Bourbon Sauce

This golden bourbon sauce recipe for bread pudding also works for apple crisps, sundaes and more! It’s irresistibly luscious and creamy.

Here’s a golden sauce that’s luscious, heavenly, and takes any dessert from delicious to outrageously good. Meet this Bourbon Sauce! Dip your spoon in this elixir and it tastes like candy: buttery and vanilla scented, with just a hint of bourbon on the finish. Use it on bread pudding, or any dessert that needs some extra flair, from apple crisp to plain vanilla ice cream. Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients for bourbon sauce

This bourbon sauce is very simple to make using a handful of ingredients. It’s modeled after my family’s traditional butter sauce for Christmas pudding, with the addition of bourbon. Our family gathers round the stove when the butter sauce is being made! Here’s what you’ll need to add to the pan:

• Granulated sugar
• Whole milk
• Salted butter
• Bourbon
• Vanilla extract

Making bourbon sauce: a few tips!

Some bourbon sauce recipes call for bringing the sauce to a boil, but this is tricky because it’s easy to overcook and burn it. All you’ll need to do is maintain a steady simmer for 3 minutes. Here are a few tips on making the sauce:

• Keep it at a steady simmer. Make sure it doesn’t boil too heavily.
• Taste test. It’s done when it’s slightly thickened, golden in color and the bourbon flavor has mellowed. Take a spoonful and taste test (make sure to blow on it!).
• Strain (optional). Straining removes the whey protein. Keep reading for why!

Why to strain a butter sauce

You can make this bourbon sauce without straining: but we prefer straining it before serving. Why? Here’s what to know:

• Butter sauces have a light layer of white foam on top. This is the whey proteins. They don’t affect flavor at all, so you can skip the straining portion.
• For the smoothest looking sauce, strain it before serving. It’s for appearance only! But it’s an easy step that makes a nice impact.
• Skip this step if you like. Your guests may not know the difference.

Make ahead instructions for bourbon sauce

Want to make this sauce ahead for entertaining? You can make bourbon sauce up to 3 days in advance. Refrigerate until serving: you’ll find it solidifies in the fridge (just like butter!). Prior to serving, reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until it’s creamy and pourable again.

Ways to use bourbon sauce

Got this bourbon sauce in hand? There are lots of ways to use it: our favorite is bread pudding. Here are a few more ideas:

• Try it on pumpkin bread pudding or your favorite bread pudding recipe
• Drizzle over vanilla ice cream
• Add a tiny bit to apple crisp (Use the lower sugar variation in this recipe)
• Add to classic cranberry pudding

How are you planning to use your bourbon sauce? Let us know in the comments below!

More recipes with bourbon

There are lots of recipes to use bourbon in your cooking: both food and drinks! Here are some favorite ideas:

• Try Bourbon Glazed Salmon
• Sample one of these 12 Great Bourbon Cocktails
• Opt for a Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail or Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
• Warm up with a Bourbon Hot Toddy

This bourbon sauce recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For a vegan variation, try vegan butter and coconut milk.

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