The Pantry Staple For A Smoother Peanut Butter Dessert Sauce

What's your go-to dessert topping? Whether you refuse to enjoy an ice cream cone without a generous pour of rainbow sprinkles or cannot eat pie without a squirt of whipped cream, you likely have a few favorite sweets that you aren't satisfied without. While gooey caramel, sprinkles, and hot fudge are among the most popular, we're here to argue on behalf of melted peanut butter sauce.

Whether this sweet and salty sauce is drizzled over a sugary ice cream sundae, a fluffy piece of chocolate cake, or an assortment of homemade cookies, adding a generous amount of peanut butter is almost always an ideal pairing. The salty nuttiness is the perfect contrast to the often overpowering sweet dessert, and even those who don't consider themselves in possession of a sweet tooth will be fans of this balanced combo.

However, if you've tried making your own peanut butter sauce from scratch before, you may have run into a few issues. One of the main problems when making peanut butter sauce is it can remain quite stiff and hard to work with. Luckily, adding in a couple tablespoons of corn syrup will miraculously change the texture. According to The Spruce Eats, the inclusion of corn syrup inhibits the crystallization of the peanut butter's sugar. But what does this actually look like in practice?

Corn syrup is a great ingredient to add to a caramelly peanut butter sauce before heating it up. Mixing it in will allow the sauce to take on a silky, moist texture and also add a needed bit of sweetness. You can choose between either regular light corn syrup or dark corn syrup. Opting for the light corn syrup will yield a more mild taste that might be slightly reminiscent of vanilla, and it favors the strong peanut butter flavor. However, dark corn syrup — which often has molasses in it — has a richer, more intense taste.

If you would rather not add corn syrup, there are a couple of other sweet, sticky options you can include instead. Maple syrup or honey are great alternatives; though they won't produce quite the same silky texture, the distinct tastes are worth trying. 

This recipe can be made by just combining the two ingredients and heating it for around 30 seconds in the microwave or until it bubbles. But an elevated version just requires a bit of heavy cream and sugar added to the other ingredients on the stovetop. However you dish it up, the final result should be a drizzly dip perfect for any after-dinner treats.