Vanilla Bean Sauce Recipes

VANILLA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in the water, stirring until blended. Bring mixture to a boil and continue to cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and mix in the butter and vanilla. Serve warm.

VANILLA BEAN CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the brown sugar, half-and-half, butter, vanilla seeds and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-low to medium heat. Cook, whisking gently, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Serve warm or refrigerate until cold. If the sauce is too thin, just continue cooking for a few more minutes.

VANILLA BEAN CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring the cream and vanilla bean to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Remove from the heat and let steep for 10 minutes.
• Remove the vanilla bean.
• Scrape out the tiny seeds with the tip of a knife, and add to the cream.
• Discard the vanilla bean and set aside.
• Place the sugar and corn syrup in a 3-quart saucepan, and mix with a wooden spoon until as much of the sugar is coated with the syrup as possible.
• Scrape any sugar back into the pan and turn the heat to medium.
• The sugar will begin to break down after 3 or 4 minutes.
• Stir once or twice, mixing the undissolved sugar into the warm liquid.
• When it becomes foamy after about 2 more minutes, stop stirring.
• Continue heating for 2 minutes until the syrup begins to turn medium brown.
• Whisk in the butter a little at a time and continue whisking until the mixture comes together.
• Remove from the heat and very slowly whisk in the cream a little at a time and continue whisking until the mixture comes together again.
• The caramel is extremely hot and initially will bubble up as the cream is being added.
• Return the saucepan to the burner over low heat and sir until the caramel sauce is completely smooth and all ingredients are incorporated (sauce will thicken as it cools).
• Allow the caramel to cool completely before storing in a covered container in the refrigerator.
• Serve warm.

VANILLA SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Sprinkle the cornstarch over 1/2 cup of the milk in a small bowl and whisk to dissolve. Add the sugar and egg yolks and whisk well.
• 2. Bring the remaining 2 cups of the milk and the vanilla bean just to a simmer in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan over low heat. Remove the bean, scrape the vanilla seeds into the milk, and discard the bean. Gradually whisk the egg yolk mixture into the milk.
• 3. Cook, whisking often, until the sauce comes to a full boil, about 3 minutes. If using vanilla extract, stir it in now. Strain through a wire sieve into a bowl. Serve warm.
• MAKE AHEAD
• The sauce can be prepared up to 1 day ahead, cooled, covered, and refrigerated. Reheat in the top part of a double boiler over simmering water.