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Home » Recipes » Food

Published: Sep 19, 2019, By: Melissa, Updated: Oct 23, 2023

Condensed Milk Vanilla Sauce

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This vanilla condensed milk sauce is the perfect easy bread pudding sauce. It takes only 5 minutes to make and it's perfect on so many desserts.

vanilla condensed milk bread pudding sauce

Why You Need To Make This Easy Sauce

I have gotten so much great feedback about this easy vanilla sauce for bread pudding that came from my Bread Pudding recipe that I decided to make a post for it on its own. It is really that good!

  • Great flavor: This easy vanilla sauce for bread pudding is actually a condensed milk sauce and it is so decadent and delicious.
  • Few ingredients: There are only three ingredients that you will need to add to the condensed milk to make this simple vanilla sauce. You probably already have the ingredients too. This vanilla bread pudding sauce has no eggs or heavy cream and none of the hassle that comes with making a traditional bread pudding sauce.
  • So many uses: This easy vanilla sauce is not only fantastic on bread pudding, but it is also great on cheesecake, waffles, pancakes, or used as a dip for fruit.

The bread pudding recipe that this condensed milk sauce comes from is just as easy as this simple dessert sauce. If you love bread pudding like I do, it is definitely worth checking out! It uses stale Italian bread and transforms it into a delicious and decadent bread pudding!

For this recipe, I can't tell you how many times I have pulled out a can of condensed milk from my pantry last minute to whip up this vanilla sauce for my desserts 🙂

Ingredients

Making this vanilla sauce is so easy thanks to the fact that we are starting out with condensed milk. Here is what you will need (full recipe below):

  • Sweetened condensed milk. Yes, condensed milk is the main ingredient in this recipe. Trust me, it is GOOD!
  • Vanilla extract. This is what makes it a vanilla sauce and extra special.
  • Butter. You will only need a very little bit of this. The butter adds a bit of sheen and flavor. I prefer unsalted butter for this recipe. If you like a bit of salt in your sweets, go ahead and add a little.
  • Milk. The milk in this easy sauce helps to thin the sauce out a bit so you can pour it over your bread pudding or any dessert or breakfast that you are making this for.

Most of these items you probably already have in your fridge and pantry.

How to make

Here are the steps to make this really simple vanilla sauce for bread pudding:

Steps showing how to make condensed milk sauce.
  1. Pour into a saucepan: Open a can of condensed milk and pour it into a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Heat: Add your butter and stir until it is melted.
  3. Add Vanilla Extract: Add your vanilla extract and milk and mix well for one minute.
  4. Serve: Remove from the heat and serve this vanilla sauce warm over bread pudding or your favorite dessert.

The steps are all about stirring. No special skills are needed here.

Condensed milk is really delicious all on its own and in my opinion needs no additions to be a delicious stand-alone sauce. I have been known to just eat it with a spoon 🙂

The additional ingredients that you use merely add to the amazing condensed milk flavor. Also, the condensed milk helps create a smoother and more pourable texture. This is what you want in a bread pudding sauce.

bread pudding sauce
Rich bread pudding sauce

For me, the addition of the butter and milk also mimics traditional vanilla sauces that take more time to make. I like things that are easy and not complicated.

You could choose to make a more involved vanilla sauce for bread pudding but why if you can make something that is so easy like this vanilla sauce 🙂

Variations

  • Make it dairy-free: If you are looking to make this easy vanilla sauce dairy-free, you can use coconut condensed milk.
  • Switch up the flavors: Add cinnamon, chocolate or any of your favorite dessert sauce flavors to the recipe. Remember, make it your own!
vanilla sauce for bread pudding

Storing and Re-heating

  • How to store condensed milk sauce: To store any extra sauce you have, just place it in a container or bowl with a lid once it has cooled and place it in your refrigerator for up to 1 week.
  • How to re-heat: To reheat your vanilla bread pudding sauce, simply pour it into a medium saucepan over low heat and gently reheat the sauce until it is very warm. Remove immediately and serve.

