My family has been making this waffle sauce since before I was born. It’s far and away my favorite sweet topping for waffles, with notes of vanilla and fresh ground nutmeg.

There are so many different ways to doctor up a waffle, that it feels a little audacious to share something like this. But, every single person I’ve made it for has loved it. And, most of them had never heard of something like this before.

After seeing how it was made, one of my close friends labeled it “sugar gravy”. And, somehow the name stuck. So the girls and I have joked around with that name ever since.

That said, I would never have joked like that with my Grandmother McGinnis, who originally gave us this recipe. She was always so elegant and put together, I don’t think she’d have been as amused by the name as I am.

How to Make Waffle Sauce

The good news when it comes to this recipe is that it’s really easy to make. Olivia whisked up a batch on the stovetop while I was helping Meredith tend the waffle iron, making homemade waffles last weekend.

All of the ingredients here are pretty straightforward. You can use ground nutmeg and any old flour. But, the day my sister introduced me to fresh ground nutmeg was the last day that I wanted to ever use the stuff that comes out of the spice cabinet.

It’s so much more fragrant and flavorful when you prepare it fresh. And, using the zester isn’t exactly difficult. Absolutely worth it if you want to impress your guests.

The Girl’s Notes

Now I get to ask Olivia questions about the time we spent in the kitchen making Waffle Sauce. She’ll give her honest answers. Sometimes, we laugh. Sometimes, you laugh. Everyone wins.

What would you rate this recipe? 

8/10. It was really sweet, and I liked it a lot. But, I do prefer the savory gravy we make.

How would you describe the flavors and experience of eating this dish with someone who has never tasted it before?

It’s sweet and has vanilla flavor. It’s a little thicker than syrup. But, it’s sticky if you get it on your hands. I would have poured less on my waffle, because it got on my hands while I was eating it. And I don’t like sticky fingers.

What part of making this dish did you enjoy the most, and why?

Whisking the sauce. It’s so cool to watch the dry ingredients become a paste and then a sauce.

Did you feel like you learned anything while making it? 

This was the first time that I whisked something on the stove like that where it got thicker and thicker as I kept whisking it over the heat. I was a little worried about whisking it on the heat. I don’t want to get burned.

If we made it again, what would you want to do differently next time?

No, not really. I like the way it turned out.