Caramel Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Home > Desserts > Caramel Sauce Recipe

November 9, 2019 | 5 Comments

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The easiest, tastiest stovetop Caramel Sauce Recipe with only six ingredients and no special equipment (or candy thermometer) required!

Caramel Sauce Recipe (25)

Why We Love This Caramel Sauce Recipe

  1. Works with Anything: Goes well on desserts or fruit.
  2. Easy to Make: Simple recipe, no special equipment required.
  3. Delicious: Sweet, balanced taste with a hint of vanilla and sea salt.
  4. Customizable: Adjustable salt level for desired sweetness.
  5. Good for Anytime: Perfect for parties or just everyday snacks.

Caramel Sauce Recipe (26)

Ingredients

  • Butter: Provides a rich, creamy base.
  • Brown Sugar: Fresh, clump-free light or dark brown sugar adds sweetness.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds sweetness and smooth texture to this caramel sauce recipe.
  • Light Corn Syrup: Adds sweetness, helping to balance out the flavors.
  • Fine Sea Salt: Adjust to taste; differs from table salt.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor.

Caramel Sauce Recipe (27)

How To Make Caramel Sauce

  1. Combine: Mix butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and condensed milk in a pot.
  2. Melt & Boil: Stir until melted, then boil for 2 minutes.
  3. Cool & Season: Cool slightly, add vanilla and salt.
  4. Serve: Thicken for 10 minutes, serve with toppings.
  5. Store: Refrigerate in airtight container; reheat as needed.

Caramel Sauce Recipe (28)

How To Enjoy This Caramel Sauce Recipe

The sky is the limit here! There are so many delicious things to dip in Caramel Sauce, and below are some of our favorites:

  • Fruits: Apples (Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp), bananas.
  • Treats: Rice Krispie Treats, brownie bites, marshmallows, pretzels bites.
  • Cookies: Oreos, Nutter Butters, Graham crackers, chocolate chip cookies.
  • Uses: Fondue night, ice cream topping, caramel milkshakes, breakfast enhancer (on french toast, waffles, pancakes).

Caramel Sauce Recipe (29)

STORAGE

  • Refrigerate: Store your caramel sauce recipe in an airtight container.
  • Shelf Life: Lasts up to 5 days.
  • Reheat: Warm in a pan or microwave, thin with cream or milk if needed.

More Fun Desserts And Treats

  • Chocolate Dip for Fruit
  • Apple Coffee Cake
  • Apple Crumble Bars
  • Caramel Cookie Bars
  • Fruit Dip

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Caramel Sauce Recipe

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

The easiest, tastiest stovetop Caramel Sauce Recipe with only six ingredients and no special equipment (or candy thermometer) required!

Caramel Sauce Recipe (30)

Print Recipe

Caramel Sauce Recipe

Caramel Sauce Recipe (31)

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

Print Recipe

The easiest, tastiest stovetop Caramel Sauce Recipe with only six ingredients and no special equipment (or candy thermometer) required!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword caramel sauce recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Chilling Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8 with dippers

Chelsea Lords

Calories 406kcal

Author Chelsea Lords

Cost $3.48

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 cup light corn syrup (like Karo)
  • 1 can (14 oz.) regular sweetened condensed milk (not fat free)
  • 1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt (add to taste preference)
  • Optional: crushed toffee candy
  • Serving suggestions: See Note 1

US - Metric

Instructions

  • COMBINE. Mix butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk in a medium pot on medium heat.

  • MELT. Stir constantly until butter is melted and ingredients are completely combined.

  • BOIL. Bring mixture to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Immediately remove from heat.

  • COOL. Let mixture cool for about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then add in vanilla and salt to taste. Add salt gradually. (Not all salts will salt this sauce the same. Add more for a salted caramel sauce and less to season sauce.)

  • SERVE. Let sauce thicken for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then serve by transferring caramel to a bowl, topping with optional crushed toffee candy, and your choice of dippers. (Note 1)

  • STORAGE: Store remaining sauce in an airtight container in fridge for up to 5 days; however, it doesn't freeze well. To reheat, warm in a small pan over low heat until heated through, or microwave in short bursts. If sauce is too thick, gradually add heavy cream or milk to thin it slightly.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Here are some tasty treats to dip in the caramel sauce:

  • Apples: Granny Smith, Fuji, and Honeycrisp are great choices. You can also try making apple nachos by drizzling sauce over thinly sliced apples and adding crushed toffee bits.
  • Bananas: Make sure they're not too ripe or they'll fall apart. Dip them in the sauce, then in melted dark chocolate, and top with crushed nuts before freezing.
  • Other treats: Cubed Rice Krispie Treats, brownie bites, large marshmallows, and pretzels.
  • Packaged cookies: Oreos, Nutter Butters, Pirouettes, Milanos, Girl Scout Cookies, Graham crackers, and chocolate Graham crackers.

