Best Vanilla Ice Cream Sauce Recipes

GRILLED PINEAPPLE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND RUM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the top and bottom off of the pineapple, peel and cut it crosswise into 8 rings, about 1/2-inch each. Use a spoon or apple corer to carve out the center core of each ring.
• Spray a large grill pan with cooking spray and heat over a medium flame. Grill the pineapple, in 2 or 3 batches, for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until it is nicely brown and grill marks have appeared. (You can also grill this on an outdoor grill sprayed with cooking spray before being heated.)
• While the last batch of pineapple cooks, heat the butter, sugar and rum in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat.
• Place a pineapple ring on each plate, scoop 1/4 cup of ice cream into the center of the ring, and drizzle about 2 teaspoons of sauce on top.

CREPES SUZETTE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND ORANGE BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add milk and eggs to blender and combine. Add the flour 1/2 a cup at a time, blending after each addition to ensure there are no lumps. Add pinch of salt and melted butter then blend for 30 seconds until you achieve a smooth, silky consistency. Set aside in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to rest. While it rests make the orange butter sauce.
• Dip a piece of kitchen paper in butter and grease a small frying pan. Ladle a spoonful of batter into the pan. With a flick of the wrist swivel the pan in order to get a nice even covering all over. A good crepe should be paper- thin. Cook on a high heat and flip it over when you see the edge turning golden brown. Remove crepes from pan and fold in half and press into a muffin tray to form little cup shapes. Bake in hot oven for 10 to 12 minutes until slightly crispy and brown around the edges, the middle should remain spongy and light.
• Combine the butter, sugar, citrus juices, and zest to a small saucepan and cook for about 10 minutes until it caramelizes. It should be a golden color. Remove from heat, add the Grand Marnier, return to the heat and continue to whisk and reduce until syrupy-about 10 minutes. When done, set to the side.
• To assemble, place crepe "cup" in the center of plate and place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the cup. Drizzle with the orange butter sauce

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH MAPLE-WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Simmer maple syrup and salt in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes (do not stir). Add 1/2 cup ice cream and whisk until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in walnuts. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat, stirring often.) Scoop remaining ice cream into bowls. Spoon sauce over and serve.

CARAMELIZED BANANAS WITH RUM SAUCE AND VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add bananas and saute until they turn brown, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle brown sugar over the bananas and cook until the sugar melts, about another 3 minutes. Remove from heat and pour rum into skillet; ignite with a match and let the flames die out.
• Divide ice cream among 4 serving dishes and spoon bananas over. Serve immediately.

VANILLA POACHED PEARS WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE AND ICE CREAM (A.K.A. "POIRE BELLE HELENE")

Steps:

• Combine the water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and lemon zest in a medium saucepan. Split vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and add both the seeds and the pod to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 5 minutes.
• Peel the pears. Reduce the poaching liquid to a simmer and add the pears. Cook until just tender (the tip of a paring knife will go through the flesh of a pear with just a little resistance), about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and cool the pears in the poaching liquid, until completely cooled, about 45 minutes.
• Heat the cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Put the chocolate and butter into a medium-size bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until smooth and glossy.
• Serve the pears with a scoop of ice cream, a little pear-poaching syrup and warm chocolate sauce drizzled over the top. Garnish with a wafer cookie and serve.

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH WARM CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Pour juices from cherries into glass cup. Add kirsch. Add enough red wine to measure 1 cup. Stir 3 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in heavy small saucepan until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in wine mixture, then cherries. Cook over medium-high heat until sauce boils, thickens and is translucent, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in almond extract. (Sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over low heat before serving.)
• Divide vanilla ice cream among bowls. Spoon warm sauce over and serve immediately.

