Hard Sauce

Name: Hard Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: about 1-1/3 cups
Cuisine: Europe, German
Ingredients: 1 cup sugar; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; Dash ground allspice; 1 cup cold water; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon rum extract

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 15 min.

Yield about 1-1/3 cups

Test Kitchen Approved

This non-alcoholic version of hard sauce is warm, smooth and buttery and a wonderful topping for cakes and bread puddings. This is a pourable sauce, rather than a whipped version.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash ground allspice
1 cup cold water
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon rum extract

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, nutmeg, allspice and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in butter and extracts. Serve with spice cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

I remember making this sauce for my mom when I was about 8 years old. I loved the aroma and spicy flavor. Today, many cooks spread cream-cheese frosting on spice cake instead, but I think you're really missing something if you bypass this warm, old-time sauce. —Shirley Joan Helfenbein, Lapeer, Michigan

Recipe Creator