Creamy, rich, vanilla waffle sauce is the best possible topping for your favorite breakfasts.
For my family, Waffles-with-Waffle-Sauce is the only way to eat waffles. We pour Waffle Sauce over pancakes, German pancakes, waffles and french toast.
I’ve never served my grandmother’s Waffle Sauce to someone who hasn’t loved it, because this sauce has the ability to make an ordinary meal extra special.
In 1938, my grandmother moved to the Canal Zone in Panama as a newlywed. While there, one of my grandfather’s Navy friends came to a waffle dinner at their house.
He offered to make his mother’s “waffle sauce” to serve with their waffles that night. Ever since then, my family has been making this sauce to serve with pancakes and waffles.
Have you ever used fresh nutmeg? It is my favorite spice to use fresh because the aroma and the flavor is unforgettable.
I started grating fresh nutmeg over my grandmother’s waffles with waffle sauce years ago and ever since I’ve been grating nutmeg every chance I get.
Don’t be intimidated by this hard as rock spice. It’s easy as can be to use and once you’ve tried it, you’ll likely be as hooked on it as we are.
I’ve updated my grandmother’s recipe below with a gluten-free variation in the notes for the recipe below. However, other than that recipe note, this is the same recipe she served me through my childhood.
My kids have been known to actually cheer when they see the white sauce on the stove. As well as creamy, rich, peanut butter syrup for their favorite stack of homemade pancakes or waffles.
The Blueberry Waffles pictured here have been a big personal favorite over the past year.
I know, I know, I am pretty sure I said that about the Ham and Cheese Waffles and the Cheddar Bacon Green Chile Waffles too!
Banana Waffles, Pumpkin Spice Waffles, and Banana Coconut Pecan Pancakes are a few more of our favorite things to serve with waffle sauce.
Liege Waffles, Chocolate Chip Eggnog Waffles, and Quick Brioche Waffles would all be terrific with grandma’s sauce as well.
COOK’S NOTE: To grate fresh nutmeg, simply rub the whole nutmeg along the surface of a fine grater. (I love my Microplane for this task.) If you grate more than you need for the recipe, you can store the extra ground nutmeg in a small airtight container.
Waffle Sauce
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the flour and sugar. Add the milk and set the stove heat to medium. Whisk smooth and continue stirring or whisking frequently as it cooks.
- Continue cooking until the sauce begins to bubble and has thickened.
- Remove pan from the heat, add the butter and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Pour the warm sauce over hot waffles, and grate or sprinkle nutmeg over the top.
Waffle Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour *
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or ½ vanilla bean, scraped)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly ground or store-bought)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the flour and sugar. Add the milk and set the stove heat to medium. Whisk smooth and continue stirring or whisking frequently as it cooks.
- Continue cooking until the sauce begins to bubble and has thickened. Remove pan from the heat, add the butter and vanilla and stir to combine. Pour sauce over hot waffles and grate or sprinkle nutmeg over the top.
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 1/31/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 7/29/21}
Joan Hayes says
OMG! this sounds incredible, can't wait to try it. I'm not a maple syrup fan so I'm always looking for yummy substitutes!
Tricia says
Since you serve it to someone that hasn't had it – serve away Mary! I've never had it 🙂 This lovely idea never made it to the south I guess.
Sue/the view from great island says
I'm fascinated by this—did your grandmother use it on waffles and pancakes? Was it originally a dessert sauce? What ethnicity is your grandmother? It just looks so smooth and delicious.
Sue/the view from great island says
I mean ethnic background…don't mean to pry, but I want to know the origins of this sauce! 😉
Mary says
Sue, I love your interest in this sauce. I've updated the post with the story behind it.
Joy Bee says
So simple and looks so delicious. I usually use maple syrup but I will have to try this next time I make french toast. Can you make a chocolate one too? I bet you could sub in a variety of flavors, wow I'm excited to try this. Thanks for the recipe. Pinned.
Monet says
I have never heard of waffle sauce before. Now I'm craving both waffles and this delicious sauce. Thank you so much for sharing. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos says
I'm totally in for this one – we love breakfast and this looks like the perfect complement for so many things!
Carole says
Hi there. The current Food on Friday on Carole's Chatter is all about favourite foods from childhood. I do hope you link this lovely one in. This is the link . Please do pop back to check out some of the other links – there are a lot of good ones already. Have a great week.
Jinx says
Just put this on my chocolate chip pancakes for brunch. it was great. Alittle too much sugar for everyones taste so we cut back alittle even though the flower taste is overpowering. overall. Very delicious and creamy. added extra vanilla for a smoother flavor.
Anonymous says
Looks like a yummy new kind of sauce to put on waffles and/or french toast. Thanks!
Mallory Frayn says
I may have to swap out the maple syrup next time I make pancakes or waffles!
Anonymous says
is this the same as the basic white sauce?
Mary says
If you are referring to this white sauce, https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/2011/07/waffles-with-waffle-sauce.html yes, it is the same basic recipe. This is a gluten free version.
Carole says
Tried this a few weeks ago…the family loved it!!!!
jesshuff22 says
can you use white flour
jesshuff22 says
I guess ill try white flour and see what happens
Mary says
Yes, AP flour is regular flour. It will work fine!
Anonymous says
Is brown rice flour better than white rice flour? This recipe is just what I'm looking for 🙂
Do you think it would travel well? I'd like to pour it over campfire baked stuffed apples!
Mary says
I am in the habit of using brown rice flour, so that's my go-to flour most of the time. This should travel fine. I'd just pour it into a jar and keep it cold until you're ready to warm it while camping. I bet it will be delicious over the apples!
Judy says
So glad to see a recipe using freshly grated nutmeg, I’ve been using it for years. We may be having waffles for supper just so I can try the sauce!!
Judy N says
This is an older post but I couldn’t help but to respond. I grew up eating a similar version of waffle sauce, and still make it for my waffles. In fact, as a child I thought everyone ate waffles this way. My ancestors are German speaking Mennonite Brethren coming from the Volga region of Russia. And it’s true…everyone who tastes it loves it. A young friend once said it tastes like warm vanilla ice cream on waffles.
Mary says
That’s so fun to hear! I’ve never met anyone who has tried it before. We love waffle sauce so much.
Jackie says
My Grandfather made a sauce similar to this, but it was much heavier on the nutmeg. His recipe didn’t have any vanilla in it & I don’t recall butter either. He only made it for Christmas & it was served with Christmas pudding. He was of Irish descent & came to Canada from Minnesota or Michigan.
You have to try it warm on some homemade vanilla ice cream. It beats hot fudge sauce any time, and I am a chocoholic!
Mary says
Oh! I’ll save some to try over ice cream next time I make it. I bet that’s delicious.
Dana says
This waffle sauce is amazing. It’s sweet and and I love the hint of nutmeg! Will choose this over maple syrup any day!!
Barbara says
Thank you for including us Celiac people. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.