Nutritional informationdoes not include the optional toffee bits.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 232mg | Potassium: 52mg | Sugar: 69g | Vitamin A: 493IU | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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Caramel Sauce Recipe (43)

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Leave a Comment:

  1. How much will this receipt make
    I would like to get about 4 1/2
    Pints I can figure it out if you can tell me how much one batch makes ?
    I am talking about the Caramel
    Sauce thank

    Reply

  2. Caramel Sauce Recipe (44)
    This caramel is the bomb! In the fridge, it is thick enough to eat with a spoon and I do!

    Reply

    1. I’m so happy to hear this!

      Reply

  3. Have you ever used this recipe in an
    Ice cream cake?

    Reply

    1. I haven’t, but sounds delicious!!

      Reply

Caramel Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How is caramel sauce made from scratch? ›

Combine brown sugar, butter, and milk in a saucepan and bring ingredients to a boil. Remove thickened mixture from heat before adding (optional) vanilla extract. Let the caramel cool slightly before using. The result is an impossibly rich sauce that is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Can you use milk instead of heavy cream in caramel? ›

After your sauce cools, add sea salt to it for a salted caramel sauce. You can use whole milk, almond milk, or evaporated milk in place of heavy cream.

Is white or brown sugar better for caramel? ›

The best caramel starts with regular granulated sugar. This refined white sugar is made from sugarcane or sugar beets, and it melts more evenly than unrefined sugars. Some recipes call for brown sugar as a shortcut because its dark color looks like caramel as soon as it melts.

What are the two methods for making caramel? ›

Wet caramel is made by combining sugar and a liquid and cooking them together, while dry caramel is made from just sugar, heated in a dry pan until it liquefies and browns.

What is homemade caramel made of? ›

Heat sugar and water in a heavy-bottom, high-walled, light-colored skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is a deep golden amber color (caramel-colored) (this could take around 10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in butter. Whisk in heavy cream, stirring until smooth.

Why is my homemade caramel sauce not thickening? ›

Add more sugar to the sauce.

Most caramel sauces are made by caramelizing sugar and adding milk and a little salt. If you increase the amount of sugar in the recipe you'll end up with a thicker caramel. Try increasing the sugar by about 1/3.

Does boiling a can of condensed milk turn into caramel? ›

This is a simple baking hack to create 'Carmel in a Can' (Dulce De Leche). It comes together super easy, all you need to do is take the label off a can of condensed milk, fire it into boiling water for about 3 hours (make sure it's fully under the water) and boom, it's ready to go.

Does sweetened condensed milk turn to caramel? ›

This caramel is made by simply boiling the sweetened condensed milk for several hours in the can. As heat is applied, the sugar naturally caramelizes. Because the milk is boiled inside its can, there's no need to worry about it becoming too thick or scorched as the moisture cannot evaporate.

Why does condensed milk turn into caramel? ›

When you add heat to your ingredients, they undergo a chemical reaction known as the “Maillard reaction.” This means that the sugar is cooked to the proper moisture level and caramelization occurs. You know when this happens as the mixture changes colour to a rich brown.

What's the difference between caramel and butterscotch? ›

The difference between butterscotch and caramel is that caramel is made with white granulated sugar and cooked to 340 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas butterscotch is made with brown sugar and cooked to 289 degrees Fahrenheit.

What makes caramel taste so good? ›

Caramel is a candy created when sugar is heated to 340 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius). As sugar is heated slowly to this temperature, the molecules break down and form new compounds that have a deep, rich flavor and dark golden brown color.

What is the formula for caramel? ›

Explanation: The typical formula for caramels is C24H36O18 , so the elements of water have been removed from the sucrose.

What does adding butter to caramel do? ›

Once the sugar has all dissolved and turned brown, we add butter. The heat of the caramel will melt the butter and create even more wonderful flavors. Finally, after the butter has melted, we add heavy whipping cream. This will allow the mixture to be loose enough to be used as a sauce.

Why do you put lemon juice in caramel? ›

Acid ingredients (like vinegar or lemon juice) can help prevent re-crystallization which causes caramel to become grainy.

How was caramel originally made? ›

Most believe caramel was created more than 1,020 years ago in 1000 AD by Arabs mixing sugar and water to create a crystallized liquid. Funny enough, the original caramel was not believed to be enjoyed as a sweet treat but rather used as a beauty product.

What thickens homemade caramel? ›

you could put the caramel with a little corn starch or flour in a sauce pan and bring to a boil to thicken the caramel and let cool then add to the ice cream mixture,and put in freezer a bit. If your caramel is too runny, boil it longer.

Does homemade caramel get hard? ›

If the temperature gets too hot and the caramel becomes too hard as it cools, you can put it back in the pan with a couple of tablespoons of cold water to try and save it.

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