Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
For me, this homemade salted caramel sauce is one of those recipes that has become a staple in my kitchen.
I’ve drizzled it over ice cream cakes, brownies, cheesecakes, apple desserts, cupcakes, coffee drinks, and I’ve used this for so many cookie flavors in my bakeshop.
It’s rich, buttery, silky smooth, and has the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Plus, it’s perfect to use as a drip on a cake!
Once you make homemade caramel sauce, it’s hard to go back to the store-bought version.
Why You’ll Love This Salted Caramel Sauce
There are a lot of caramel recipes out there, but this one has become my go-to for years.
A few reasons I love it:
The addition of butter at the end creates an incredibly rich caramel that feels bakery-worthy.
What Makes Homemade Caramel So Good?
Making caramel from scratch might seem intimidating at first, but once you understand the process, it’s actually surprisingly simple.
The magic happens when sugar cooks until it reaches a deep amber color.
That deep golden color creates the rich caramel flavor we all love.
Then cream and butter are added to transform it into a silky sauce that’s perfect for drizzling.
The result is a caramel sauce that’s richer, smoother, and more flavorful than anything you’ll find in a squeeze bottle.
Homemade Caramel Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 Tbsp light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup butter (one stick)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat cream over low.
- In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar, corn syrup, and 1/3 cup water; cook over medium-high, without stirring, until mixture is dark amber in color, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat; carefully pour in cream (mixture may splatter) and stir until smooth.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook until a candy thermometer reads 238 F (soft ball stage), about 2 minutes.
- Pour mixture into a medium bowl; stir in salt.
- Let cool about 15 minutes, then stir in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Let cool completely.
my favorite baking supplies:
Ways to Use Salted Caramel Sauce
One of the reasons I always keep a jar of caramel in the refrigerator is because there are so many ways to use it.
Drizzle Over Ice Cream
The classic choice.
Warm caramel over vanilla ice cream is hard to beat.
Add to Coffee Drinks
A spoonful stirred into coffee instantly feels like a coffee shop treat.
Top Brownies
Caramel and chocolate are always a winning combination.
Layer Into Cakes
I love adding caramel between cake layers for extra flavor and moisture.
Serve With Apple Desserts
Caramel and apples belong together.
Try it on:
Drizzle Over cookies & cupcakes
A simple caramel drizzle can completely transform a dessert
Tips for Making Homemade Caramel
Watch the Color Carefully
The sugar mixture should reach a deep amber color.
Too light and it won’t develop enough flavor.
Too dark and it can become bitter.
Use a Large Saucepan
When the cream is added, the mixture bubbles aggressively.
A larger pan helps prevent overflow.
Be Patient
Resist the urge to stir while the sugar is caramelizing.
Let the sugar do its thing.
Use Room Temperature Butter
This helps the butter incorporate more smoothly into the finished caramel.
frequently asked questions
Perfect Desserts to Pair With Caramel Sauce
This salted caramel sauce is delicious on:
It’s also incredible drizzled over a bowl of vanilla ice cream with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Every baker should have a great caramel sauce recipe in their collection.
It’s one of those simple recipes that instantly elevates almost any dessert.
Rich, buttery, smooth, and perfectly salted, this homemade caramel sauce is the kind of recipe you’ll find yourself making again and again.
Just don’t be surprised if you start finding excuses to drizzle it on everything.
And if you make this homemade salted caramel sauce, let me know what you think!
This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products I actually use and love!
Are we friends Yet?!
Sign up to receive my favorite recipes, party ideas and latest finds.