Years ago I was introduced to caramels sprinkled with sea salt and I fell in love with the combination. Naturally, I was inspired to make a more versatile version and crafted a salted caramel sauce that I could drizzle (or slather) on my desserts.
Caramel desserts aren’t always easy, but this one is straightforward and low maintenance. With just a few steps, you can make the sauce quickly and it can be used right away or stored for a bit.
Perfect for anything from drizzling over Pecan Praline Pumpkin Pie to dipped caramel apple cookies or banana pudding cookies to caramel apple bites.
Why You’ll Love the Best Salted Caramel Sauce
Think beyond caramel apples- this easy caramel recipe can be used on almost anything you can think of!
- Great gift idea – There’s nothing I love more than a homemade gift. Add this salted caramel recipe to a mason jar with a cute tag and boom, a great gift!
- No special equipment needed – Good news, no need to buy anything fancy, not even a candy thermometer.
- Tastes good on everything – I mean, let’s be real! Is there any dessert that wouldn’t taste better with a little caramel on it? From straight up vanilla ice cream to decadent Biscoff ice cream, it is amazing!
Ingredients
You can easily find these simple ingredients at your local grocery store if you don’t already have them on hand.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar dissolves quickly so it’s the best choice for this recipe.
- Water – This will help give the sauce its viscosity.
- Heavy cream – Don’t skimp on the cream and use half and half or a light cream. Caramel relies on a heavy whipping cream for its texture and flavor.
- Unsalted butter – Since you’ll be adding salt, make sure to use the unsalted variety.
- Vanilla extract – Vanilla will give this the purest of caramel flavor but if you want to experiment with other extracts you can.
- Fleur de sel – While we give a measurement, the amount of salt you choose to use is up to you. Our only recommendation is to not use too much salt or regular table salt. A delicate flaky sea salt is best.
How to Make Salted Caramel Sauce
You are going to love how easy it is to make homemade caramel sauce.
- Boil sugar and water. In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar and water over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, swirling the sauce pan gently, but not stirring.
- Allow to reach a deep caramel color. Simmer until the mixture is syrupy and a deep caramel color.
- Remove from heat and add butter and cream. Remove mixture from heat and whisk in butter and cream, being mindful that the mixture will spit and sizzle, so be careful.
- Whisk vigorously until it reaches a smooth, sticky consistency.
- Add vanilla and salt. Whisk in vanilla and fleur de sel. Set aside to cool.
Variations
There are plenty of ways for you to make these easy salted caramel sauce your own.
- Heat – If you want to make a spicy sweet sauce add a touch of cayenne pepper or Old Bay.
- Brown sugar – You can use light or dark brown sugar, but expect a different color and flavor.
- Extracts – If you want to add another dimension, try other extracts instead of (fully or partially) vanilla. Consider almond for its nuttiness.
- Salts – While we prefer fleur de sel, you can also use Kosher salt, pink Himalayan salt, or whichever type of salt you prefer.
How to use Salted Caramel Sauce
Use this easy caramel sauce on all of your favorite recipes.
- Ice cream sundaes – You can spoon this over regular vanilla ice cream or you can dress up banana splits.
- Pudding – Add a drizzle of caramel over any flavor pudding you may prefer, including a nice warm rice pudding.
- Cakes – Whether it’s a rich chocolate cake or a dense pound cake, this sauce adds tons of flavor.
- Pies – Apple pie is a no-brainer for caramel sauce, but this is delicious on nearly any pie or tart.
- Milkshake – Pour some of this into a delicious milkshake or smoothie for some extra salty sweetness.
- Cinnamon rolls – Breakfast is made better with cinnamon rolls treated to a topping of this sauce.
- Cookies – Gently drizzle (or wholeheartedly dollop) a bit of this sauce to make any cookie sweeter and more delicious.
- Frosting – Add this sauce to a basic icing for a salted caramel frosting that’s simply amazing.
- Drinks– From white hot chocolate to a Starbucks Chai Latte, drizzle or stir in a little salted caramel sauce to your favorite beverage for a sweetener and for flavor.
Storage and Freezing
Storage: Store in the refrigerator in a glass jar or other airtight container for about one week.
Freezing: Freezing is not recommended.
Other Sweet Sauces
Dessert sauces can make or break a dish, elevating it to restaurant quality.
Butterscotch Sauce Recipe
This EASY Butterscotch Sauce combines the flavors of butter, brown sugar, and cream with vanilla and salt for a decadent dessert sauce!
Check Out This Recipe!
Homemade Blueberry Sauce Recipe
This delectable 7-ingredient Blueberry Sauce recipe is perfectly sweet and tangy to add to desserts, breakfasts and more!
Check Out This Recipe!
Chocolate Sauce
This easy Chocolate Sauce recipe is a delicious treat to pair with your favorite dessert! Calling for just 5 ingredients, this Hot Fudge Sauce comes together in less than 10 minutes and is wonderfully chocolatey.
Check Out This Recipe!
Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe
If you want a salty sweet combination in a dessert sauce to drizzle on desserts then this EASY homemade salted caramel sauce is for you!
Servings: 12
Calories: 145kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2-1 teaspoon fleur de sel*
Instructions
- In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, swirling the saucepan gently, but not stirring. Simmer until the mixture is syrupy and a deep caramel color, about 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the mixture from heat and whisk in the butter and cream, being mindful that the mixture will spit and sizzle, so be careful. Whisky vigorously until it reaches a smooth, sticky consistency. Finally, whisk in the vanilla and fleur de sel. Set aside to cool.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Nutrition
Calories: 145kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 0.5g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 102mg, Potassium: 16mg, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 321IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 0.03mg
I’m going to put this delicious salted caramel sauce on everything! It’s so easy to make that I can have it anytime I want!
This salted caramel sauce is a wonderful combination of flavors. It’s the perfect topping for ice cream or cheesecake.
I loved your caramel sauce, it is just perfect with vanilla ice cream.
So easy to make and the perfect topping for the vanilla ice cream I just made!