If you’ve been looking for a buttery, fail-safe, easy caramel sauce that you can drizzle on all of the things, you’ve found it! Most caramel sauces are toddler-level temperamental, which is why I love this recipe. It isn’t fussy AT ALL. You don’t even need a candy thermometer!
Caramel vs. Butterscotch
Technically, this recipe is for a butterscotch sauce. I call it caramel sauce because it tastes like caramel sauce without all of the to-do that comes with making one. And really, the major difference between the two is that a butterscotch sauce is made with brown sugar and a caramel sauce is made with white sugar. No matter what you call it, once your family tastes it, this sauce will become a staple in your home.
How To Store Caramel Sauce
While the sauce is still warm, add it to an air-tight heat-proof container. (Plastic might melt, so use glass.) Keep it uncovered until it has thoroughly cooled, and then refrigerate it for up to three weeks. You can also freeze the sauce for up to 3 months.
Troubleshooting
Even though this truly is an easy sauce, caramel can be fickle. To prevent your sauce from separating or getting grainy:
- Use a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pot with rounded sides.
- Keep a steady, medium-low heat so that your butter and sugar don’t separate.
- Do not stop stirring. It’s arm’s day. This caramel sauce is worth it.
- If the sauce separates and the butter pools on top of the sugar, or if it gets grainy, take the pot off the heat and continue to stir until the two come together again.
- If the sauce does not come together or smooth out, add a tablespoon of water and continue stirring.
What Goes With Caramel Sauce
Drizzle this sauce on everything! I love it as a dip for sliced apples, stirred into a latte, or mixed into my oatmeal. It also pairs beautifully with:
- Apple Pie
- No Churn Peach Balsamic Ice Cream
- Bread Pudding
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Vanilla Pudding or Banana Pudding
- Apple Crisp
Easy Caramel Sauce
4.41 from 5 votes If you’ve been looking for a buttery, fail-safe, easy caramel sauce that you can drizzle on all of the things, you’ve found it! Author: Monti – Budget Bytes
Servings 16 tablespoons Cook 5 minutes minsTotal 10 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup salted butter ($0.60)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed ($0.22)
- 1/3 cup heavy cream ($0.50)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract ($0.36)
Instructions
- In a heavy-bottomed medium-sized pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once it is frothy, add the brown sugar.
- Whisk the brown sugar and butter until the sugar transforms into a caramel sauce.
- Take the caramel sauce off the heat and add the heavy cream. Continue to whisk to incorporate the cream into the sauce.
- Whisk in the vanilla.
Equipment
- Whisk
- Stainless Steel Pots and Pans
Nutrition
Serving: 1
TbspCalories: 69
kcalCarbohydrates: 7
gProtein: 0.2
gFat: 5
gSodium: 26
mg Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.
How to Make CARAMEL SAUCE – Step by Step Photos
In a heavy-bottomed medium-sized pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once it is frothy, add the brown sugar.
Whisk the brown sugar and butter until the sugar transforms into a caramel sauce, about 2 minutes.
Take the caramel sauce off the heat and add the heavy cream. Continue to whisk to incorporate the cream into the sauce, about 1 minute.
Whisk in the vanilla. Allow the sauce to cool before drizzling over all of your favorite desserts or fresh fruit!
More Easy Sauces
- Strawberry Syrup
- Blueberry Sauce
- Luscious Homemade Lemon Curd
- Easy Sweet Chili Sauce
