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Home » Recipes

Creamy Vanilla Sauce (perfect for dessert!)

Published: Sep 20, 2022 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links.

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This Creamy Vanilla Sauce is an easy and delicious compliment to all sorts of desserts including bread pudding, cobblers, crumbles, crisps and pies and cakes. Or simply spoon it over a bowl of ripe berries (or straight into your mouth, quite honestly)! It is a versatile, luxurious vanilla cream sauce that goes with just about anything sweet!

With a short list of easy-to-find ingredients, you are just 10 minutes away from enjoying this custard-like vanilla sauce. Ready to get started? Keep reading for step-by-step instructions!

Creamy vanilla sauce on a spoon over a bowl of sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

  • It is made with wholesome, everyday ingredients you are likely to have on hand and comes together in less than 10 minutes.
  • The custard-like vanilla sauce is a welcome compliment to a variety of desserts.
  • The sauce is rich (but not overly so) and full of creamy vanilla flavor.

Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for Creamy Vanilla Sauce.
  • Half and half is my dairy ingredient of choice for this recipe. You could use whole milk or even cream if you prefer.
  • Two egg yolks provide richness without giving the sauce an overly eggy flavor.
  • Sugar brings sweetness and vanilla extract the flavor. You could also use a vanilla bean if you prefer!
  • A pinch of salt balances out the sweetness of the salt, and cornstarch serves as the thickener.

Special Equipment Needed

  • FIne mesh strainer

How to Make This Recipe

  • Combine the half and half, egg yolks, sugar, salt and cornstarch together in a large saucepan. Heat over medium low, whisking constantly, until the mixture comes to a simmer. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
Vanilla sauce in a saucepan next to a whisk and a towel.
  • Remove from the heat and pour through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine.
Vanilla sauce in a strainer over a glass bowl.
  • Serve the sauce warm, cold or room temperature on top of your favorite dessert!
Slice of Swedish Apple Pie topped with Vanilla Sauce next to a fork and apples.

Expert Tips

  • Be sure to keep a close eye on the sauce while it cooks, ideally whisking it the entire time. Any dairy-based sauce such as this one can easily scorch on the bottom on the bottom of the pan.
Creamy Vanilla Sauce in a pitcher with a spoon.

FAQs

Can I make this Creamy Vanilla Sauce in advance?

Yes! This sauce can be made up to three days ahead of time. Simply store it tightly covered in the refrigerator. It can be served warm or cold so you can either enjoy it straight from the refrigerator OR you can warm it in the microwave or the stovetop.

What desserts go well with this sauce?

Really anything that would go well with vanilla ice cream would be an excellent pair with this sauce. Think cobblers, crumbles, pie, cake, bread pudding.....you name it. See a full list of recipe suggestions below!

What to Serve with Creamy Vanilla Sauce

I gave a few general suggestions above, but as far as specific recipes go, consider some of the following delicious options:

  • Gingerbread Cobbler with Apples and Pears
  • Cardamom Peach Cobbler
  • Swedish Apple Pie (pictured above)
  • Swedish Apple Cake
  • Spice Cake with Dates and Rye (use in place of the caramel sauce)
  • Swedish Sticky Chocolate Cake
  • Swedish Spice Cake
  • Old-Fashioned Norwegian Rhubarb Crumb Cake
  • Rustic Strawberry Rhubarb Rye Galette
  • Pear Cardamom Bundt Cake
  • Finnish Strawberry Almond Tart

Related Recipes

Looking for more sweet sauce ideas? Check out these blog favorites:

  • A jar of caramel sauce with a spoon
    3 Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce
  • Close up of a spoonful of blueberry cardamom compote.
    Blueberry Cardamom Compote
  • Close up of lingonberry sauce on a spoon.
    No Cook Lingonberry Sauce (Stirred Lingonberries)
  • Spiced Pear Compote in a jar with a spoon.
    Easy Spiced Pear Compote
Close up of Creamy Vanilla Sauce.

Creamy Vanilla Sauce

This Creamy Vanilla Sauce is an easy and delicious compliment to all sorts of desserts including bread pudding, cobblers, crumbles, crisps and pies and cakes. Or simply spoon it over a bowl of ripe berries (or straight into your mouth, quite honestly)! It is a versatile, luxurious vanilla cream sauce that goes with just about anything sweet!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: desserts, sauces
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian, Swedish
Keyword: easy vanilla sauce recipe
Prep Time: 8 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 100kcal
Author: Kristi

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups half and half or whole milk or cream
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Combine the half and half, egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch and salt together in a large saucepan and heat over medium low. Whisk the mixture constantly until it begins to simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and pour the sauce through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Stir in the vanilla extract. Serve warm or cold.

Notes

This sauce can be made up to three days ahead of time. Simply store it tightly covered in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 252IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 0.2mg

If you loved this recipe, give it a star review! Also, snap a picture of your ________________ and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #truenorthkitchen and tagging me @true_north_kitchen.

More Nordic/Scandinavian Recipes

  • Close up of Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites with Dill.
    Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites with Dill
  • Close up of Strawberry Rhubarb Compote on ice cream.
    Strawberry Rhubarb Compote (Easy Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce)
  • Close up of Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenpaj) with a salad and fork.
    Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenpaj)
  • Featured image for Swedish Cream.
    Swedish Cream

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sheila

    May 10, 2023 at 1:15 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely awesome recipe! I have been hunting for a vanilla sauce recipe for years. This reminds me of a sauce I had as a kid. It is delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe. All the others I have tried have been too sweet.

    Reply
    • Kristi

      May 10, 2023 at 1:22 pm

      Thank you, Sheila! I'm so glad you liked it. It definitely goes with almost everything!

      Kristi

      Reply

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