Caramel Sauce (with Step by Step Pictures)

Published November 2, 2017. Updated March 11, 2020

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Caramel Sauce – Is there anything better?? It’s perfect for a huge number of desserts, if it will last until serving that is. I know when I’ve got a batch of this sitting around we are all just eating it by the spoonful.

Salted Caramel Sauce

My Favorite Caramel Sauce Recipe

Caramel was one of the first foods I ever learned how to make. I was a young teenager and my mom and sister were talking about how they remembered my grandma’s caramels and how they missed them.

They went on to talk about how hard they were to make and that was when I started paying attention. I thought the challenge sounded fun, plus I’ve always been obsessed with caramel so I decided to look up some recipes and learn how to make it.

I’ve been making it far too much ever since. And really, it isn’t nearly as hard as people make it out to be.

Salted Caramel Sauce

Only Four Ingredients Needed for Homemade Caramel Sauce!

  • Sugar
  • Water
  • Butter
  • Heavy cream
  • Sea salt (optional)

How to Make Caramel Sauce

  • Gather all of your ingredients and have them nearby ready to add to the mixture as needed.
  • In a heavy-bottomed 2 – 3 quart saucepan (something that isn’t dark on bottom so you can see the shade of caramel), heat sugar, salt and water over medium-high heat whisking constantly to dissolve sugar.

Steps for making caramel sauce

Once mixture reaches a boil, stop whisking and allow mixture to boil until it reaches a dark amber color, carefully swirling pan occasionally* (this will take time, so be patient. See photos below for the stages to watch for).

Steps for making caramel sauce

It will first bubble vigorously and steam and it will be a clear shade, then bubbling will continue but the bubbles will become smaller and slower and it will slowly tint yellowish…

Steps for making caramel sauce

..Then orangish, then a deep reddish orange and that is what you are looking for.

Steps for making caramel sauce

Once mixture reaches a dark amber color, immediately add butter and whisk until butter has melted then immediately remove from heat.

Steps for making caramel sauce

Carefully pour in cream and immediately whisk with a long handled whisk to combine (it will bubble vigorously). Whisk until mixture is smooth.

Steps for making caramel sauce

Pour caramel into a glass jar to cool. Once cool, store in an airtight container in refrigerator.
Caramel sauce will be thicker once cooled to room temperature and much thicker once chilled.

Steps for making caramel sauce

Tips for Caramel Sauce

  • If using a gas stove top I like to use a wet pastry brush to brush down sugar on the sides of the pan so it doesn’t burn from the flame. Also you can stir just briskly as needed if it browns in one spot to quickly.
  • Have ingredients measured out and ready to add in so caramel doesn’t burn in the meantime while measuring.
  • With caramel sauce I really like to push it to it’s limits. There is a prime stage with caramel sauce, if you take it off too early, it hasn’t reached that key stage and it will be lacking in flavor (it also won’t be as thick), but if you leave it on just a few seconds too long it’s can burn and become bitter
  • So really really pay attention to the shade of the caramel. A rich but not super dark color. Once you’ve gotten it right and know that shade, it’s becomes easier to get it right from then on because you know exactly what to watch for.

Salted Caramel Sauce

What Should I Serve this Caramel Sauce With?

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Salted Caramel Sauce
4.94 from 30 votes