PASSION FRUIT ICE CREAM WITH RUM-VANILLA CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For the ice cream: Pour the cream into a large chilled bowl and whisk to firm peaks, either by hand or with an electric mixer. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into a second large bowl and mix in the vanilla and passion fruit nectar. In three additions, fold the whipped cream into the condensed milk until just combined. Pour the mixture into an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan and cover with plastic wrap, pressing lightly on the surface to keep air out. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• For the caramel sauce: Pour the sugar into a small saucepan with 1/4 cup water and set over medium heat. Add the lemon juice. Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla bean halves and add the pod. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, swirling the pan occasionally and brushing down the sides of the pot with a pastry brush as needed, until the sugar syrup is a dark amber color, about 10 minutes.
• Carefully add the cream--it may bubble up--and stir to combine. Whisk in the butter, a few pieces at a time. Add a pinch of salt, then whisk in the rum. Let the sauce cool until just warm, about 15 minutes.
• While the sauce is cooling, remove the ice cream from the freezer to soften. Serve the warm sauce over the ice cream.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT WAFFLES WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND FUDGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk first 7 ingredients in large bowl to blend. Stir 6 tablespoons warm water and espresso powder in small bowl until powder dissolves. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in oil, vanilla and espresso mixture. Cool to lukewarm.
• Whisk eggs, then 1 1/4 cups buttermilk and ground hazelnuts into chocolate mixture; add to dry ingredients and whisk to blend well.
• Preheat waffle iron to medium heat, following manufacturer's instructions. Pour about 1/2 to 3/4 cup batter (depending on size of waffle iron) into center of waffle iron; spread evenly with spatula. Close waffle iron and cook until waffle is cooked through but still soft and color on outside darkens, about 4 minutes (time will vary, depending on waffle iron). Using spatula, transfer waffle to rack. Repeat with remaining batter. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Let waffles stand at room temperature. Before continuing, transfer to baking sheet and rewarm in 400°F oven until crisp, about 6 minutes.)
• Stir liqueur into warm Fudge Sauce. Cut each waffle diagonally in half, forming triangles. Arrange 3 waffle triangles on each of 6 plates. Dust with powdered sugar. Place scoop of ice cream atop waffle triangles. Pour Fudge Sauce over waffles and ice cream. Sprinkle with toffee bits and chopped hazelnuts.

CINNAMON COCOA MERINGUES WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND CINNAMON CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce:
• In a small heavy saucepan combine the cream and the brown sugar, bring the mixture to a boil over moderately high heat, whisking occasionally, and boil it, whisking, until the brown sugar is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolates, and whisk the mixture until they are melted. Whisk in the butter and the cinnamon, whisking until the sauce is smooth, and let the sauce cool slightly. The sauce may be made 1 week in advance and kept covered and chilled. Reheat the sauce over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until it is warm. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
• Make the meringues:
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until they are foamy, add the cream of tartar, and beat the whites until they hold soft peaks. Add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating, and beat the meringue until it holds stiff peaks. Sift the cocoa powder and the cinnamon over the meringue and fold them in gently but thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip and pipe it into 5-inch rounds on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake the meringues in the middle of a preheated 250°F. oven for 1 1/2 hours and let them cool on the sheets. The meringues may be made 10 days in advance and kept, separated with sheets of wax paper, in an airtight container. Arrange 1 meringue on each of 2 plates and top each meringue with a scoop of the ice cream and some of the cinnamon chocolate sauce.

TOASTED POUND CAKE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND CHOCOLATE-HONEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir chocolate, butter and honey in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. (Sauce can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate. Stir in top of double boiler until heated through before using.)
• Working in batches, toast pound cake slices in electric toaster or on barbecue grill until golden. Generously brush both sides of cake slices with liqueur. Cut cake slices diagonally in half, forming triangles.
• Drizzle warm chocolate-honey sauce on plates. Scoop ice cream atop sauce. Place 3 cake triangles on each plate. Sprinkle with pecans and orange peel and serve.

PROFITEROLES WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• With a rubber spatula, scoop the pate a choux into the pastry bag and pipe out approximately 16 (1 1/2-inch rounds) spaced 1 to 2 inches apart on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush lightly with the beaten egg and place in the oven. Cook until golden and puffed, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a baking rack.
• Split the profiteroles nearly in half, leaving a little hinge at the back, and cradle a small scoop of vanilla ice cream inside each. Divide the profiteroles between bowls and pour over some chocolate sauce. Serve cold.
• In a small saucepan over high heat, bring the water, salt, sugar, and butter to a boil, making sure the butter is completely melted. Off the heat, add the flour all at once and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon. Return to the heat and continue beating until the dough forms a solid, smooth mass and pulls away from the sides of the saucepan. Take off the heat and empty the dough into a clean mixing bowl. Little by little add the beaten eggs, beating vigorously in between each addition, until the dough forms a smooth, supple mass. Divide the dough into 2 even quantities, 1 part to be used for the profiteroles, the other for gougeres.

CHERRY-VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM WITH CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Combine cherries and sugar in heavy large saucepan; toss to coat. Let stand until juices form, about 2 hours. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until liquid thickens slightly, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat; mix in brandy. Transfer 1 cup cherry mixture to small bowl; reserve for use in ice cream. Mix preserves into remaining cherry mixture in saucepan; reserve for sauce. Chill both cherry mixtures separately at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Make ice cream:
• Pour half and half into heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to boil. Remove from heat; steep 30 minutes. Whisk sugar and yolks in medium bowl to blend well. Bring half and half to simmer. Gradually whisk hot half and half into yolk mixture. Return mixture to same saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 4 minutes (do not boil). Remove from heat. Mix in whipping cream and vanilla. Refrigerate until cold, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours.
• Using ice cream maker, process custard until almost firm, following manufacturer's instructions; add reserved 1 cup cherry mixture. Process until ice cream firms, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer to container; cover and freeze. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.)
• Scoop ice cream into bowls. Top with reserved sauce and serve.

