This easy homemade caramel sauce recipe uses just a few simple ingredients, including brown sugar instead of granulated sugar. The only other thing you'll need to make this brown sugar caramel sauce is a little patience!
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You could buy your caramel sauce from the store, but it won’t be nearly as tasty as this homemade caramel sauce. It is a much cleaner sauce, and it takes less time than driving to the store and getting a caramel sauce container!
Forget peeling the wrappers off dozens of caramel candies or fussing with a candy thermometer. No high fructose corn syrup either. This delicious caramel sauce is as easy as it is tasty!
It’s the perfect consistency of sticky sweet sugar and makes an excellent topping for just about anything you pair it with, like our Chocolate and Caramel Cake, Apple Spiced Bundt Cake, or S'mores Dip Recipe.
🧂 Ingredients
- light brown sugar OR dark brown sugar
- unsalted butter
- heavy whipping cream
- pure vanilla extract
- salt
This is meant to be a brief overview of the easy caramel sauce recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
Equipment
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Many homemade caramel recipes use white sugar and call for a candy thermometer, however, as you can see, this recipe is very different. Here are the tools you'll need:
- Heavy bottom pan
- Rubber Spatula
- Mason jar for storage
⭐ Tips
Take extreme care when working with hot caramel as it can burn your skin.
If you develop sugar crystals in your caramel sauce, you can strain it in a fine mesh strainer before adding it to your container.
It's important to use good quality real vanilla extract.
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⏲️ Storage
To Store: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, for up to 3 weeks. Caramel at room temperature on brownies or other desserts is safe for up to three days.
To Freeze: Place the cooled caramel into a freezer-safe container with at least 1-inch of head space because the caramel will expand as it freezes. Freeze for up to 1 month.
To Thaw: Remove the jar from the freezer and allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight.
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions (and answers!) readers often ask about how to make homemade caramel sauce.
Since this caramel sauce doesn't have added preservatives, it will only last for 2 to 3 weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Caramel syrup is only sugar and water, while caramel sauce has milk or heavy cream.
📖 Variations
We recommend that you try our homemade caramel recipe for the first time just as it is written for the best results because that is how the recipe has been tested.
However, the next time you make it, you might consider one of these different ways of making this great recipe.
- To make salted caramel sauce, add ½ teaspoon salt to the saucepan at the same time as the rest of the ingredients.
- A pinch of cinnamon added to the sugar will give your delicious homemade caramel sauce a unique flavor.
🍴 Serving Suggestions
Caramel sauce really makes a good dessert truly great! It is amazing on all your favorite desserts like vanilla ice cream with Southern Apple Pie or Mini Apple Tarts.
Now you have the perfect sweet topping for your waffles, cheesecake, ice cream, or this Easy Toffee Apple Dip! But what else can you do with leftover caramel sauce? You can drizzle it over pancakes, pound cake, bread pudding or even make candy apples with it.
Honestly, this stuff is so good you could just sit and eat it with a spoon... not that I've done that, ahem.
RELATED: Use this caramel sauce and your favorite ice cream to make your own ice cream cupcakes!
😋 Similar Recipes
Next time, try one of these great recipes:
- Apple Spice Bundt Cake is delicious for any fall brunch.
- S’mores Dip Recipe - All the flavors of the classic, and perfect for kids.
- Homemade Twix Cookie Recipe - If you love Twix, you need to try this!
- Chocolate and Caramel Cake - this cake is rich and delicious!
- Peanut Butter Ice Cream Topping - this is so creamy and yummy!
- Homemade Sweet Potato Pie - a delicious Southern classic.
More Homemade Gifts
This brown sugar caramel sauce is just one of many homemade gifts we've shared. Try one of these other delicious recipes:
Related: Homemade Condiments and Sauces
Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce
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Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat brown sugar, cream, salt and butter in heavy bottom pot over medium heat. Stirring occasionally to ensure it’s not burning.1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup heavy cream, 4 tablespoons butter, Pinch salt
- Be patient. This takes about 5-7 min.
- Whisk gently and then Add the vanilla and cook another minute to thicken further. Turn off the heat.1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Cool slightly and pour the sauce into a jar. Refrigerate until cold.
Equipment
- Heavy bottom pan
- Mason jar for storage
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