Sauces help elevate the flavours of any dish, all while making them creamy and smooth. Hot sauces for desserts are no exception: they’re delicious drizzled on cakes, brownies, pies, and muffins, and are a great contrast in temperature (especially on ice cream). Here are 3 recipes for super-simple, super-versatile sauces, sure to put a smile on your kids’ faces.
Maple madness
Three ingredients and a few minutes of your time are all you need to make this sauce, which will satisfy all the maple lovers in your life (because maple syrup isn’t just good in the spring, you know!). Make it today!
Prep time: 10 minutes
Makes: 6 to 8 portions
Ingredients
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup 15 or 35% cream (for cooking)
1 tsp. cornstarch
Preparation
- Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and whisk together. Bring to a boil and let boil for 30 seconds, gently stirring the whole time. Remove from heat.
- Serve hot or warm, drizzled over white or vanilla cake.
Choco-licious
This sauce is so versatile and delicious that you might even want to put some on your toasts! On sundaes, brownies, vanilla or chocolate cakes, profiteroles and other pastries, fresh fruit, and more . . . it’s perfect on everything!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Makes: 6 to 8 portions
Ingredients
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup 35% cream
1/4 cup sugar
225 g bittersweet chocolate
2 tbsp. cold butter
Preparation
- Heat the milk, cream, and sugar in a saucepan until sugar has completely dissolved. Do not bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the chocolate, stirring until melted. Add the butter and stir until melted. Stir well.
- This sauce is ideal served warm. If you wish to serve it hot, know that it will be more liquid. For a thicker sauce, add less milk.
Choco-licious . . . vegan version
We haven’t forgotten about all you vegan chocolate lovers out there! Here’s a vegan version of our choco-licious sauce that’s just as yummy as the original one.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Makes: 6 to 8 portions
Ingredients
120 g vegan dark chocolate
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup creamy soya beverage (or soya cream)
2 tbsp. agave syrup
1 pinch fleur de sel
Preparation
- In a saucepan set over low heat, melt the chocolate, stirring frequently. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a gentle simmer (not a boil) and let bubble until desired consistency is obtained. Note that this sauce will become thicker as it cools.
Golden caramel
This sophisticated butter caramel sauce will elevate all your cakes, muffins, and apple, peach, pear, and pineapple pies, as well as vanilla and chocolate cakes, especially if served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Makes: 6 to 8 portions
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup 15% cooking cream + 1/2 cup extra
¼ cup room-temperature butter
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1. tbsp. cornstarch
1 pinch salt
Preparation
- In a cup, combine the cornstarch with 1/2 cup of cream and stir until smooth. Set aside.
- In a saucepan set over medium heat, bring the remaining cream, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt to a boil, whisking constantly. Add the cream and cornstarch mixture, bring to a boil again, still whisking constantly. The sauce will thicken. Add the butter at the end, remove from heat, and stir.
Vegan and gluten-free cake mixes
Who said cake mixes all had to taste the same? Quebec brand Lulubelle is revolutionizing the concept by offering vegan and gluten-free cake, pancake, waffle, and cookie mixes that contain no nuts, peanuts, soya, or palm oil, and which are made with quality ingredients only. Some of their products are even certified organic, and all offer stunning results. What more could you ask for! These products will allow you to prepare desserts worthy of your neighbourhood bakery . . . in just a few minutes! And don’t forget to drizzle with the decadent hot sauce of your choice!
Lulubelle also offers cute dessert decorations (available in vegan versions). Rainbows, La vie en rose, King and Queen, as well as Dino: they’ll inspire you to create the yummiest, most beautiful masterpieces!
