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Best German Vanilla Sauce Recipe

Best German Vanilla Sauce Recipe

This German vanilla sauce recipe also known as Vanilesoße with an intense vanilla flavor is in my opinion the best! It’s creamy, tastes amazing (way better than store bought ) and so simple to make. Perfect for serving with desserts!

This German vanilla sauce made with vanilla seeds from vanilla bean will take your dessert to the next level and leave your guests begging for more.  It’s extremely delicious, easy to make and makes a perfect homemade gift. Every time I make it, my family and friends always raves about it and beg for seconds.

I made it for the German version of come dine with me (Das Perfect dinner) in 2018 for instance served with malva pudding and it was a huge success. Everyone kept asking for the recipe. 

What makes this vanilla sauce over the top is that I always let my vanilla sauce infuse for at least 4 hours with vanilla bean in the sauce before thickening it with egg yolks and cornstarch, just to intensity the vanilla flavor . You can make it 1 to 2 days in advance and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 4 days.

Enjoy it over chocolate tart, battered apple rings, malva pudding or with any other dessert of your choice.

2 important tips for making no fail sauce:

  1. You must beat the egg yolks first before adding cornstarch, otherwise you will get small lumps in your vanilla sauce, that will affect the creamy and smooth texture of the sauce.
  2. Once you have added egg yolk – cornflour mixture to the pot keep stirring constantly , otherwise the sauce will get lumps.

What you’ll need to make world’s BEST German vanilla sauce

  • 400 ml (13.5 fl.oz/ 1 2/3 cups) whole milk
  • 250 ml (8.5 fl.oz/ 1 cup) heavy cream (whipping cream)
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon corn flour (cornstarch)
  • 1 vanilla bean

Hint: If you don’t have access to vanilla bean, try to use 2- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract or about 2 tablespoon vanilla sugar. Just reduce the amount of sugar if you’re using vanilla sugar. This will not taste the same as when you’re using vanilla bean, but it’s a great alternative.

How to make the vanilla sauce recipe

Using the tip of the knife split the vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape out the vanilla seeds.

Mix the scraped out seeds with sugar very well.

In a pot combine milk, heavy cream, vanilla sugar that you just made and empty vanilla bean pod and bring to a boil (at a low heat).

Remove from the heat, cover and let infuse for at least 4 hours. In this way the vanilla taste in your sauce will be intensified.

Separate the eggs and keep egg yolks.

Beat egg yolks until creamy.

Add cornflour and beat for another minute.

After 4 hours remove vanilla bean from the pot and heat at medium low heat.

Pour a small amount of cream – milk vanilla sugar mixture (lukewarm) over the egg yolk – corn flour mixture and stir well.

Add egg mixture to the pot. Keep stirring constantly until the sauce starts to bubble and has thickened.

Serve cold or warm.

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Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Best German Vanilla Sauce Recipe

This German vanilla sauce also known as Vanilesoße with an intense vanilla flavor is in my opinion the best! It's creamy, tastes amazing (way better than store bought ) and so simple to make. Perfect for serving with desserts!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Infuse Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 15 minutes
Course: condiment, Custard, Dessert, Pudding, Sauce
Cuisine: European, German
Keyword: Christmas dinner, dinner recipes, German vanilla sauce recipe, how to make vanilla custard, pastry cream, special occasion desserts, Thanksgiving, vanilla custard
Servings: 6 Servings
Author: Ester | esterkocht.com

Equipment

  • Saucepan or pot
  • Knife
  • spoon
  • Whisk

Ingredients

  • 400 ml (13.5 fl.oz/ 1 2/3 cups) whole milk
  • 250 ml (8.5 fl.oz/ 1 cup) heavy cream
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (corn flour)
  • 1 vanilla bean SEE NOTES

Instructions

  • Using the tip of the knife split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the vanilla seeds. Mix the scraped out seeds with sugar very well. In a pot combine milk, heavy cream, vanilla sugar that you just made and empty vanilla bean pod and bring to a boil (at a low heat). Remove from the heat and let infuse for at least 4 hours. In this way the vanilla taste in your sauce will be intensified
  • Separate the eggs and keep egg yolks. Beat egg yolks until creamy, then add cornflour and beat for another minute.
    Remove vanilla bean from the pot and heat the pot at medium-low heat. Pour a small amount of lukewarm milk mixture over the egg yolk - cornflour mixture and stir well. Add the egg mixtures to the pot. Keep stirring constantly until the sauce starts to bubble and has thickened. Serve cold or warm.

Notes

  • If you don't have access to vanilla bean, try to use 2- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract or about 2 tablespoon vanilla sugar. Just reduce the amount of sugar if you’re using vanilla sugar. 

Did you make this German vanilla sauce recipe? I’d love to hear from you! Simply write a review and add rating to it.

Recipe Rating




Colleen

Thursday 17th of August 2023

I didn't have bread crumbs, so I topped it with some rice crispies. Yum!

Margie Braun Heindel

Wednesday 12th of January 2022

German/Austrian food is my comfort food, my daughters love it too. My husband did too, before his death. I would love to obtain the recipe for Punsch Torte, if you wouldn't mind. Veilen Dank, Margie Braun Heindel (603) 498-5825

Ester

Thursday 3rd of February 2022

I'm so sorry for your loss, Margie. Of course, I would do that. But mostly likely towards the end of the year. Since I will be using Glühwein to make it. :-)

Margie Braun Heindel

Wednesday 12th of January 2022

I was an exchange student to upper Austria to a farming family for one year. It followed the school year of August 1980 through July 1981. It has left me with a most positive impression, and I still cook and bake many Austrian special recipes.