Posts feature partner companies & may be sponsored. Post contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Last Updated on November 23, 2022 by Diane Hoffmaster
This easy salted caramel sauce recipe is absolutely delicious. It is made from scratch on the stove-top in less than ten minutes, with no candy thermometer required! Use it as a topping for sliced apples, drizzle it on your ice cream, or just lick it right from the spoon!
Table of Contents
What is salted caramel?
Salted caramel is made by sprinkling fleur de sel, or any other flaked sea salt on top of caramel or caramel sauce. Why does caramel taste good with salt on it?
Basically, chefs call this combination “flavour layering”. Salt acts as a flavor enhancer and makes caramel taste even better. Why? It's a bit of a mystery but they certainly go great together!
What Can You Use This Sauce For?
What do you do when you have a huge fruit bowl full of apples but are craving something sweet? You make this easy salted caramel sauce recipe, of course! Seriously.
Some people might love all things pumpkin spice during the fall but for me, caramel is my favorite fall flavor. I make homemade caramels every year but they require quite a bit more work than this salted caramel sauce does.
For this easy caramel, you don't need a candy thermometer or any fancy kitchen tools. Just a few simple ingredients, a heavy saucepan, and a wooden spoon. I ate two apples covered in this stuff before I even finished the photos!
Need more ways to use caramel sauce? Drizzle it over fluffy waffles; crepes and even homemade oatmeal. Fibrous fruits are great for dipping. For example things like pears, apples, bananas, etc.
How long does homemade caramel sauce last?
When you first take this caramel off the stove, you are going to have to let it cool for a bit. It will thicken as it cools and will be the perfect dipping consistency.
How do you fix caramel sauce that is too hard? Just heat it a little on the stove with a few tablespoons of heavy cream. If it is too thin, cook it a bit longer.
Like this caramel recipe? Try these dessert recipes, too!
- Chocolate Fondue Recipe and Tutorial for Dessert Lovers!
- Healthy Halloween Dessert: Candy Corn Fruit Parfait
- Chewy Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
In my house, this salted caramel doesn't last long because we eat it quickly. However, if you have more restraint than I do, you might want to know how long it lasts.
Homemade caramel sauce stays good for about 2 weeks in an airtight container stored in the refrigerator. I recommend a glass container with a tight-fitting lid or even a mason jar. Warm the caramel for a few seconds before use in the microwave.
Tips for making homemade caramel:
If you aren't careful, you can end up with quite a mess as you try your hand at making your own caramel sauce. Follow these caramel making tips for a perfect sauce every time:
- Make sure your pan is larger than you think you need. The caramel will bubble up a bit and you risk overflowing if it is too small.
- Make sure you have plenty of light (or a light-colored pan) since you need to watch the caramel sauce turn colors.
- Measure out ingredients ahead of time so you don't have to multitask.
How do you heat up caramel sauce?
The sugar in this easy salted caramel sauce recipe will crystallize out a bit when the sauce starts to cool. Of course, this stuff doesn't really last that long because it is so darn delicious you eat it all in about 10 minutes!
But, you can keep it warm in a small fondue pot or just microwave it for a few seconds if it starts to cool off too much.
If it is cold right from the fridge, microwave it on high power for a minute or two. Stir it about every 30 seconds. If you don't have a microwave or you are very patient, place it in a bowl in a pan of simmering water.
Let it sit, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is warm, about 7 minutes. Serve this easy salted caramel sauce with a plate of apples and your kids (and YOU) will happily eat all the apples in the house!
Use Only the Best Ingredients!
This easy caramel sauce recipe has such a simple ingredient list. Butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, a pinch of salt and some vanilla. That's it.
I kept looking for homemade caramel recipes online but they all seemed to start with a can of sweetened condensed milk which I rarely have on hand.
And really, a good caramel recipe needs to start with butter and cream. It just DOES! So, if you are in the mood for a rich and delicious caramel sauce for apples, I definitely think you should give this one a try!
Easy Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe
This simple recipe is just the thing you need to celebrate the flavors of fall. Now that you know how to make the homemade caramel sauce, how will you serve it?
Easy Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe: 10 Minutes Start to Finish!
This easy salted caramel sauce takes only 10 minutes to make. No candy thermometer or fancy ingredients. Just an easy caramel sauce for apple dipping!
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 stick butter (8 TBSP)
- 2 cups light brown sugar, lightly packed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Instructions
- Place the cream, butter, brown sugar and salt in a medium sized sauce pan
- Heat over medium high until mixture comes to a boil, stirring frequently
- Boil 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and let cool 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add vanilla and stir gently.
- Let cool slightly before using
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 254Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 171mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 0gSugar: 30gProtein: 1g
NOTE: Nutrition information not always accurate
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She has two college aged kids, one husband and more pets than she will admit to. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire but left her career in science to become a stay at home mom. Years of playing with LEGO and coloring with crayons had her craving a more grown up purpose to her life and she began blogging and freelance writing full time. You can learn more about her HERE.
Augusto
Thank you very much! I did it with cream 35% fat and it became wonderful. After cooled, incorporated shredded coconut and used as filling for a tart, Lovely!
Diane
so glad you liked it! It is always a huge hit in my house!
Poppy
I made this today and it's delicious! I only had a cup of light brown sugar, so I also used a cup of dark brown sugar. It tastes like magic...
Diane Hoffmaster
I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Roni
How much will this recipe yield?
Diane Hoffmaster
I found that I get about 2 cups of caramel at the end.
Moira
Could one replace the cream with evaporated milk?
Diane Hoffmaster
I dont think that would work since you really need the fat of the cream for this to work properly.