This rich, smooth homemade caramel sauce is easy to prepare with a few basic ingredients. It has a buttery texture and deep caramel flavor, making it perfect for desserts, pancakes, waffles, ice cream, apples, cakes, and more.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Step 1: Melt the Sugar
Add the sugar and water to a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir gently until the sugar dissolves.
Once it begins to boil, stop stirring and allow it to cook until the mixture turns a deep golden-amber color.
Keep a close eye on it because caramel can burn quickly.
Step 2: Add the Butter
Once the sugar reaches the desired caramel color, carefully add the butter a piece at a time.
The mixture will bubble vigorously, so add the butter carefully and keep your face and hands away from the steam.
Whisk until the butter is completely incorporated.
Step 3: Add the Cream
Slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking continuously.
The caramel will bubble strongly when the cream is added. Continue whisking until the sauce becomes smooth and well combined.
Step 4: Add Vanilla and Salt
Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
Mix well until everything is smooth.
Step 5: Let It Cool
Allow the caramel sauce to cool for several minutes.
It will become noticeably thicker as it cools.
For an extra-smooth texture, you can strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer before transferring it to a jar.
Step 6: Store
Pour the cooled caramel into a clean glass jar and cover tightly.
Store it in the refrigerator. When you want to use it, warm it gently in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Ways to Enjoy Homemade Caramel
Drizzle it over:
- Ice cream
- Cheesecake
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- Apple slices
- Brownies
- Cakes
- French toast
- Pudding
- Oatmeal
A spoonful can also be stirred into coffee or hot chocolate for a delicious caramel flavor.
Tip: The darker the sugar becomes before adding the butter, the deeper and slightly more intense the caramel flavor will be. Be careful not to let it become very dark or it can taste bitter.
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