Description
Vanilla Sauce is a smooth, creamy dessert topping with rich vanilla flavor, perfect for drizzling over cakes, puddings, fruit crisps, and more. Made with simple ingredients, it adds a luxurious touch to any sweet dish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 1 tablespoon cold milk (if using cornstarch slurry)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat milk (or cream) and sugar over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth.
- Slowly add a few tablespoons of the hot milk mixture into the yolks while whisking constantly to temper.
- Gradually whisk the tempered yolks back into the saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 4–6 minutes).
- Remove from heat. Stir in butter, vanilla extract, and salt.
- For a thicker sauce, whisk together cornstarch and cold milk, then stir into the saucepan before thickening.
- Let cool slightly before serving, or chill for a cold topping.
Notes
Use vanilla bean paste for a more intense flavor and speckled look.Swap half the milk with cream for a richer sauce.Stir constantly and avoid boiling to prevent curdling.Make dairy-free using almond or oat milk and plant-based butter.Whisk in warm milk to loosen the sauce if it thickens after chilling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
