Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (2024)

Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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This caramel sauce recipe is simply to die for! Soft and silky, it’s perfect for topping all kinds of desserts from ice cream to apple pie. It stays soft, is easy to make and you can even make it ahead of time.

Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (2)

When it comes to topping desserts, caramel sauce is a must! This stay soft caramel sauce is so indulgent as is a great way to elevate all of your sweet treats!

Table of Contents

How to Make This Caramel Sauce Recipe

  • In a medium, heavy-bottom saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine sugar, ¼ cup water and corn syrup; stir to combine.

  • Cook, without stirring, until mixture turns a golden, straw-color, 6-8 minutes.

  • Reduce heat to low and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, but not stirring the sugar/water, 2-5 minutes.

  • The caramel is done when an instant-read thermometer registers 360°F and the mixture is a light amber color.

  • Remove the mixture from the heat. Quickly, and very carefully, whisk in the butter. Again, carefully and quickly, add the cream and salt, and continue whisking until the sauce is smooth.

  • Cover the sauce, loosely, with a paper towel to absorb steam and to avoid forming a crust while it cools. Allow the caramel sauce to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge.

Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (3)

Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (4)

What do you use caramel sauce on?

This sauce can be used with so many desserts! It of course is AMAZING on ice cream, but you can also use it to drizzle over pies, cakes, cheesecake and even cookies! I also love to dip apple slices in it! Be sure to check out these recipes that are asking to be topped with this awesome caramel sauce:

  • Easy Snickers Ice Cream Cake Recipe
  • Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
  • No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (Easy No Bake Cheesecake Cups)
  • Sheet Pan Apple Crisp Recipe

You can make this soft caramel sauce recipe ahead of time!

Once you have made the sauce, let it cool to room temperature and place it in an airtight jar and it will be good for up to two weeks. When ready to use the sauce, microwave it at 50% until warm and stir well before serving. This recipe makes a whopping 16 servings, so be sure to store the leftovers and enjoy later in the week!

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Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (6)

Salted caramel sauce recipe

This isn’t a salted caramel sauce, but it is easily made one if you prefer! Just use the sauce as-is, and sprinkle with desired amount of flake or fine sea salt or kosher salt.

Why is my sauce grainy?

When making this caramel sauce, you want to stir it as little as possible – stirring can cause sugar crystals to form. If you sauce does become grainy, you can try adding half a teaspoon of lemon juice.

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Top Tips to Make This Caramel Sauce Recipe

  • Stir the sauce as little as possible so that you get a smooth consistency.
  • The caramel is done when an instant-read thermometer registers 360°F and the mixture is a light amber color.
  • When cooling the sauce, cover it with a paper towel so it doesn’t form a crust.
  • Make ahead of time for an easy way to elevate your desserts.

Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (8)

Be sure to check out these other homemade sweet sauces and syrups!

  • Apple Cider Sauce Recipe
  • Easy Chocolate Syrup (Chocolate Sauce for Pancakes)
  • Lemon Sauce Recipe Lemon Syrup for Pancakes
  • Simple Vanilla Sauce
  • Homemade Lemon Curd
  • Homemade Magic Shell Chocolate
  • Browned Butter

Recipe

Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe

4.58 from 77 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

Total: 20 minutes minutes

Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (9)

Serves16 people

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This caramel sauce recipe is simply to die for! Soft and silky, it's perfect for topping all kinds of desserts from ice cream to apple pie. It stays soft, is easy to make and you can even make it ahead of time.

Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (10)

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
  • ¼ cup cold water 57 grams
  • 1 teaspoon corn syrup 7 grams
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 42 grams
  • ¾ cup heavy cream 170 grams
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt (SEE NOTE)

Instructions

  • In a medium, heavy-bottom saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup; stir to combine.

    1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon corn syrup, ¼ cup cold water

  • Cook, without stirring, until mixture turns a golden, straw-color, about 6-8 minutes.

  • Reduce the heat to low and cook, swirling the pan occasionally (but not stirring) for 2-5 minutes. The caramel is done when an instant-read thermometer registers 360°F and the mixture is a light amber color.