More condensed milk recipes

  • top view of crustless pumpkin pie
    Crustless Pumpkin Pie
  • key lime tart
    Key Lime Tart (Authentic Recipe)
  • Sliced lemon bars on parchment paper with lemons next to it.
    Easy Creamy Lemon Bars
  • French toast casserole in glass baking dish with powdered sugar and berries on top.
    Baked French Toast with Condensed Milk
vanilla condensed milk bread pudding sauce
Print Recipe
5 from 68 votes

Condensed Milk Vanilla Sauce (Bread Pudding Sauce)

This vanilla condensed milk sauce is the perfect easy bread pudding sauce. It takes only 5 minutes to make and it's perfect on many desserts.
Cook Time5 minutes mins
Total Time5 minutes mins
Servings: 1 cup
Author: Melissa Oleary

Equipment

  • medium sauce pan

Ingredients

  • 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 tablespoon milk to lightly thin it out
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon of butter to add shine and flavor

Instructions

  • Add all of your ingredients into a medium sauce pan over medium heat
    1 can of sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoon milk, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of butter
  • Mix well and heat until it all comes together and it starts to look silky and smooth
  • Remove from heat and use immediately

Notes

To store leftover sauce:
Let cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To reheat:
Place the cooled sauce into a small saucepan over medium-low heat and gently re-heat until it is warmed all the way through 
The sauce will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 61mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 552IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition Values are estimates only.

    See full nutrition disclaimer here

    Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!

    Course :Dessert

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 68 votes (52 ratings without comment)

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    1. Cheryl says

      April 07, 2024 at 8:43 pm

      thank you for your recipe, i cannot wait to try it!

      does the glaze harden as it dries? i plan to drizzle it on cookies

      Reply
      • Melissa Oleary says

        April 08, 2024 at 11:46 am

        Hi Cheryl. It does not harden like a glaze. It stays the consistency of a sauce because of the condensed milk. Hope this helps!

        Reply
    2. Sha says

      December 15, 2023 at 1:44 am

      Absolutely love this recipe. Have made it many times. Wanted to come here and post a little tweak that I sometimes make. I will cut the vanilla down to 1tsp. and add in a generous tablespoon of either Baileys Irish Cream or Spiced Rum. I’ve even made all three flavors and put them in little labeled pitchers for guests to choose from. HUGE hit. Such a great recipe. Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Melissa Oleary says

        December 15, 2023 at 1:53 am

        Thanks so much for sharing and I am glad you are enjoying the recipe! I love those ideas too. I will definitely try them out 🙂

        Reply
    3. Nancy says

      September 05, 2023 at 12:05 pm

      5 stars
      This sauce was so lovely. It had the most wonderful creamy texture drizzled over our bread pudding and it was so easy to make. It tasted amazing too! I will definitely be making this again and sharing the recipe with others 🙂

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 05, 2023 at 12:20 pm

        I am glad you enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply
    4. Brianne says

      August 29, 2023 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      This was a really nice recipe! I actually doubled the recipe since we had a very large bread pudding and it was all everyone could talk about:) very tasty

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        August 29, 2023 at 12:24 pm

        Love hearing that and I'm so glad everyone loved it 🙂

        Reply
    5. Maurie says

      August 22, 2023 at 12:01 pm

      5 stars
      I needed a sauce for my bread pudding and decided to try this recipe and it was delicious. Very easy to make and everyone enjoyed it. It really made the bread pudding taste so good!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        August 22, 2023 at 8:14 pm

        I am so glad everyone enjoyed it!

        Reply
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    I am so excited you are here. My name is Melissa and I started this recipe website to share easy recipes that I have been cooking for years. I have written hundreds of easy recipes that are tested and perfected. Some of the recipes I learned during my years of working in restaurants, some from owning my own food company, and others from friends and traveling.

    More about me →

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