• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
You Say Potatoes
  • Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Air Fryer
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Air Fryer
  • About
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Air Fryer
  • About
  • Subscribe
×
  • Looking down at a bowl of copycat Cracker Barrel Roast Beef with gravy.
    Copycat Cracker Barrel Roast Beef
  • Side view of a serving dish of shrimp macaroni salad with a serving spoon in it.
    Shrimp Macaroni Salad
  • A stack of pecan coconut cookies on a wooden table.
    Pecan Coconut Cookies
  • Looking down at a bowl of mango corn salsa with tortilla chips.
    Mango Corn Salsa
  • Close up of a slice of gruyere au gratin potatoes.
    Gruyere Au Gratin Potatoes
  • Looking down at a plate of spicy chicken wings.
    Spicy Fried Chicken Wings
  • Stack of mashed potato pancakes on a plate.
    Mashed Potato Pancakes
  • A bowl of smoked salmon cucumber salad on a table.
    Smoked Salmon Cucumber Salad
  • Close up of air fryer stuffed mushrooms on a plate.
    Tex Mex Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Looking down at a plate of curried chicken legs.
    Curried Chicken Legs
  • A plate of cookie butter white chocolate chip cookies, with a Lotus biscoff cookie in it.
    White Chocolate Cookie Butter Cookies
  • An Instant Pot whole roasted chicken on a plate on a table.
    Instant Pot Whole Chicken
Home » Recipes » Condiments

Homemade Donair Sauce

Published: Jan 26, 2022 by Kate

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Bowl of donair sauce with garlic fingers and text: Creamy Maritime Donair Sauce.

Make your own homemade Donair Sauce! This classic creamy, sweet and tangy garlic sauce is perfect for donair kabobs or served as a dipping sauce for chicken, fries, or garlic fingers. It's made with four simple ingredients, and takes only minutes to prepare!

A table with a bowl of donair sauce and a garlic finger in it.
Classic Creamy Maritime Donair Sauce, with garlic fingers

If you've never had Maritime Donair Sauce, then you've been missing out!

If you have had it, then you'll know how addicting the sweet/tangy/creamy/garlicky sauce is. And you'll be thrilled that you can now make it from scratch at home!

A donair is a popular street food dish made with spiced meat that is served on pita bread or a wrap with tomato and onion. In the Maritime provinces of Canada, it's usually served with a sweet and tangy white sauce - Donair Sauce!

This sauce is simple and made with just four ingredients including sweetened condensed milk, vinegar, and a few seasonings.

Don't be fooled by the ingredient list, it really packs a big flavor punch.

It's perfect for donair kabobs because it balances the rich flavor of the meat and spices.

Whether you call it Maritime Donair Sauce, East Coast Donair Sauce, or doner sauce, it's the same creamy sweet sauce with a tang.

But it's for more than just donairs or doner kebobs. It's famously also used for dipping garlic fingers - long 'finger' slices of cheesy garlic bread. Sooooo good.

It can also be used as a dipping sauce for appetizers or as a spread for sandwiches.

You'll also love my other copycat sauce recipes, including Wingstop Ranch, Ikea Dill Mustard Sauce, and Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce.

Jump to:
  • Why Make This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Cook's Tips
  • Variations
  • Storage & Freezing
  • FAQs
  • More condiment recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why Make This Recipe

If you're looking for a sweet garlic sauce to serve with savory dishes, you'll want to whip this up.

It's simple, easy, and is a great way to use up any leftover sweetened condensed milk you may have on hand.

Just mix the ingredients together until combined, let them sit to marinate and the sauce is ready for serving!

It will bring home the taste of the East Coast and Maritimes with this classic sauce.

Ingredients on a table.

Ingredients

  • Sweetened Condensed Milk - Makes up the rich and creamy white base of the sauce and adds its classic sweet flavor.
  • White Vinegar - Used to give this sauce a tangy and sour taste that is also acidic. It pairs well with the sweet contrasting flavor of the milk.
  • Garlic Powder - Infuses the sauce with a light garlic flavor.
  • Salt - Enhances all of the tastes in the sauce and helps balance out the flavors.

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.

Instructions

Wondering how to make this Donair Sauce recipe? It's easy!

Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.

Add to bowl: Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl.

Whisk to combine: Combine the sauce using a whisk until all of the ingredients are well incorporated.

Marinate the flavors: Cover the sauce and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight so the flavors mix and develop. Give it a stir and serve with your favorite foods. It gets better and better after a day or so!

Cook's Tips

Make sure you purchase condensed milk that is sweetened to give the sauce a rich sweet flavor.

The sauce needs at least 30 minutes for the flavors to fully marinate and combine, but letting it sit overnight will give the sauce an even more rich flavor.

Make sure you are using garlic powder and not raw fresh garlic for this recipe as fresh garlic will change the flavor profile of the sauce.

Variations

Spice up the sauce by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or red chili flake to the sauce before combining.

If you don't have white vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar or even balsamic vinegar to change up the flavor.

Add dried herbs to the sauce to give it a fresh herb flavor.

Change up the color to a bright yellow by adding a small pinch of ground turmeric to the sauce.

For a vegan donair sauce, use plant-based sweetened condensed milk.

Storage & Freezing

Storing: Donair sauce will last in the fridge in an airtight container or sealed glass jar with a lid for up to 10 days. Give it a stir before using it if you haven't used it in a few days.