  • Remove the mixture from the heat. Quickly, and very carefully, whisk in the butter. Again, carefully and quickly, add the cream and salt, and continue whisking until the sauce is smooth.

    3 tablespoons unsalted butter, ¾ cup heavy cream, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

  • Cover the sauce loosely with a paper towel to absorb steam and to avoid forming a crust while it cools. Allow the sauce to cool completely before storing.

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • NOTE: If wanting a Salted-Caramel Sauce, use the sauce as-is, and sprinkle with desired amount of flake or fine sea salt or kosher salt.
  • Stir the sauce as little as possible so that you get a smooth consistency.
  • The caramel is done when an instant-read thermometer registers 360°F and the mixture is a light amber color.
  • When cooling the sauce, cover it with a paper towel so it doesn't form a crust.
  • Make ahead of time for an easy way to elevate your desserts.

Storage: Store caramel sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. When ready to use, microwave at 50% until warm. Stir and serve.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 107kcal (5%) Carbohydrates: 13g (4%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 6g (9%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 18mg (6%) Sodium: 40mg (2%) Potassium: 11mg Sugar: 13g (14%) Vitamin A: 230IU (5%) Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 8mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!) (2024)

FAQs

Caramel Sauce Recipe (How to Make Caramel Sauce) - (VIDEO!)? ›

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.

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.

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

Which method is quickest in caramel making? ›

Dry caramel is quicker to make than wet caramel, but it's also trickier: Without additional liquid, the sugar can caramelize very quickly, burning before you realize it.

How is caramel traditionally made? ›

Traditionally, caramel is made by heating sugar at a particular temperature until it melts and gradually turns brown. Usually, this process begins around 320°F, when the sugar melts and becomes a clear molten liquid. After that, if the temperature increases, the caramel will begin turning into a darker shade of brown.

What is the formula for caramel? ›

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

Is caramel better with white or brown sugar? ›

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.

Why do you put vinegar in caramel? ›

This wee amount of acid prevents any crystallization—from subtle graininess to total disasters. In other words, it leads you toward the smoothest, shiniest, silkiest caramel sauce.

Why shouldn't you stir sugar when making caramel? ›

It makes sense to stir your pot, but you have to resist the urge. The reason that caramel turns back into sugar crystals and becomes grainy is because too much moisture has been lost in the cooking process.

Why does the butter separate when making caramel sauce? ›

If the butterfat separates out then usually this is due to the mixture being either heated or cooled too quickly, which "shocks" the mixture and causes the fat to separate out. It can also be caused by the mixture being heated unevenly (if the pan has a thin base and has hot spots).

What to do if caramel doesn't set? ›

If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough. Again place the caramel back into a sauce pan with a couple of tablespoons of water and heat to 244°F. If you don't have a candy thermometer, you can test with a cold water test. Details on how to use this method can be found here.

Why is my homemade caramel so hard? ›

The water evaporates, leaving sugar crystals behind. If even one sugar crystal falls back into the pan of cooking caramel, it starts a chain reaction of sugar crystals and the entire pan will harden. The result? Gross, grainy caramel that is unusable in most recipes.

How to stop caramel from crystallizing? ›

Adding a little lemon juice or corn syrup also helps prevent crystalli... | Caramel Recipe | TikTok.

Do you add milk when melting caramel? ›

The key to getting it right is to use soft caramels as opposed to hard. You must also add some sort of liquid, such as milk or cream, to prevent the caramels from drying out. Knowing these tricks will help you to melt caramels with ease.

When making caramel, should it boil? ›

Stir the water and sugar together in a large heavy-bottomed, light-colored pan. Set the pan over medium high heat. Stir occasionally, allowing the sugar to dissolve. Once the sugar granules have dissolved completely, quite stirring the mixture and allow it the sugar to come to a boil.

Why is my caramel not hardening? ›

If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough. Again place the caramel back into a sauce pan with a couple of tablespoons of water and heat to 244°F. If you don't have a candy thermometer, you can test with a cold water test.

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