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH BOURBON BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the butter, sugar, corn syrup and heavy cream to a medium-size saucepan and cook while stirring over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Once the butterscotch appears syrupy and thick, remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully stir in the bourbon. (It will sputter and boil when you do this.) Stir in a big pinch of salt and let cool slightly before serving.
• Serve the butterscotch over good vanilla ice cream.

CREAM PUFFS WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F.
• Line one baking sheet with a Silpat and a second one with parchment paper (or line both sheets with parchment if you don't have a Silpat). Set up a heavy-duty mixer with the paddle attachment.
• Combine the water, butter, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, add the flour all at once, and stir rapidly with a stiff heatproof or wooden spoon until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan and the bottom of the pan is clean, with no dough sticking to it. The dough should be glossy and smooth but still damp.
• Enough moisture must evaporate from the dough to allow it to absorb more fat when the eggs are added. Continue to stir for about 5 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to prevent the dough from coloring. A thin coating will form on the bottom and sides of the pan. When enough moisture has evaporated, steam will rise from the dough and there will be the nutty aroma of cooked flour.
• Immediately transfer the dough to the mixer bowl and mix for a few seconds to release some of the heat from the dough. With the mixer on medium speed, add 4 eggs, one at a time, beating until each egg is completely incorporated before adding the next one; scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Turn off the machine. Lift some of the dough on a rubber spatula, then turn the spatula to let it run off: It should fall off the spatula very slowly; if it doesn't move at all or is very dry and falls off in one clump, beat in the additional egg.
• Place the dough in a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip. Pipe 15 disks (this will give you 3 extras for testing) about 1 1/2 inches across and just under 1/2 inch thick on the Silpat-lined baking sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between them, as they will expand when baked. Pipe the remainder on the other sheet. (You will have about 4 dozen in all.) Bake the 15 puffs for the recipe and freeze the ones on the second baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer container and freeze for another time.
• Bake the puffs for 10 minutes, turn the sheet around, turn the oven down to 350°F, and bake 15 minutes more. Remove one puff and break it open: It should be hollow inside and not gooey or eggy; if it is still moist, return it to the oven and check in 5 minutes. Cool the puffs completely on the baking sheet. Store in an airtight container until serving time.
• To serve:
• Preheat the oven to 300°F.
• Warm the chocolate sauce in a double boiler or a microwave. Warm the profiteroles on a baking sheet in the oven.
• Split each profiterole in half and arrange 3 on each plate. Place a small scoop of ice cream in the bottom half of each profiterole and top with the lid. Spoon the sauce over.

PASTRY CRISPS WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND ORANGE CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface roll out the puff pastry 1/8 inch thick and cut out as many 6-inch squares as desired, reserving any remaining dough, covered and chilled, for another use. (Extra squares, baked, keep in an airtight container at room temperature for several days). Transfer the squares to an ungreased baking sheet, bake them in the upper third of a preheated 425°F. oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden, and let them cool on a rack.
• While the pastry is baking, remove the zest from half of the orange with a vegetable peeler and chop it. With a serrated knife cut away the remaining zest and the pith from the orange, discarding them, and cut the sections free from the membranes, discarding the membranes. In a heavy skillet cook the sugar over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt and continue cooking the sugar, swirling the skillet, until it is a golden caramel. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the water carefully with the chopped zest. Simmer the sugar mixture, stirring, until the caramel is dissolved, add the Grand Marnier, and boil the mixture until it is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Strain the sauce into a bowl and let it cool until it is warm.
• Put a pastry square on each of 2-dessert plates, top each pastry with a scoop of the ice cream and some of the orange sections, and drizzle each serving with some of the sauce.

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Place ice cream on counter to soften. In a small pot, combine vinegar and water and bring to a boil. Add figs and reduce heat to simmer. Stew figs in sauce until they are soft and sauce is thick and syrupy, about 12 minutes.
• Scoop ice cream into glass goblets or other dessert dishes and top liberally with hot balsamic fig sauce and whipped cream. Garnish the top of the whipped cream with a little freshly grated nutmeg.

