Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (2024)

It is so easy to learn how to make caramel sauce. This is seriously so decadent and creamy. Spoon this over ice cream, apple pie, fruit and anything you like.

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (1)

Homemade caramel sauce recipe

This caramel sauce is heavenly. I have to stop myself from just eating it from the jar. It is that good.

I look for any excuse to make this recipe and it never disappoints. You are going to love it too.

It is so easy to make and ready in minutes. Skip the store bought jars and taste the difference with this homemade sauce. You will not be disappointed. You might also like our Homemade Butterscotch Sauce or the The Best Blueberry Sauce.

Let’s make this easy caramel sauce!

Once you give it a try, you will never go back to store bought. It’s so yummy and easy to make.

However you decide to enjoy it, I promise it will be amazing. It is so delicious.

Everyone will think you spent all this time in the kitchen when really it took minutes. Just minutes. Can you believe you can enjoy something so fabulous with so little time?

It is just the best.

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (2)
Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (3)

Ingredients for homemade caramel sauce:

  • light brown sugar, packed
  • heavy cream
  • unsalted butter
  • salt
  • vanilla extract

With only a few simple ingredients, you can have this amazing homemade sauce in minutes. It is so good.

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (4)

How to make caramel sauce:

  • First, you will need a saucepan. Add the butter, brown sugar, salt and heavy whipping cream to the pan.
Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (5)
  • Next, bring this mixture to a boil and allow the sugar to dissolve. Let it cook for about 5 to 7 minutes and make sure to stir it constantly. Watch the time carefully because you want to cook it just until it has thickened.
Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (6)
  • Finally, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. It will be amber colored. Let it cool slightly to room temperature.

How to Store Caramel Sauce

Give the caramel enough time to cool a little and pour it into a jar or container with lid. We like to use mason jars to store the homemade caramel.

These jars are spill proof and reusable. Such a budget friendly idea.

Do you need to refrigerate homemade caramel sauce?

Yes, it needs to be refrigerated. It will keep up to 2 weeks as long as you store it inside an airtight container.

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (7)

Serve immediately or store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in airtight sealed container.

How to reheat:

To reheat, cook for 30 seconds in a microwave safe bowl. Stir and heat in 10 second intervals until it is heated through and the desired consistency.

You will definitely need to reheat the sauce when ready to enjoy. It can become quite thick once cool.

Make sure to reheat the sauce in increments stirring in between so it does not burn.

Do I need a Candy Thermometer?

You don’t need a candy thermometer to make this homemade caramel recipe. Just make sure to follow the instructions and pay careful attention to the cooking time as it boils.

How to use caramel sauce

  • Caramel Apple Dump Cake – This is even better with homemade caramel sauce drizzled on top.
  • Apple Slices – I often just cup up apples and let the kids dip the slices into the yummy sauce. Such an easy but tasty treat.
  • Top on Ice cream – This is delicious on ice cream. See all our Ice Cream Sundae Toppings.

Truly the ideas are endless for using this homemade sauce.

Can I use this caramel sauce for caramel apples?

No, this sauce is not thick enough to coat caramel apples. However, it is perfect for dipping apple slices or drizzling over apple nachos.

Why isn’t my caramel sauce thickening?

You may need to simmer the sauce longer over medium heat. Just remember that the sauce will continue to thicken significantly as it cools.

Often it will appear thin and you may think it isn’t going to be the right consistency. However, once it sits awhile and cools, it thickens a lot.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming it will stay thin and over cooking the sauce. You will really see a big change in the consistency once it has cooled.

Now you know how to make caramel sauce.

I told you it was so easy. Anyone can make this and it will turn out amazing.

From apples and apple pie to ice cream and more, this delicious and easy homemade sauce is always a hit. It is amazing what a few simple ingredients can combine to make.

This is one of our favorite sauces and we all just love it.

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (8)

Save money and make homemade caramel sauce recipe.

I used to buy the store bought caramel sauce and the cost adds up. Plus, the jars are pretty small. If you have a large family, it does not take long to use a jar like that.

It is a much better value to make your own at home and it tastes far better. This is the perfect example of enjoying delicious recipes at home and saving money as well.

Your grocery budget will thank you and your family gets to enjoy fabulous treats. It is truly a win all around.

Let us know how it turns out for you and what you use the homemade caramel sauce for. I know it will be delicious.

It is such an easy recipe for salted caramel sauce without any corn syrup needed. The results are delicious.

Print thebest caramel sauce recipe below:

Review

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Homemade Caramel Sauce

4.29 from 46 votes

It is so easy to learn how to make caramel sauce. This is seriously so decadent and creamy. Spoon this over ice cream, apple pie, fruit and more!

