This Quick and Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce recipe is perfect for when you need caramel sauce in a pinch. This sauce is not only easy to make, it's fail-safe.
Caramel sauce is an easy item to screw up, as the bubbling sugar can burn in a matter of minutes. This can leave you with a ruined saucepan and a kitchen smelling of burnt sugar.
Why is this recipe easy?
Firstly, this quick and easy caramel sauce recipe uses brown sugar. Brown sugar cannot be a substitute for granulated, or white, sugar when making a classic caramel. This is because it has different chemical properties; thus, it will not have the same interactions throughout the cooking process. In the case of this easy homemade caramel sauce recipe, it works because the cooking process is entirely different.
All of the ingredients are incorporated together upon the first step. In a classic sauce procedure, the sugar is cooked until dissolved before adding the cream and butter.
What's in this Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe?
When I say this recipe is quick and easy, I mean it. It only requires three ingredients: brown sugar, butter, and cream. Naturally, it's perfect for when you're in a bind for caramel.
- Brown Sugar - As stated above, a typical caramel requires granulated, or white, sugar. You can use either light or dark brown sugar in this recipe. Keep in mind the color and flavor you desire of your final product.
- I made the batch pictured with dark brown sugar because that's what I had on hand. The dark sugar gave it a rich, dark color.
- Unsalted Butter - Butter is a necessary ingredient to a rich caramel sauce.
- Heavy Whipping Cream - The piece of resistance for the viscosity of a rich caramel sauce is heavy cream.
How to make this easy sauce:
- Mix together all of the ingredients and boil: Place all of the ingredients into a saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for approximately one to two minutes, until the mixture is thickened.
- Cool it down: Remove from the heat. Allow the sauce to cool slightly before using.
- Store it in the refrigerator: After the caramel has cooled completely, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Allow sauce to come to room temperature or warm a small amount in the microwave upon service.
No, this recipe is specifically designed for the use of brown sugar. The chemical properties are different than that of granulated sugar. See The Difference Between Brown and White Sugar.
Yes, you can freeze caramel sauce. Keep in mind that the caramel's consistency and texture may be altered after thawing. To freeze: make sure caramel has cooled completely before placing it into the freezer, freeze for up to 3 months.
Other Recipes You'll Love
- Caramel Apple Pecan Rice Krispie Treats
- Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting
- Mom's Simple Vanilla Buttercream
This caramel is perfect with just about any dessert from pies to cakes. For an easy sundae, drizzle caramel on a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sprinkle with roasted pecan pieces. Whatever it's paired with, this quick and easy homemade caramel sauce is everything you could ask for and more.
Easy Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar packed, dark or light
- 1 stick unsalted butter cut into cubes
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients into a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for approximately one to two minutes, until the mixture is thickened.
- Remove from the heat. Allow the sauce to cool slightly before using.
- After the caramel has cooled completely, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
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