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If you've been looking for an easy Bourbon Sauce for bread pudding that is silky smooth, sweet, and takes any dessert to the next level! You've found it!
Here are a few desserts to drown in this luscious bourbon sauce: New Orleans Bread Pudding, Red Velvet Crepes, French Toast, Buttermilk Biscuits, and Peach Bread Pudding.
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The first time I had bourbon sauce, I was hooked! It's something special about the sweet maple syrup-like consistency of this sauce that holds a special place in my heart.
I've used it as a dipping sauce for French toast or donuts or would randomly drizzle it over waffles or pancakes. The options regarding where and how much of this dessert sauce should go are limitless!
What is Bourbon Sauce?
Dessert bourbon sauce is a sweet and creamy sauce commonly used to top desserts such as bread pudding, ice cream, cakes, and pies. It typically contains ingredients such as bourbon, butter, brown sugar or vanilla extract, heavy cream, and sometimes warm spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
Bourbon Sauce Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for this easy New Orleans bourbon sauce recipe.
Bourbon
I recommend using a bourbon that you personally enjoy. For example, I prefer Maker's Mark. If you prefer, you may also use whiskey for a whiskey sauce.
Pure Vanilla Extract
Use the real thing, not the imitation.
Butter
We'll need cold unsalted butter for the sauce.
Brown Sugar
We'll need light brown sugar but dark brown works too.
Heavy Cream
The heavy cream stabilizes the sauce so it remains creamy and can be stored longer.
How To Make Bourbon Sauce For Bread Pudding
Making bourbon sauce is easy; you only have to ask yourself how much you need to make. There's a ½ cup of bourbon in this recipe; my motto is if it has alcohol in it, it will have alcohol in it.
Heat bourbon and brown sugar in a medium pan over medium heat and bring to a boil. A flame might appear but don't panic; just turn off the heat until the alcohol burns off.
Stir in vanilla extract and continue cooking until the mixture thickens and is reduced by half and thicken slightly.
Remove from the heat and add 2 tablespoons of butter at a time while stirring constantly. Stir in heavy cream until smooth; the sauce should coat a spoon. Cool slightly before using.
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few notes to ensure your bread pudding is fantastic!
- To avoid a flame happening from boiling the alcohol, cook it over medium-low heat, it'll take longer to finish the sauce, but you'll prevent the fire in your pot.
- Feel free to use whiskey or dark rum instead of bourbon.
- You can swap the light brown sugar for dark brown sugar or granulated sugar.
- If you have salted butter, that'll work, too, because the salt will bring out the sweetness in the sauce.
- You can use imitation vanilla extract if you make a large batch for a party. Most of your guests will not be able to tell the difference.
- Make the sauce vegan by using date sugar or palm sugar, non-dairy milk, and vegan butter as a swap for brown sugar, heavy cream, and unsalted butter.
FAQs
Here are the top questions readers have about making bourbon sauce for desserts.
Bourbon sauce for bread pudding tastes like maple syrup, big cousin. It's a delicious and sweet treat with warm notes of caramel.
Savory bourbon sauce for grilled and smoked meats are made with bourbon, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, and spices. And has notes of caramelized sugar and smoky flavors.
Yes, bourbon sauce has alcohol, but the alcohol cooks out as the sauce cooks.
The alcohol content of bourbon sauce varies based on the recipe and cooking time. Typically, bourbon sauce recipes call for about 2 tablespoons of bourbon whiskey, which has an alcohol by volume of around 40%.
Yes, the bourbon sauce recipe for desserts is alcoholic. It is made with bourbon whiskey, an alcoholic beverage with approximately 40% alcohol by volume. However, the alcohol will cook out as the sauce reduces.
Yes, savory bourbon glaze/ sauce includes ingredients such as chili pepper or cayenne pepper which can make the sauce spicy, but dessert bourbon sauces are not spicy.
Bourbon sauce is not gluten-free because bourbon is made with corn, rye, and barley.
Bourbon sauce is not considered Halal because it's made with alcohol.
Bourbon sauce for bread pudding can be vegan using vegan-approved sugar, non-dairy milk, and vegan butter. However, most bourbon sauce recipes for dessert are not vegan.
No, dessert bourbon sauce contains sugar unsuitable for a Keto diet.
Bourbon sauce is best used 7 days after making it. Making the sauce ahead will solidify in the fridge, so follow the reheating tips below.
To reheat the bourbon sauce, pop it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until melted.
More Dessert Sauces
If you love a nice sauce with your dessert as much as I do, I know you'll love these recipes too!
Before You Begin
Here are my steps for getting organized before I start anything.
Step 1: Get all ingredients for the bourbon sauce on the counter.
Step 2: Measure everything out. Start following the recipe, and get ready for an incredible dessert sauce that will impress everyone!
Making a delicious bourbon sauce for bread pudding is easy, and the results are absolutely worth it! Serve this luscious sauce over your favorite desserts for a flavorful finish.
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📖 Recipe
Bourbon Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup bourbon
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla pure extract
- 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into tablespoons
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Combine bourbon and sugar in saucepan and bring to a boil. A large flame of fire will happen; remain calm, cut the heat off until the alcohol burns off.
- Add vanilla and turn heat to low and reduce by half. Cut off heat and whisk in butter 2 tablespoons at a time. Stir in heavy cream, sauce should coat a spoon.
- Serve over bread pudding, waffles, pancakes or french toast.
Notes
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few notes to ensure your bread pudding is fantastic!- To avoid a flame happening from boiling the alcohol, cook it over medium-low heat, it'll take longer to finish the sauce, but you'll prevent the fire in your pot.
- Feel free to use whiskey or dark rum instead of bourbon.
- You can swap the light brown sugar for dark brown sugar or granulated sugar.
- If you have salted butter, that'll work, too, because the salt will bring out the sweetness in the sauce.
- You can use imitation vanilla extract if you make a large batch for a party. Most of your guests will not be able to tell the difference.
- Make the sauce vegan by using date sugar or palm sugar, non-dairy milk, and vegan butter as a swap for brown sugar, heavy cream, and unsalted butter.
Jon says
Make this. If you’re questioning whether or not you should, question no longer. Make it. Change nothing (although if not using a gas stove, you might need to use a lighter to burn off the alchohol).
Don’t fool with any other recipes that might be included in a bread pudding recipe. Just make this. It’s unbelievable on bread pudding. It’s astonishing on vanilla ice cream. Delightful on chocolate ice cream, Weirdly enough, it’s even good on mint chocolate chip ice cream (my wife made that questionable choice but it turned out well).
Just make it. 1000000000/10
Kenneth Temple says
Love to hear it!! Thanks Jon!!
Susan l says
Could one bring sugar, butter and cream (half and half) to a boil to thicken then add bourbon to use as a hot sauce to pour over a fresh apple cake while cake is hot and still in the pan?
Kenneth Temple says
Hi Susan, yes, one can. Using half and half will add more time to reduce, but the sugar will also help with that.