Description
Create a rich, buttery caramel sauce easily at home. This versatile caramel topping transforms desserts with its deep flavor and luxurious texture, perfect for ice cream, pancakes, and more. A quick and satisfying recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt (optional, for salted caramel)
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir just enough to moisten the sugar.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring only until the sugar dissolves. Once it starts to boil, stop stirring.
- Let the mixture bubble until it turns a light golden color. Continue cooking without stirring until the color deepens to a rich amber. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Remove the pan from heat. Quickly whisk in the butter until smooth.
- Slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking constantly. The mixture will bubble up, so be careful. Keep whisking until everything is combined.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt if making salted caramel sauce.
- Let the caramel sauce cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a jar. It will thicken as it cools.
Notes
- For salted caramel sauce, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt to taste.
- To make dairy-free caramel sauce, use full-fat coconut cream and vegan butter.
- Store cooled caramel sauce in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Reheat gently in the microwave or a saucepan over low heat until loosened. Stir well before using.
- To prevent crystallization, avoid stirring once the sugar dissolves and begins to boil. If crystals form, add a little water and reheat to dissolve them.
- A candy thermometer is not required for this caramel sauce recipe.
- Caramel sauce can be frozen in a sealed container for about 2 months. Thaw and reheat gently before use.
- If caramel turns bitter, it likely cooked too long. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 25mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 20mg