Homemade hollandaise sauce is simple, quick, and wonderfully rich when made with fresh ingredients. With egg yolks, butter, lemon juice, mustard, and a pinch of cayenne pepper, you can create a smooth, creamy sauce in just a few minutes. Choose good-quality ingredients whenever possible, especially fresh eggs and real butter, because this easy hollandaise sauce recipe relies on just a few classic flavors.
❓What is hollandaise sauce?
Hollandaise sauce is a classic buttery sauce with a creamy texture and a bright, slightly tangy flavor. It is one of those sauces that can make a simple breakfast, brunch, or light meal feel special. Traditionally, it is served with poached eggs, eggs Benedict, asparagus, salmon, and many other vegetables or fish dishes.
Although hollandaise sauce may look elegant and complicated, it does not need to be difficult. This homemade hollandaise sauce recipe uses an immersion blender, which makes the method much easier and faster than the traditional whisking technique. If you follow the steps carefully and use hot melted butter, the sauce comes together beautifully.
You only need a handful of ingredients and about five minutes. The result is a silky, warm, buttery sauce that tastes much fresher than anything bought ready-made. Once you learn how easy it is to make hollandaise sauce at home, you may not want to buy it again.
- This recipe is reliable when the butter is hot and the ingredients are blended correctly.
- It is quick enough to make for breakfast, brunch, or a simple dinner.
Hollandaise is not necessarily an everyday sauce, but it is a beautiful finishing touch when you want something rich and delicious. Serve it over eggs Benedict, poached eggs, grilled fish, salmon, asparagus, or an open sandwich for a restaurant-style meal at home.
🥘 Ingredients to make hollandaise sauce
This easy hollandaise sauce recipe uses only a few ingredients, so each one matters. Freshness and quality will make a noticeable difference in the final flavor.
- Egg yolks – fresh egg yolks give the sauce its creamy body and rich texture. Organic free-range eggs are a great option if available.
- Butter – use salted or unsalted butter. If using salted butter, do not add extra salt. If using unsalted butter, season lightly to taste.
- Mustard – mustard adds depth and a gentle sharpness. Dijon, French, or English mustard all work well.
- Lemon – lemon juice is important because it balances the richness of the butter and gives the sauce its classic flavor.
- Cayenne pepper – optional, but a small pinch adds warmth and a subtle kick.
🔪 How to make the perfect hollandaise sauce?
The easiest way to make hollandaise sauce is with a hand blender or immersion blender. A regular blender can also be used, but an immersion blender is quick, convenient, and creates less washing up.
The method is very simple and takes two main steps:
- Melt the butter until it is hot, not just warm. This is the key to a thick, creamy hollandaise sauce.
- Place the egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, cayenne pepper, and salt if needed into a tall mug or jug. Blend briefly, then slowly pour in the hot butter while blending until the sauce becomes smooth, glossy, and creamy.
That is all it takes. In just a few minutes, your homemade hollandaise sauce is ready to spoon or drizzle over your favorite dish.
💞Top Tips
If reheating hollandaise sauce from the fridge, let the jar sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes first. Then place the jar in a bowl of hot water and allow the sauce to warm gently. Do not place a very cold glass jar directly into boiling water, as the sudden temperature change may cause it to crack.
🍽 How to make hollandaise sauce in Thermomix
- 4 egg yolks
- 130 g unsalted butter, or salted butter with no added salt
- Juice from ½ lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
- Insert the butterfly whisk.
- Place all ingredients into the Thermomix bowl and cook for 8 minutes at 90°C on speed 3.
For the Thermomix method, cold butter can be used, and the sauce still comes together well.
Cook’s recommendations and tips
Use organic ingredients when possible. The melted butter should be hot rather than simply warm, as this helps the sauce emulsify properly. If using unsalted butter, add about ¼ teaspoon of salt or season to taste. This sauce is not suitable for freezing.
🥣 More recipe tips
- If you prefer a slightly thinner sauce, blend in a small amount of warm water near the end.
- Adjust the lemon juice and seasoning to suit your taste.
- The more lemon juice you add, the lighter the sauce may become in color and flavor.
- Serve hollandaise sauce warm for the best texture.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Hollandaise sauce is best served fresh, but it can be stored in a small jar in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To reheat it gently, place the jar in a larger mug or bowl filled with hot water and allow it to warm slowly. If you are short on time, you can microwave it for 15 to 20 seconds, but heat it carefully to avoid splitting the sauce.
Yes. If you do not have fresh lemons, you can substitute the lemon juice with one tablespoon of white wine and one tablespoon of cider vinegar. This will still provide the acidity needed to balance the richness of the butter.
If your hollandaise sauce becomes too runny or splits, do not worry. The most important factor is the butter temperature. The melted butter needs to be hot when it is added, because warm butter may not emulsify correctly. To fix a split sauce, blend in one or two tablespoons of boiling water until the texture improves. Another option is to add one extra egg yolk while blending, then continue mixing until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy again.
🍳Recipes hollandaise sauce works beautifully with
- Prawn, radish, and cucumber open sandwich
- Healthy potato salad
- Bacon and eggs Dutch baby pancake
- Eggs, spicy lamb koftas, and salad boats
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Egg On Tortilla
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Soft Boiled Quail Eggs, Avocado Butter And Redcurrant On Sourdough Toast
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Smoked Meatloaf With Quail Eggs
-
Bacon and Eggs Dutch Baby Pancake
📋 Other recipes you may enjoy
- Homemade pizza sauce from scratch, ready in 5 minutes
- Quail eggs, potato, and mushrooms brunch
- Delicious recipes to cook or bake in December
⭐ Did you like this recipe?
If you make this easy homemade hollandaise sauce recipe, leave a comment and rating. Your feedback helps other home cooks decide what to make, and it is always lovely to hear how the recipe turned out for you.
📖 Hollandaise Sauce – Easiest Homemade Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 egg yolks organic if possible
- ½ cup salted butter cubed and melted until hot
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon mustard Dijon adds extra flavor and gentle spice
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
Instructions
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Melt the butter until it is hot, not merely melted. This helps the sauce emulsify and thicken properly.
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Add the egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, and cayenne pepper to a tall glass, jug, or mug that is wide enough for the immersion blender to reach the bottom. Blend for about 5 seconds.
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With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the hot melted butter in a thin stream, or add it in three additions about 20 seconds apart. Move the blender up and down a few times as the sauce thickens. Once all the butter has been added, blend for another 10 to 15 seconds until smooth and creamy.
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 1g
| Protein: 1g
| Fat: 11g
| Saturated Fat: 6g
| Cholesterol: 83mg
| Sodium: 89mg