Awesome Sauce

Here’s a little gift idea: vanilla-spiked caramel bourbon sauce. Yes, I used all those luscious words in one sentence. This is the kind of condiment you have on hand for those quick-o desserts. Drizzle over ice cream, waffles, and pancakes. Dip in fluffy Madeleines. Or, just call it a day with you, the jar, and a spoon. Bet it would be pretty nifty in your morning coffee, too. And, it freezes pretty easily so you can always have it around.

Here’s the recipe:

4 c. granulated sugar

5 ½ c. heavy cream

1 TB vanilla extract (or beans from one vanilla pod)

1 ½ tsp. salt

6-8 TB bourbon

In a large saucepan, melt the sugar until it’s a deep amber color, about 20-25 minutes. Add the cream and just keep stirring. The hardened caramel will melt again. Once it is in total liquid form, stir in the other ingredients.

Let the mixture cool. Pour into half pint ball jars. Et voilà! Instant homemade gift!

Note: With the bourbon, make sure it’s a good grade. Anything cheap will probably taste cheap. And, watch the amount. Whiskeys can overpower your palette, so you may want to err on fewer tablespoons rather than more. However, if you’re hoping to drown out your mother-in-law after dinner, add as much bourbon as you like.