A Trick for Faking Fancy Balsamic

Every week, baking expert Alice Medrich will be going rogue on Food52 -- with shortcuts, hacks, and game-changing recipes.

Today: How to make fancy balsamic vinegar from the cheap stuff (and a bit of honey).

Honey Balsamic Sauce on Food52
Honey Balsamic Sauce on Food52

Save your pricey fine balsamic vinegar for another day. Here is a grand and recession-proof sauce for strawberries and ice cream that wants only ordinary grocery store balsamic and a little honey.

Honey Balsamic Sauce

Adapted from Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts by Alice Medrich (Artisan, 2012)

2 parts inexpensive balsamic vinegar
1 part honey

1. Simmer two parts inexpensive balsamic vinegar with one part honey until the mixture is thickened and reduced by about half. Let cool. Taste a little sauce with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream and adjust the balance of sweet with tart to your liking (I like to keep it a little tart) by adding a bit of extra honey if necessary.

2. Serve a drizzle of sauce -- it doesn't take much -- over strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

Save and print the recipe at Food52.

Photo by James Ransom