates. There is minimal fat and protein.
Selection and Storage
Hershey’s syrup comes in several different size bottles, ranging from 12 ounces to 64 ounces. It is often sold alongside other ice cream toppings in the baking aisle of the grocery store.
For storage, keep unopened Hershey’s syrup in a cool, dry place. Once opened, store in the refrigerator to maintain best quality. Properly stored, it will generally stay good for about two years past the printed date on the bottle.
Be sure to keep the cap tightly sealed and clean the rim of the bottle before resealing to prevent syrup from drying out.
How to Make Homemade Hershey’s Syrup
It’s easy to make homemade Hershey’s chocolate syrup with just a few simple ingredients:
Ingredients
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, water and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, let the mixture boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Allow to cool slightly before transferring to an airtight container.
- Store homemade syrup in the refrigerator.
This easy 4-ingredient homemade Hershey’s syrup tastes just like the real thing. You can customize it by adding extra vanilla, a pinch of cinnamon, or even a shot of espresso.
Common Brands
Some other common brands of chocolate syrup include:
- Nestle Quik Syrup
- Torani Chocolate Sauce
- Hershey’s Special Dark Syrup
- Fox’s U-bet Syrup
- Ah!Laska Chocolate Flavored Syrup
While they differ slightly in ingredients, these all provide the familiar chocolate syrup taste. Hershey’s remains one of the most popular, recognizable, and widely available brands.
Uses in Commercial Products
In addition to home uses, Hershey’s syrup is an ingredient in many mass-produced foods and beverages, such as:
- McDonald’s chocolate milkshakes
- Kellogg’s Krave cereal
- Cherry Coca-Cola
- Starbucks’ mocha and chocolate Frappuccinos
- Dairy Queen chocolate dipped cones
Food manufacturers often use Hershey’s syrup rather than cocoa powder or baking chocolate for its instant solubility, consistent flavor, and consumer recognition.
History of Hershey’s Syrup
Hershey’s syrup first originated in 1926 as “Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup” from the Hershey Company. It was promoted as an easy way to make chocolate milk, sundaes, and other chocolate treats.
Early ads featured images of mothers happily serving their children chocolate milk made with Hershey’s Syrup. This associated the syrup with wholesome family enjoyment.
Over the years, the packaging has been updated several times but has stayed true to the familiar brown bottle with yellow lid.
Today Hershey’s syrup remains one of the top-selling chocolate syrup brands globally and an iconic staple in American pantries.
Conclusion
Hershey’s chocolate syrup has countless uses beyond just topping ice cream. The popular syrup can be used to add chocolate flavor and sweetness to drinks, desserts, pancakes, fruit, oatmeal, and more. Its versatility, convenience, and great taste have made it a pantry staple for over 90 years. So whether you’re making a chocolate milkshake, sundae, or just want to add some chocolate zip to fruit, Hershey’s syrup is an ideal choice.