Caramel Sauce

The best salted caramel sauce! So good you won't be able to resist eating it by the spoonful! So rich, so creamy and deliciously sweet with the perfect balance of salty. 1,000 times better than store-bought.
Servings: 10
Prep5 minutes
Cook20 minutes
Ready in: 25 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Gather all of your ingredients and have them nearby ready to add to the mixture as needed. 
  • In a heavy-bottomed 2 - 3 quart saucepan (something that isn't dark on bottom so you can see the shade of caramel), heat sugar, salt and water over medium-high heat whisking constantly to dissolve sugar. 
  • Once mixture reaches a boil, stop whisking and allow mixture to boil until it reaches a dark amber color, carefully swirling pan occasionally* (this will take time, so be patient. See photos below for the stages to watch for). 
  • It will first bubble vigorously and steam and it will be a clear shade, then bubbling will continue but the bubbles will become smaller and slower and it will slowly tint yellowish, then orangish, then a deep reddish orange and that is what you are looking for. 
  • Once mixture reaches a dark amber color, immediately add butter and whisk until butter has melted then immediately remove from heat. 
  • Carefully pour in cream and immediately whisk with a long handled whisk to combine (it will bubble vigorously). Whisk until mixture is smooth. 
  • Pour caramel into a glass jar to cool. Once cool, store in an airtight container in refrigerator.
  • Caramel sauce will be thicker once cooled to room temperature and much thicker once chilled.

Notes

*Note that if you are using a gas stove top I've found certain areas tend to cook faster on the gas stovetop, so if you start to see a darker area on the side you can give it a brisk whisking. Also using a wet pasty brush to wet down the dried sugar on the sides helps.
Nutrition Facts
Caramel Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 159 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 28mg9%
Sodium 161mg7%
Potassium 8mg0%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Sugar 19g21%
Vitamin A 315IU6%
Calcium 9mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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153 Comments

  • Jane

    All I can say is YUMMM! I made this recipe but cut it in half – which was easy to do. We’re empty nesters and don’t need much in the house (and neither does my waistline or butt for that matter lol). This is creamy, rich and soo good! I have a feeling my grandson would sit and drink this through a straw, he’s as much of a salted caramel fiend as I am!

  • Laurie A Huber

    Just made my very first caramel sauce. You do have to watch closely but mine turned out perfectly. Now to keep myself from eating the entire batch before using it for dessert tonight! I’m planning on drizzling it over homemade pound cake which is currently baking.

  • Anna

    I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I made it twice and burned it both times. I never moved from the stove. When I started to turn colorist automicallt went to the burned stage. This is probably a dumb question, but am I keeping the stove top temp too high?

    • Rita

      Hi made your apple crisp .. my husband loved it! I don’t have a sweet tooth but I tried it and I thought it was very good.
      .. 2.. Questions?
      First, I cooked it and froze the apple crisp for 2 weeks. Do I just let it thaw out and serve it cold with ice cream or should I warm it up? Like I said I don’t have a sweet tooth but could it be served room temperature with ice cream for guests?

      And next question.. I would like to try making the caramel sauce.. how long can I keep in the refrigerator before serving? Should I freeze it instead? Thank you and I just discovered your website!! Awesome

      • Jaclyn

        Jaclyn Bell

        The caramel sauce should keep I’m the fridge for a few weeks and can freeze for a few months, and I would recommend warming the apple crisp, it’s best warm.

    • Hannah

      I keep my stove on low / number 4 setting (out of ten) when I do it. I’ve never had a failure with the recipe. It takes longer but the color changing happens slow enough that you don’t risk the burn

  • Lindsey

    I just made this a second time because the 1st time was so straightforward & easy to do. It was a little more stressful this time knowing how quickly that change from “not yet” to “now!” takes place. I loved the salted version for hot cocoa but it was just a little too intense for my fam, so this time I omitted the additional salt (keeping the salted butter) & it tastes amazing as well! Excellent recipe & I’m SO grateful for the pictures!! I seriously always check this site first when I’m making holiday or birthday yummies.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I’m glad you found this recipe easy to make Lindsey! And I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my site, thanks for letting me know :)!

  • Melissa

    This caramel sauce was really easy to make, it was good for iced coffee the first day we made it but after sitting in the fridge it got a bit too stiff to drizzle on so it needs to be heated up every time we use it. (Not a big deal though, 10 seconds in the microwave makes it good to go) I may try a bit more cream next time to make it looser next time

  • Valerie

    This caramel sauce is amazing! So super easy to make, and comes out perfect every time…

  • Daisy Martinez

    im gonna try this, mm drizzle over pancakes with pecans..
    Thank you for the recipe.