How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub)
A sabayon is a delicious and delicate preparation based on egg yolks and sugar, with a liquid added (wine, alcohol, fruit juice, etc), which is then whipped in a bain-marie until it is both light and smooth.
Usually sabayon is sweet (syllabub), but you can make it savoury, in which case there is only egg yolk, salt, and the chosen liquid, which could be stock, reduced wine, roasting juices, etc...
This recipe is for a sweet sabayon, using just two egg yolks. You will need to adapt quantities according to your needs, or your recipe.
Usually sabayon is sweet (syllabub), but you can make it savoury, in which case there is only egg yolk, salt, and the chosen liquid, which could be stock, reduced wine, roasting juices, etc...
This recipe is for a sweet sabayon, using just two egg yolks. You will need to adapt quantities according to your needs, or your recipe.
Last modified on: October 8th 2026
For 115 g, you will need:
- 1
2 egg yolks - 2
30 g caster sugar - 3
6 tablespoons sweet white wine - 4
1 pinch flour - Total weight: 160 grams
Times for this recipe
Preparation
8 min.
Cooking
10 min.
All in all
18 min.
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Step by step recipe
Step 1 - ⌛ 5 min.
Put in a container that can go over a bain-marie, 2 egg yolks and 30 g caster sugar.
Without delay, beat until mixture whitens.
Without delay, beat until mixture whitens.
Step 2
This whitening of the mixture happens because by beating, you incorporate thousands of tiny air bubbles into it.
Step 3 - ⌛ 3 min.
Add 6 tablespoons sweet white wine to mixture (or sweet wine, fruit juice, coffee, etc.) and 1 pinch flour, mix thoroughly.
Please note, this pinch of flour is vital to the success of the sabayon. While over the bain-marie, this will facilitate the blending of the mixture: an essential knack to make your sabayon work every time (or almost), so you do not finish up with an omelette...
This is the first "secret" of success.
Please note, this pinch of flour is vital to the success of the sabayon. While over the bain-marie, this will facilitate the blending of the mixture: an essential knack to make your sabayon work every time (or almost), so you do not finish up with an omelette...
This is the first "secret" of success.
Step 4 - ⌛ 10 min.
Put mixture in the bain-marie, and begin beating.
The bain-marie is the second "secret" of success, you need the temperature of the mixture to rise gradually.
You need to beat constantly until obtaining the shiny and smooth mixture desired.
The bain-marie is the second "secret" of success, you need the temperature of the mixture to rise gradually.
You need to beat constantly until obtaining the shiny and smooth mixture desired.
Step 5
You can use an electric whisk, in which case do not beat too fast, but nothing is better than a simple hand whisk, you will keep operations under control.
Step 6
After few minutes, the mixture will begin to foam and thicken.
Step 7
Stop when you like, it is necessary to arrive at a good compromise: quite shiny and very smooth... It's an absolute delight!
Remarks
The two important points for making a good sabayon are: a pinch of flour (for easier blending) and a bain-marie (gradual rise in temperature).
Syllabub is often poured over a dessert, but you can also serve it plain in a small cup (warmed beforehand) instead of coffee or tea.
Syllabub is best served warm, on something which should be neither too hot ( not straight from the oven), nor too cold (not straight from the fridge).
This recipe is for a sweet syllabub but it can also be made savoury (see above). You will notice that in this case, because of the absence of sugar, the syllabub thickens much more quickly.
Syllabub is often poured over a dessert, but you can also serve it plain in a small cup (warmed beforehand) instead of coffee or tea.
Syllabub is best served warm, on something which should be neither too hot ( not straight from the oven), nor too cold (not straight from the fridge).
This recipe is for a sweet syllabub but it can also be made savoury (see above). You will notice that in this case, because of the absence of sugar, the syllabub thickens much more quickly.
Keeping: 1 or 2 minutes, no longer.
Source: Homemade, but I am deeply grateful to Hervé This for his explanations of how syllabub works and the essential role played by the pinch of flour.
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Nutritional information
| Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats | Calories | Energy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 g | 4 g RDI=6 % | 27 g RDI=10 % | 8 g RDI=11 % | 194 kcal RDI=10 % | 812 kJ RDI=10 % |
| Whole recipe | 7 g RDI=10 % | 43 g RDI=16 % | 13 g RDI=17 % | 310 kcal RDI=16 % | 1,300 kJ RDI=16 % |
How much will it cost?
For 115 g
0.90 €
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
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This recipe uses (among others)
Caster sugar
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Sweet white wine
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Flour
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