EMERIL'S WARM PEACH PANCAKES WITH VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM AND A DRIZZLE OF WARM CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For the pancakes: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven.
• In a large bowl mix together the milk and creme fraiche until smooth. Whisk in the eggs and lemon zest and whisk together until smooth. Add the flour, salt and the sugar and whisk until smooth. Remove the skillet from the oven and place on the stove over low heat. Add the butter to the skillet and swirl around the bottom of the pan until it is completely melted. Add the batter to the skillet and return to the oven and bake until pancake puffs up around the edges, 20 minutes.
• For the peaches: To a hot skillet, add butter and melt. Add peaches and saute for 3 minutes, until beginning to soften. Add brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg and cook another 2 minutes.
• To Finish: Remove pancake from the oven. Slide pancake onto a large plate. Top pancake with peaches. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and powdered sugar and mint.
• In a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar and water and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is a deep caramel color and has the consistency of a thin syrup, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the cream, return the saucepan to the high heat, and boil the sauce until it regains the consistency of a thick syrup, about 2 minutes. Cool.
• Recipe adapted from Creole Christmas Cookbook, by Emeril Lagasse, with Marcelle Bienvenu, published by William Morrow, 1997

SAUTEED BANANAS IN PRALINE SAUCE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Melt the butter in a large saute pan on the grates of the grill. Whisk in the sugar and cook until melted and smooth. Standing back, carefully add the bourbon and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1/3 cup pecans and cook for 30 seconds. Add the bananas and spoon the sauce over the bananas constantly until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Scoop the ice cream into bowls and top with the bananas and sauce. Garnish with the remaining chopped pecans and serve.

CHERRY BROWN BUTTER CROSTATA WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For the ice cream: In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar, and vanilla bean. Bring just to a simmer, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat.
• In a small bowl, combine the eggs and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat to a homogeneous consistency.
• Strain a third of the cream mixture into the egg mixture, whisk to combine, and then immediately whisk the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the cream. Chill in an ice bath and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Churn in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• For the crust: Combine the butter, flour and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture looks like grated Parmesan. Drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the ice water, and pulse until the mixture forms a rough ball, adding the remaining 2 tablespoons ice water if needed. Remove the dough from the food processor and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• For the filling: Melt the butter in a small saucepan and cook it until it starts to brown and begins to smell like hazelnuts. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a paddle. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed.
• Gradually add the flour. Once the flour has combined, add the eggs, one at a time. Beat in the vanilla bean seeds.
• To assemble: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Dust a clean work surface with flour. Roll out the dough to a 1/8-inch thickness, and cut into 4 rounds. Lay the rounds in four 4-inch ring molds, leaving lots of overhang on the sides. Schmear the filling into the bottom of the ring molds, and top with the cherries. Fold the overhanging dough over the cherries. Brush the dough with the egg wash. Bake until golden brown and crispy on top, 45 to 50 minutes.
• For the caramel: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons water. Bring the pan to medium-high heat; while doing so, be careful not to swish the pan around--it could cause the sugar to recrystallize. As the sugar mixture boils, the water will eventually evaporate and the sugar will begin to turn brown, or "caramelize." Pay close attention! Things can take a terrible turn for the worse here, and there will be no recovery. As the sugar turns gold, followed by light brown, and then a pale shade of darker brown, remove it from the heat and add the heavy cream. Be careful when you do this--it will bubble up like crazy, and getting it on you could cause a severe burn! Be sure to have a saucepan large enough to accommodate the bubbling up. Whisk until things settle down, then add the butter, 2 pats at a time, whisking until completely incorporated before adding more butter.
• Spread some of the caramel onto four serving plates. Unmold the crostatas and set them on top of the caramel. Top with a scoop of ice cream.

HOT FUDGE BROWNIE SOUFFLE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 450°F.
• Butter a 1-quart soufflé dish and sprinkle with sugar.
• Melt butter with chocolate, stirring until smooth.
• Blend in ¼ cup of sugar, yolks, coffee mixture and vanilla; stir in flour (can be prepared several hours ahead and set aside at cool room temperature. Reheat before continuing.) Beat whites in large bowl until soft peaks form; gradually add remaining ½ cup sugar, beating, until whites are stiff but not dry.
• Fold ¼ of whites into chocolate mixture, then fold chocolate back into whites (be careful not to deflate - a few streaks of white may remain).
• Gently turn batter into prepared dish.
• Sprinkle lightly with sugar.
• Bake 5 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 400F and continue baking until puffed, about 20 minutes (center will remain moist).
• Serve immediately with sauce.
• (and remember - A SOUFFLE WAITS FOR NO ONE).
• Vanilla Ice Cream Sauce: Let ice cream soften 10 minutes; add rum and beat until smooth.