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hollandaise sauce poured over eggs benedict on a black plate

Easy Hollandaise Sauce

Isabel Laessig
Learn how to make Hollandaise sauce easily using just 4 ingredients in a few simple steps! Perfect for brunch or for serving with beef, seafood, and more.
4.41 from 5 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine American, French
Servings 4 depending on use; makes over ¼ cup
Calories 263 kcal

Equipment

  • Double boiler or large saucepan and heatproof bowl
  • Whisk

Ingredients
  

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter equal to ¼ cup
  • 1 dash cayenne pepper or salt and pepper if preferred

Instructions
 

  • Whisk egg yolk and lemon juice together in a heatproof bowl. In a separate bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. You can also use a small pan over the stove to melt the butter.
    Place the bowl with the egg mixture over a pan of simmering water without allowing the water to touch the bowl. The steam will heat it. You can also use a double boiler.
    2 egg yolks, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    mixing hollandaise sauce in a bowl
  • Whisk the melted butter into the egg and lemon mixture and stir gently until it thickens. Mix in the cayenne pepper once it thickens.
    1 dash cayenne pepper
    seasoning hollandaise sauce in a bowl
  • Serve and enjoy!
    hollandaise sauce poured over eggs benedict on a black plate

Notes

  • I recommend using a double boiler for making hollandaise sauce because the simmering water heats the sauce more evenly. Gently stir to ensure everything melts together smoothly.
  • If your sauce starts to break, do not panic! This sometimes happens during the emulsion process, and it happens to even the most skilled cooks! Simply take the sauce off the heat (remove the bowl from top of the double boiler) and place on the counter. Whisk the sauce vigorously until smooth, then return to the heat to thicken.
  • Always use large and fresh eggs, especially in a sauce like this where egg yolks are the prime ingredient. This will give you the best consistency for your sauce!

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 3gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 256mgSodium: 11mgPotassium: 19mgVitamin A: 970IUVitamin C: 2.9mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 0.5mg
Keyword easy hollandaise sauce, hollandaise sauce, hollandaise sauce recipe, how to make hollandaise sauce
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