how to make caramel sauce

Sugar, butter, and cream have never tasted so good… this rich velvety buttery caramel sauce has a delicious warm flavor. Caramel sauce is great for drizzling over desserts like cake, cookies, ice cream, and pie… along with donuts and it can be used in hot or cold drinks. Turn it into “salted caramel” by simply adding more salt, you’re going to love it either way trust me.

Just imagine the glorious taste in coffee or frosting for superior flavor for your ultimate sweet tooth gratification! 

The possibilities are endless for this caramel sauce, it takes about 10 minutes to make and it’s time well spent. No weird “off” flavor, added colors, or preservatives, you can mix it tup and have yourself a truly delicious ice cream sundae, or drizzle it over cupcakes or dip donuts or churros into it. 

In recent years salted caramel has become super-popular, just add some additional salt and enjoy that salty-sweet combo…

Salty sweet eats are my all-time favorite:

• margarita cupcakes,
• pretzel toffee,
• luau fried rice,
• peanut butter stuffed pretzels,
• apple cheddar quesadillas,
• oatmeal maple bacon cookies,
• fig cake with goat cheese frosting

Find more of my salty-sweet recipes here

This amber colored creamy buttery sauce is a homemade game changer, it bound to become your favorite on all things sweet!

Simple ingredients:

granulated sugar
water
heavy whipping cream
butter
vanilla extract

Easy steps:

If you can boil water, well… you can stir too, and that sums up caramel!

If any sugar crystallized on the edge of the saucepan, dip it in water and  it’ll be easy to push the sugar back into the fixture.

Important tip:

Do not stir the sugar and water as it boils.

Can I use a different variety of sugar?

Granulated sugar is best in this recipe it produces a smooth, creamy texture, just perfect for caramel sauce.

great recipes made better with caramel sauce, add some more salt for salted caramel. I prefer coarse kosher salt or large flakes of sea salt.

• apple cake
• caramel apple cookie cups
• salted caramel cheesecake oatmeal cups
• apple caramel bread pudding
• caramel cake 
• salted caramel cupcakes

More recipes with a delicious salty and sweet flavor combination

Give a drizzle onto this delicious and easy no crust apple pie recipe!

Print Recipe

how to make caramel sauce

A delicious creamy sweet warm flavored buttery sauce, great to drizzle over desserts, drinks to use as a filling in cakes, cupcakes, poured over scones, cookies and other sweets like donuts.

Prep Time2 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time12 minutes mins

Course: Dessert, sauce

Cuisine: American, French

Servings: 1 1/2 cups

Author: Diane Schmidt - createdbydiane.com

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp salted butter salted or unsalted (use 1/8 tsp salt if using unsalted butter)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• In a heavy bottom medium saucepan, pour in sugar in an even flat layer.
• Add the water, do not stir the mixture.
• Heat the mixture over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until it's an amber color.
• Remove the pan from the heat site with a wooden spoon and pour in the heavy cream until smooth, it"ll bubble up.
• Next, add the butter. while continually stirring until the caramel is smooth.
• Add in the vanilla and mix well.
• If you want "salted caramel' add an additional teaspoon of salt and stir well to combine.
• Allow the caramel to cool completely.
• Pour into a jar, bottle, or container.
• Use within 12 hours or refrigerate.
• You can slowly heat it to smooth it out so it'll pour nicely or use it cold.