Caramel Sauce Recipe

This easy 3-ingredient, 10-minute Caramel Sauce recipe is a quick and simple way to create a rich, buttery, and creamy sauce. Perfect for serving over ice cream, apple crisp, cakes, lattes, and desserts, you’ll love how quickly it comes together. Follow the instructions carefully, whisking the mixture continuously until the sugar dissolves and turns a beautiful golden brown color. Add in the butter and cream, stir in some salt for a salted caramel sauce, and pour it into a mason jar to cool. This sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, but it’s so good, it may not last that long!

Caramel Sauce Recipe - Easy 3 ingredients, 10-minute Caramel Sauce. Rich, buttery, and creamy. You'll love how this quick caramel sauce comes together. Serve over ice cream, apple crisp, cakes. lattes, popcorn, and desserts.

I can’t tell you how many times I reach into the refrigerator or pantry to grab a jar of caramel sauce only to find that I’ve used it all. Nothing ruins the moment more than knowing that the caramel sauce you’ve been looking forward to all night, won’t be part of your decadent dessert.

Caramel Sauce Recipe - Easy 3 ingredients, 10-minute Caramel Sauce. Rich, buttery, and creamy. You'll love this quick caramel sauce that anyone can make at home.

Having extra caramel topping around the house is a problem I like to have. But, for the days when I’m shocked to learn that I finished my last jar, this homemade caramel sauce recipe comes in handy.

If you’ve never made a homemade caramel sauce then you’re in for a treat! Anyone can make this extra rich and delicious recipe in no time at all — and with just a few simple ingredients. I love recipes that use just a few ingredients.

Caramel Sauce Recipe - Easy 3 ingredients, 10-minute Caramel Sauce. Rich, buttery, and creamy. You'll love this quick caramel sauce that anyone can make at home.

First of all, I keep half & half stocked in my refrigerator pretty regularly and if you’re like me, then go ahead and reach for the carton to use in this caramel sauce recipe.  If you’re feeling fancy or are looking for a recipe to use up extra heavy whipping cream in, feel free to use heavy cream in this sauce.

Homemade caramel sauce is made with butter, sugar, and cream. That’s just 3 ingredients! Plus, if you crave salted caramel sauce, just add some salt to this recipe.  I like to use fleur de lis salt but any salt will do!

Caramel Sauce Recipe - Easy 3 ingredients, 10-minute Caramel Sauce. Rich, buttery, and creamy. You'll love how this quick caramel sauce comes together. Serve over ice cream, apple crisp, cakes. lattes, popcorn, and desserts.

The most important thing to remember when making caramel sauce is to have all the ingredients on the counter ready to go. I like to add a little water to the pan at the start of cooking to help the sugar from sticking to the pan.  Of course, you don’t need to use water, but if it’s your first time making this caramel sauce recipe, have a little water by your side in case your sugar isn’t melting evenly.

 This homemade caramel sauce recipe isn’t hard to make and once you have your hand at your first batch, you’ll always come back to making this homemade version and skip the store-bought variety.  Plus, once you’re comfortable making caramel sauce, it’s even easier to make caramel candies.

I like to make one batch at a time, then store it in the refrigerator until I’m ready to use it as a topping on ice cream, apple crisp, caramel lattes, cupcakes, and even popcorn. This recipe is perfect as a homemade holiday food gift during the holiday season. I bought these tiny jars from TJMAXX and they are perfect to gift during Christmas!

Caramel Sauce

Caramel Sauce Recipe

Easy 3 ingredients, 10-minute Caramel Sauce. This salted caramel sauce is rich, buttery, and creamy. You'll love how this quick caramel sauce comes together in no time at all. Serve over ice cream, apple crisp, cakes. lattes, and desserts.
5 from 11 votes
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 9 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 1 cup (8 oz.)

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup half and half or heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (I used fleur de lis salt) optional for salted caramel sauce

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large 2 or 3-quart heavy bottom stockpot set over medium-high heat. Caramel sauce will rise when butter and cream are added towards the end.
    Add water and sugar.  The water will help the sugar to cook evenly. More water can be added if you are having trouble with sugar sticking to the bottom of the pan.
    Whisk mixture continuously.  I used a silicone spatula and whisk to help me stir the mixture. Careful not to fling sugar as it will be hot. This step may take up to 5 minutes or longer.  Keep whisking until sugar dissolves and turns to a golden brown color.  Carefully remove any harden sugar chunks with a spoon that are not melting. 
    Once sugar is completely melted, carefully add in butter.  The mixture will rise in the saucepan, keep stirring until melted.
    Remove pan from heat and carefully pour in half and half or cream. Whisk to combine.
    Stir in salt, if using.  I like to add salt to make this salted caramel sauce.
    Allow caramel sauce to cool; 10 minutes then pour into an 8-ounce mason jar with a lid. 
    Sauce will thicken more. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks. 

Nutritional information is only an estimate and it's accuracy is not guaranteed to be exact.

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14 Responses

  1. 5 stars
    I want to drizzle this on everything and dip everything in it. Perfect timing for me to find this recipe – we’re about to go apple picking!

  2. 5 stars
    I have never tried making this on my own. I didn’t know it was so easy. Gotta make this:) Thanks for sharing your recipe!

  3. 5 stars
    A good caramel sauce is essential in the Fall. Just think of all the goodies it can cover. Delicious apples, pies, pears, cakes so on and so on. Then you can just drizzle it over ice cream to give it some pizzazz.

  4. caramel sauce is almost staple sauce in my house. We love it so much. İ make anything from from it or just flush over the ice cream. Love your easy and simple recipe, absolutely keep it.

  5. 5 stars
    Oh my goodness, what delicious decadence! Love that enticing little sprinkle of salt on top, too – big punch of flavor, and so pretty! Great tips on having everything totally at the ready before you start cooking, and on making this as a DIY holiday gift (I mean, who wouldn’t love receiving THIS?!?!). Great post!

  6. 5 stars
    I’ve never made my own caramel sauce before, but it seems like a great thing to have on hand! Great photography in this post 🙂

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