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 12 minutes mins

Servings 16 (makes 2.5 cups)

Cuisine American

Course Dessert

Calories 211

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 2 cups light brown sugar packed
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, salt and heavy whipping cream

  • Bring to boil and cook stirring constantly for 5-7 minutes or until thickened

  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract

  • Let cool slightly

  • Add to jar or container with lid

  • Serve immediately or store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in airtight sealed container

  • To reheat, cook for 30 seconds in a microwave safe bowl. Stir and heat for an additional 10 seconds or longer if necessary

Nutrition Facts

Calories 211kcal, Carbohydrates 28g, Protein 1g, Fat 11g, Saturated Fat 7g, Cholesterol 36mg, Sodium 51mg, Potassium 50mg, Sugar 27g, Vitamin A 396IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 34mg, Iron 1mg

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More Caramel recipes to try:

  • Caramel Chocolate Poke Cake
  • Caramel Dip Recipe
  • Homemade Caramel Popcorn
  • Salted Caramel Fudge
  • Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

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About the Author

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe (18)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

About Carrie
Easy Homemade 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 I use milk instead of cream for caramel? ›

Absolutely! You can use any milk you have at home, whether whole, non-dairy, or evaporated, to make a deliciously creamy caramel sauce.

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.

How many parts of sugar and water to make caramel? ›

Generally, for 200 grams (1 cup) of sugar, use 58 grams (¼ cup) of water. The amount of water, however, does not need to be precise. You simply need enough to hydrate the sugar. If you use more water, it will just take longer to cook the mixture until you reach caramel stage.

What is homemade caramel made of? ›

Never leave your caramel sauce unattended: To make caramel sauce you essentially toast white sugar until it's melted, before adding in butter, cream, and salt. Your sugar can go from toasty to burnt pretty quickly though, so make sure you keep a close eye on it! Don't forget the salt!

What not to do when making caramel? ›

12 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Caramel
  1. Not assembling your ingredients. Juanmonino/Getty Images. ...
  2. Choosing the wrong pan. Milanchikov Sergey/Shutterstock. ...
  3. Using the wrong sugar. ...
  4. Getting the temperature wrong. ...
  5. Stirring the sugar too much. ...
  6. Forgetting about safety. ...
  7. Not heating your liquid. ...
  8. Stopping before the sugar browns.
Jan 29, 2024

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

Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Place can of condensed milk, unopened, in the boiling water. Cover and let simmer for 3 hours, refilling water as needed and turning the can every half hour to prevent scorching. Carefully open can and serve.

Is caramel just heated condensed milk? ›

Most of the time, people cook caramel by heating up regular or brown sugar until it turns into a smooth and creamy substance. However, you can also make caramel out of sweetened condensed milk, creating the same great sauce with a unique, extra-sweet kick.

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.

Which method is quickest in caramel making? ›

For the "dry" caramel method, you simply heat the sugar in an empty pan until melted and caramelized. It's quick and direct, but the risk is that some parts of the sugar melt faster than others, and can burn before the rest had made it even to light amber.

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.

Is white or brown sugar better for caramel? ›

Sugar Note: Most chefs say that only granulated sugar can be successfully caramelized; other sugars — such as brown sugar and unrefined sugar such as cane sugar — contain impurities that can inhibit caramelization. It's those impurities that can burn before the sugar has time to caramelize.

What happens if you add too much water to caramel? ›

Recrystallization. If you choose to cook your caramel using the wet method, by adding water to the sugar, it introduces a risk: Sugar syrup can splash up on the sides of the pan. The water evaporates, leaving sugar crystals behind.

Is caramel just sugar and water? ›

Caramel is, simply, burned sugar. We want to let it melt, darken to an amber color and take on a deep and bittersweet flavor. The best, most flavorful caramel starts with this step. You can caramelize sugar two ways— with the dry method or wet method.

How was caramel originally made? ›

It's thought the most basic form of caramel was first made by the Arabs around 1,000 AD by mixing sugar and water to form a crystallised liquid, that they used initially in the beauty industry, (think waxing and sugaring) and later becoming a confection which they first called simply a “ball of sweet.”

Is caramel made from butter and sugar? ›

Ok you may not have known this but, ~newsflash~ caramel is literally just cooked sugar with a little bit of butter (for stability) and heavy cream (for flavor & mouthfeel) stirred in at the end. The longest (and “hardest”) part of making caramel is just toasting and melting down the sugar at the very beginning.

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