Salted Caramel Sauce
Salted Caramel Sauce – Perfect to serve over desserts and fruit, or jar for edible gifts. This caramel sauce is so easy, you’ll make it again and again!
Pre-Made Vs. From Scratch
There are some things worth buying pre-made, and some things worth making from scratch. Salted Caramel Sauce is the latter.
Not only is it fast and easy to whip up, you have the ability to customize it to your liking…
You can make a lighter caramel sauce, or dark caramel sauce like mine. You can make salted caramel sauce really salty, or just a little salty. You can even adjust the thickness by adding more or less cream and butter.
Homemade Caramel Sauce
This is how I like my salted caramel sauce:
- Thin enough to pour when warm
- Darker and richer than store-bought caramel toppings
- With a good bit of salt
When it cools, it firms into a creamy dreamy spread you could slather on brioche bread or pound cake. Yet when it’s warm, drizzle it over fresh fall apples, ice cream, pancakes, or anything else that would benefit from a kiss of caramel.
Best yet, you can produce jars and jars of Salted Caramel Sauce as edible gifts this season, on a very small budget. If you love delivering goodies to your friends and neighbors, imagine what jars of homemade salted caramel sauce with a ribbon on top might do.
I gave a few jars of this sauce to friends last week and you would have thought I had given them a brand-new car!
So throw away your copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People and invest in sugar and cream.
You are guaranteed to be the most popular person on the block.
Caramel Sauce Recipe Ingredients:
- Granulated Sugar
- Water
- Heavy Cream
- Butter
- Salt
- Vanilla Extract
How to Make Caramel Sauce
- In a heavier medium pot, fill with water and place on the stove over medium heat. Once it is on the heat, add in the sugar. Make sure to watch it carefully as the sugar starts to dissolve and become darker.Â
- When the sugar is at the darkness that you prefer, usually I go for a nice golden brown, remove it from the stove and heat, pour in the heavy cream while whisking it together. (The darker the caramel, the more flavorful it becomes – but be careful that it doesn’t get too dark, or it will taste burnt.)
- Once you have whisked in all the cream, add in the butter, salt and vanilla. Stir it all together until it becomes smooth.Â
- Serve! It is best warm. You can refrigerate it until you are ready to use it!
Get The Full (Printable) Recipe Below For How To Make Salted Caramel Sauce.Â
Frequently Asked Questions:Â
Why is my caramel sauce not turning brown?
If your sugar syrup is not browning, it either means you added too much water, or you need to turn up the heat. If there is too much liquid in the sugar, it will not caramelize until the water has evaporated. As for the heat, all stoves are slightly different. You may find medium heat to be a little too low to caramelize the sugar. Just be careful not to turn the heat up too high, because sugar burns fast once it’s boiling.
How long will this salted caramel sauce keep?
This sauce can keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Make sure to cool the caramel sauce before putting in an airtight container. When you are ready to serve it, you can warm the sauce up slightly in the microwave or on the stovetop. If you want to make it a little thinner, you can add in a tablespoon or two of water to thin it out a little bit.Â
Is there a difference between caramel sauce and caramel syrup?Â
Yes, there is a big difference. Caramel sauce is thicker and it has a richer flavor, whereas caramel syrup is much thinner and has a more sweet taste.Â
Other Salted Caramel Recipes:
- Apple Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting Recipe
- Salted Caramel Eggnog Brownies RecipeÂ
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipe
- Bourbon Salted Caramel Candy RecipeÂ
- Bourbon Derby Pie with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream RecipeÂ
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart (Gluten Free) Recipe
- Salted Caramel Cashew Blondies Recipe
- Salted Caramel Apple Cider RecipeÂ
- Caramel Shortbread RecipeÂ
- Caramel Apple Soft Pretzel RecipeÂ
Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pour the water in a medium heavy-bottom sauce pot. Place over medium heat and add the sugar. Watch closely while the sugar dissolves and darken, 5-10 minutes.
- The moment the sugar darkens to your desired color (somewhere between golden-brown and medium brown) remove from the heat and whisk in the heavy cream. *Darker caramels are really flavorful, but don't let the sugar get too dark, or you'll have to start over.
- Once the cream is incorporated, stir in the butter, salt and vanilla until smooth. Serve warm, or jar and refrigerate until ready to use.
Can this be made without dairy? Butter is ok, but cant do cream
Hi Darina, You could try it with thick canned) coconut milk. I’ve heard of this method, however I’ve never tried it myself so I can’t vouch for the taste of texture.
How long will it keep one refrigerated?
Hi Halie, I’ve left it in the fridge for a couple months at a time without any issues. :)
Sounds very interesting and so easy to make.
Caramel dipped apples is the best thing about fall! I need to make this now!
I am so so glad salted caramel has become so popular—actually giving chocolate a run for its money. I love it.
Love this :) This on apples equals heaven! :)
I tried to make a salted caramel sauce this past Friday but my patience led me to a light yellow color of sugar. No caramel I need to try again.
oooh I’ll have to give this is a shot! It looks so simple! Do you add in the butter when the pot is off the heat too?
Hi Amy! Yes, take it off the heat and add the remaining ingredients. :)
This needs to be poured over everything in sight!
caramel sauce is the best thing EVER!
Homemade caramel sauce is so worth the small amount of effort. Love this. What a great fall gift!
I love anything with caramel!! Can’t wait to try this sauce!
My favorite!
Looooove caramel sauce! So good!
I would love to receive a jar of this homemade deliciousness!
This looks so easy and good! The perfect sauce for fall!
Love homemade caramel sauces!! They’re the best :)
Oh Sommer, I’m loving this! I have to make this, my daughter (and I) love salted caramel, and this would be such a great hostess or holiday gift to a foodie!