Freezing: Because condensed milk separates when thawed, freezing is not recommended.

A table with a bowl of sauce and a wooden tray of garlic pizza fingers next to it.

FAQs

Can you buy donair sauce?

Yes, some places have ready-made donair sauce however, a clean healthy option is making your own at home from scratch using the simple ingredients in this recipe.

Why is my donair sauce runny?

If your donair sauce is runny, it may be due to the fact that the milk has separated or was not sweetened. Sweetened condensed milk is much thicker and will hold a sauce texture better.

Is sweetened condensed milk the same as evaporated milk?

No, sweetened condensed milk is different than evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk is a thick and rich dairy product that has been cooked down until it becomes very dense and has a high sugar content whereas evaporated milk has a liquid milk texture without any sugar.

More condiment recipes

We hope that you love this tasty donair sauce! Be sure to also check out these other condiment recipes too!

  • A jar of sauce with a spoon, on a table.
    Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce
  • Platter of raw vegetables and copycat ranch sauce.
    Wingstop Ranch Recipe (copycat)
  • Jar of creamy dill mustard sauce on a table.
    Creamy Dill Mustard Sauce (Ikea Copycat)
  • Dish of pureed persimmon fruit.
    Persimmon Pulp

Be sure to subscribe to my free Newsletter and follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for more tasty recipes!

📖 Recipe

A table with a bowl of donair sauce and a garlic finger in it.

Donair Sauce

Donair Sauce is a sweet, tangy garlic sauce that's perfect for donair kabobs or as a dipping sauce for chicken, fries, or garlic fingers.
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Canadian
Keyword: canadian recipe, donair sauce
Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 94kcal
Author: Kate | You Say Potatoes
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • Bowl

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces sweetened condensed milk 300 ml
  • ½ cup white vinegar 115 ml
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine completely.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight before using so the flavors can merge.
  • Store, covered, in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Tried this recipe?Head down to the comments and give it a star rating!

Notes

Make sure you purchase condensed milk that is sweetened to give the sauce a rich sweet flavor.
The sauce needs at least 30 minutes for the flavors to fully marinate and combine, but letting it sit overnight will give the sauce an even more rich flavor.
Make sure you are using garlic powder and not raw fresh garlic for this recipe as fresh garlic will change the flavor profile of the sauce.
Storing: Donair sauce will last in the fridge in an airtight container or sealed glass jar with a lid for up to 10 days. Give it a stir before using it if you haven't used it in a few days.
Freezing: Because condensed milk separates when thawed, freezing is not recommended.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 95mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 76IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

More Condiment Recipes

  • Brush resting on a jar of Guinness barbecue sauce, in front of a can of Guinness and a plate of chicken and fries.
    Guinness Barbecue Sauce
  • Looking down at a bowl of gorgonzola cheese sauce next to cheese, steak, green beans and a dish of pepper.
    Gorgonzola Sauce
  • Table with a bowl of lime crema next to zested limes.
    Lime Crema
  • Jar of strawberry vinaigrette on a wooden board next to strawberries.
    Strawberry Vinaigrette

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 8 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Nora

    January 26, 2022 at 12:52 pm

    5 stars
    I did not know that this sauce is called Donair. You never stop learning. But no matter what it's called, it's just delicious. And you can use it for so many things. Have simple fried potato in the hot air fryer made to it. Yum! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  2. Cathleen

    January 30, 2022 at 1:10 pm

    5 stars
    I love how easy this sauce is to make. And I always have all of the ingredients at home!! This will definitely be on my regular rotation from now on, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂

    Reply
  3. Heidy

    February 15, 2022 at 1:46 pm

    5 stars
    You have no idea how much my family loved this homemade Donair Sauce on their chicken! This homemade sauce was a great recipe that I will be hanging on to for years to come!

    Reply
  4. Gina

    March 16, 2022 at 1:19 pm

    5 stars
    Love this sauce paired with steak. So delicious and easy to whip up too!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Kate cooking.

Hi, I'm Kate! You Say Potatoes, I say, well, potatoes. I'm a cookbook author and journalist from the Pacific Northwest. Here you'll find easy, budget-friendly recipes made from scratch.

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • Side view of a plate of Outback Steakhouse bread with one piece sliced and one with butter.
    Outback Steakhouse Bread copycat
  • Cooked chicken legs in air fryer.
    Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
  • Serving dish of cooked cabbage with butter melting into it and pepper on top.
    Buttered Cabbage
  • Platter of raw vegetables and copycat ranch sauce.
    Wingstop Ranch Recipe (copycat)
Collage of press logos.

Healthy Recipes

  • Teriyaki salmon on a plate.
    Teriyaki Salmon (Air Fryer)
  • Close up of a salad topped with grilled shawarma chicken.
    Chicken Shawarma Salad
  • Looking down at a dish of mango black bean salad.
    Mango Black Bean Salad
  • Plate of Moroccan chicken couscous with harissa yogurt sauce.
    Moroccan Chicken Couscous

Footer

↑ back to top

Information

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Policy
  • Website Accessibility Statement

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Partner Site

  • Veggie Desserts

Contact

  • Contact
  • About Me

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 You Say Potatoes

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this recipe!
We all loved this recipe and I'm sure I'll make it again and again!

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.