Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (2024)

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (1)

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This caramel sauce recipe is so simple, you’ll never want store-bought again! There are only 5 all-natural ingredients that all go into the pot at once and then you whisk until it’s thickened to your liking. How easy is that?! You’ll learn how to make caramel sauce in no time!

I’ve been disappointed many times looking for caramel that didn’t have high fructose corn syrup, or artificial colors and flavors, or other ingredients I couldn’t pronounce. It’s crazy! This caramel recipe is not just easy, but it tastes amazing. Nothing beats homemade caramel sauce!

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (2)

I learned how to make caramel sauce from Pioneer Woman years ago and have been making this salted version ever since!The little bit of salt in this recipe balances the flavors perfectly so don’t skip it! There’s a reason why salted caramel is “a thing.”

Caramel Sauce Ingredients:

1 cup (200 grams) light brown sugar, packed
4 Tbsp unsalted butter*
1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
1/2 cup half and half (or use equal parts heavy cream and milk)
1 Tbsp real vanilla extract

*If using salted butter, cut the salt to 1/2 tsp or add it to taste.

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (3)

To make the Easiest Salted Caramel Sauce:

1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over low heat, whisking constantly or until thickened and no longer watery (6-9 minutes). Keep in mind it thickens more as it cools.

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (4)

P.S. That’s homemade vanilla extract you see up there. You only need to ingredients for it – so easy! It also makes for a great homemade gift!

Can I Make Caramel Sauce Ahead?

Homemade caramel sauce can easily be made ahead and we love keeping a jar in the refrigerator. Caramel sauce is great served warm, at room temperature or chilled with refrigeration. Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 2 weeks. You can warm it slightly to make it more drizzle-able.

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (5)

P.S. Be careful with the sampling – It’s easy to get carried away!

What Causes Caramel Sauce to be Grainy?

Sugar crystallization can cause a grainy caramel sauce giving your caramel sauce a rough consistency. To prevent this, use a pastry brush moistened with water to brush down the sides of your saucepan if any sugar is present on the sides of the pan. Also, avoid any ingredient substitutions.

To Fix a Grainy Caramel Sauce:

To fix a caramel that separates or a grainy caramel sauce, you want to add a little water (1 to 2 Tbsp), bring it to a boil, and re-dissolve the crystalized sugar. Once it’s smooth again, remove it from heat.

⬇Print-Friendly Caramel Sauce Recipe:

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe

4.95 from 368 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (7)

Homemade caramel sauce is so simple, you'll never want store-bought again! Easy 1-step, 5-ingredient salted caramel sauce recipe.

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Prep Time: 2 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 16 Tbsp (makes 1 cup caramel sauce)

  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, *
  • 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 cup half and half, or use equal parts heavy cream and milk
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a small/medium saucepan and simmer over low heat, whisking constantly or until thickened and no longer watery (6-9 min). Keep in mind it thickens more as it cools. Serve warm, at room temperature or chilled. Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 2 weeks. You can re-warm it slightly to make it more drizzle-able.

Nutrition Per Serving

89kcal Calories13g Carbs3g Fat2g Saturated Fat10mg Cholesterol152mg Sodium28mg Potassium13g Sugar115IU Vitamin A0.1mg Vitamin C20mg Calcium0.1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

89

% Daily Value*

Fat

3

g

5

%

Saturated Fat

2

g

13

%

Cholesterol

10

mg

3

%

Potassium

28

mg

1

%

Carbohydrates

13

g

4

%

Sugar

13

g

14

%

Vitamin A

115

IU

2

%

Vitamin C

0.1

mg

%

Calcium

20

mg

2

%

Iron

0.1

mg

1

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Condiments, Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Caramel Sauce

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 89

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (8)

We love this homemade caramel sauce over our pumpkin cheesecake, vanilla ice cream, over baked apples, and the mini cheesecakes I will post later this week, and everything we can possibly put caramel over ;).

Natasha Kravchuk

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe (9)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Easy 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.

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

The main ingredient for making a caramel is sugar. A liquid caramel can be made using any quantity of sugar or water just as long as it follows the ratio of 2 parts sugar: 1 part water.

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.

What ingredient is caramel made from? ›

The main ingredient in caramel is sugar. However, depending on the recipe you use, you may have to incorporate butter, heavy cream, water, or corn syrup as additional ingredients. High-quality, real caramel is always made with three basic ingredients and those are sugar, heavy cream, and butter.

Is caramel just boiled sugar? ›

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.

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.

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.

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

That water will end up in the caramel itself, so if you've added too much it might result in a thin caramel sauce. Try adjusting the cooking time to allow the excess water to evaporate.

How to tell if caramel is done? ›

The caramelization process happens quick, and you want to be there when it's time to remove it from the heat. From golden, the mixture will continue to darken. Pull you pan off of the heat when you see the mixture turn to the color of a shiny copper penny. That's how you know it's done!

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

Pour the condensed milk into a baking dish and bake. Alternatively, pour it into a double boiler and simmer. Either way, you'll have caramel sauce in about two hours.

Is caramel just heated condensed milk? ›

In this recipe, sweetened condensed milk is cooked until it creates a deliciously rich caramel sauce! The best part is this recipe has ONE ingredient! Just one!

Why does my caramel seize when I add cream? ›

Adding cold cream to the very hot caramel will cause it to seize and clump. Warming the cream first will allow it to incorporate more easily. I just heat it up in the microwave in a heatproof jug. Adding cold cream to boiling hot sugar would also shock the cream and cause the dairy proteins to curdle.

How was caramel originally made? ›

Most believe caramel was created more than 1,020 years ago in 1000 AD by Arabs mixing sugar and water to create a crystallized liquid. Funny enough, the original caramel was not believed to be enjoyed as a sweet treat but rather used as a beauty product.

Does homemade caramel get hard? ›

If it registers 212°F or 100°C, you are good to go. If not, it is time to replace it. If caramels are too hard, you can try placing them back in a saucepan, adding a couple tablespoons of water and stirring until the thermometer reads 242°F. Pour back into a prepared buttered pan.

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