Carolyn Gilmore’s Lemon Sauce is a silky, sweet-tart topping that pairs beautifully with desserts like pound cake, angel food cake, pudding, or fresh fruit. This vintage-style sauce combines sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and zest for a bright, refreshing citrus punch, finished with a touch of butter for smoothness and richness. Its vibrant flavor profile makes it a timeless favorite for spring and summer desserts but equally comforting on cold winter days when paired with warm cakes or bread puddings.
Ingredients
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (or 1 tbsp arrowroot powder as an alternative)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp grated lemon rind
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt until well combined.
Step 2: Add Water & Cook
- Gradually stir in the boiling water.
- Place the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and becomes glossy.
Step 3: Incorporate Flavor & Butter
- Remove from heat and stir in the butter, grated lemon rind, and lemon juice.
- Mix well until smooth.
Step 4: Serve or Store
- Serve warm over cake, pudding, or fruit.
- If storing, let cool and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Tips
- Serve warm over pound cake, gingerbread, bread pudding, crepes, or vanilla ice cream.
- Substitute part of the lemon juice with fresh orange juice for a milder citrus sauce.
- For a brighter flavor, add a few extra drops of fresh lemon juice just before serving.
- Use superfine sugar for quicker dissolving and a silkier texture.
- Whisk constantly while heating to avoid lumps from the cornstarch.
- Add a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon for a warm spice variation.
- For a clearer sauce, strain after cooking to remove zest pieces.
- Make it ahead and rewarm gently over low heat, stirring frequently.
- If too thick, thin with a tablespoon of hot water at a time.
- If too tart, balance with an extra teaspoon of sugar.
Nutrition
Calories: 75kcalCarbohydrates: 12gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 5mgPotassium: 20mgSugar: 11gVitamin A: 90IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 5mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!