Rum-Flavored Fruit Sauce

This blender fruit sauce is all natural sweetness with zero added sugar. Ripe bananas, a whole peeled orange, plumped raisins, and a hit of rum extract get pureed into a smooth, pourable sauce that tastes like a tropical brunch in a jar.

The raisins need a quick soak in boiling water before blending. This plumps them so they puree smoothly instead of leaving chewy bits in the sauce. That soaking water goes into the blender too, carrying all the dissolved raisin sweetness with it.

Lemon juice is the ingredient that keeps this from tasting flat. Without it, the banana and orange are sweet but one-note. The acid sharpens everything and gives the sauce a brightness that wakes up a stack of pancakes or a plate of French toast.

Chef Tips

• Use very ripe bananas with brown spots on the skin. They blend smoother and taste sweeter, so you won’t miss added sugar.
• Blend until completely smooth, at least a full minute. Any chunks of orange membrane or raisin skin will make the sauce feel grainy.
• Taste and add lemon juice gradually. The amount depends on how sweet your bananas and orange are.
• Serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Cold dulls the fruit flavors significantly.

Variations

• Use real dark rum instead of rum extract for an adults-only version with more depth.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the blender for a warm spice note.
• Swap the orange for a ripe mango for a more tropical direction.