I love this homemade caramel sauce so much! Our recipe is super simple a short list of ingredients. You can even turn it into salted caramel sauce! Plus, it lasts 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge (although my family finishes it before then).
Caramel sauce is ridiculously easy to make at home. You only need a few simple ingredients, a saucepan, and a candy thermometer. In about 30 minutes, you can whip up a batch yourself. There is no need for pricey store-bought jars!
We love caramel around here (who doesn’t?). For more caramel recipes, see these incredible homemade caramels or our chocolate covered caramels.
Key Ingredients and Equipment
- Sugar:Plain granulated sugar is best for this recipe.
- Heavy Cream:When it comes to cream, the richer, the better! I use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream with at least 36% butterfat. If you’re in the UK or Australia, double cream or thickened cream with at least 35% fat content will work wonderfully.
- Vanilla: This enhances the caramel flavor, so don’t skip it!
- Salt:To make salted caramel sauce, stir in a bit of flaked or grey sea salt after cooking.
- Equipment:You can make this caramel sauce without a candy thermometer, but it definitely helps to guarantee consistent results. Also, a medium-sized saucepan with a heavy bottom will prevent scorching and uneven cooking. I love my 2-quart All-Clad saucepan for this.
How to Make Homemade Caramel Sauce
This homemade caramel sauce is addictive, especially when drizzled over ice cream, homemade brownies, baked apples, apple pie, and so much more!
You’ll start by cooking sugar with water until this dark golden color. I highly recommend using a candy thermometer. It makes it so easy to tell when you are ready to move to the next step. If you don’t have one, use the following photo as a guide for what you are looking for.
When making caramel sauce, stay close and watch the color and temperature of the sugar mixture. It can go from perfect to burnt quickly!
When it hits 350°F, I turn off the heat (take the pan off the burner if you’re using an electric stove) and slowly pour in a mixture of cream and vanilla. As you do this, the caramel will bubble violently. Don’t let that scare you; just be cautious as you pour the cream.
Finally, cook the caramel sauce over low heat for a few minutes while stirring it so it smooths out. Then, let it cool and season with salt (if you make salted caramel sauce).
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Perfect Caramel Sauce
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Making your own caramel sauce is surprisingly easy and tastes much better than store-bought! For the best results, use a medium saucepan with a heavy bottom, as this will ensure even heating and prevent scorching. While you can rely on intuition and the color of the caramel to gauge its readiness, a candy thermometer removes the guesswork and provides more consistent results. I love turning this into salted caramel sauce and adding the sea salt at the end.
Makes 2 cups
You Will Need
1 ¼ cups (295ml) heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar 1/3 cup (78ml) water
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for salted caramel sauce, see tips
Directions
1In a measuring jug, combine the cream and vanilla extract. Set this mixture aside.
2Combine the sugar and water in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture is clear. Do not stir.
3Cover the saucepan with a lid for 1 minute. This creates steam, which helps prevent sugar crystals from forming on the sides of the pan.
4Remove the lid and clip a clean candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan.
5Increase the heat to medium and cook, without stirring, until the sugar mixture reaches 350°F (177°C) and turns a rich golden color (see photo in article for reference). This usually takes 5 to 8 minutes. You can gently tilt the pan to distribute heat, but avoid stirring.
6Once the caramel reaches 350°F (177°C), immediately remove the saucepan from the heat. Slowly and carefully pour in the vanilla cream mixture. Be cautious, as the caramel will bubble and splatter. If the caramel hardens, don’t worry, it will melt back into a smooth sauce as you continue.
7Return the saucepan to low heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the hardened caramel dissolves and the sauce is smooth and silky. Stir in the salt.
8Allow the caramel sauce to cool completely to room temperature. It will thicken as it cools. Once cooled, taste the caramel and add more salt if desired. Be sure to let it cool enough to taste safely, as it may be very hot.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: Transfer the cooled caramel sauce to an airtight container like a glass jar. Store it in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks. The caramel sauce will thicken in the fridge, but you can gently reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop to make it pourable again.
- Salted caramel sauce: I love adding a bit more salt to this recipe to turn it into a salted caramel sauce. Use high-quality sea salt and add to taste (once the sauce cools down). Start with 1/4 teaspoon, but expect you’ll add closer to 1/2 teaspoon, possibly more if you have large sea salt flakes.
- Vegan caramel sauce: Substitute the cream for full-fat canned coconut milk (use the thickest, white part of the can).
- This recipe is inspired by Ina Garten.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 2 tablespoons / Calories 138 / Protein 0g / Carbohydrate 19g / Dietary Fiber 0g / Total Sugars 19g / Total Fat 7g / Saturated Fat 4g / Cholesterol 25mg / Sodium 80mg
AUTHOR: Joanne Gallagher
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