Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

Few things in the world of desserts compare to the luxurious, buttery sweetness of salted caramel sauce. With its rich golden color, smooth texture, and perfect balance of sweet and salty, this decadent sauce can transform even the simplest treat into something extraordinary.

Drizzle it over ice cream, brownies, pancakes, cheesecake, or apple pie, and watch how every bite becomes pure bliss. The best part? You can easily make Salted Caramel Sauce at home in under 15 minutes — no candy thermometer required!

In this guide, you’ll learn how to make perfect salted caramel sauce every time, plus tips, storage advice, and ways to customize it for your favorite desserts.

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What Is Salted Caramel Sauce?

Salted caramel sauce is a rich dessert sauce made by caramelizing sugar and combining it with butter, cream, and salt. The result is a silky, glossy sauce that’s both sweet and savory, offering a delightful contrast that enhances a wide variety of desserts.

The addition of salt doesn’t just balance the sweetness — it actually intensifies the caramel flavor, bringing depth and complexity to every spoonful.

It’s versatile, addictive, and surprisingly simple to make from scratch.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️

• 🧂 Perfect Sweet-Salty Balance: Buttery caramel with just the right touch of sea salt.
• ⏱️ Quick and Easy: Only 10–15 minutes from start to finish.
• 🍎 Endlessly Versatile: Drizzle on cakes, coffee, popcorn, or even fruit.
• 🧈 Made with Simple Ingredients: No corn syrup or artificial flavors.
• 🥄 Better Than Store-Bought: Richer flavor, creamier texture, and 100% natural.

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Ingredients You’ll Need 📝

Making homemade salted caramel sauce only requires a few basic pantry staples.

✨ Ingredients:

• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (or to taste)

Optional: Add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract for extra depth of flavor.

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Step-by-Step Instructions 🍳

Follow these simple steps to create perfect salted caramel sauce every time.

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Step 1: Melt the Sugar

1. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the granulated sugar.
2. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
3. The sugar will begin to clump, then gradually melt into a thick amber-colored liquid.

🔥 Tip: Keep stirring and be patient — sugar can burn quickly if left unattended.

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Step 2: Add the Butter

Once the sugar is fully melted and turns a deep golden color:

1. Carefully add the butter cubes — the mixture will bubble vigorously.
2. Stir continuously until the butter is completely melted and combined.

🧈 Butter adds richness and gives the caramel its luscious, smooth texture.

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Step 3: Add the Cream

1. Slowly pour in the heavy cream while stirring.
2. The caramel will bubble up again — this is normal.
3. Continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.

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Step 4: Add the Salt

1. Remove the pan from heat and stir in flaky sea salt.
2. Taste and adjust salt to your preference — some like it subtly salty, others bold and savory.

🌊 Pro Tip: Use sea salt flakes or fleur de sel instead of table salt for a more refined flavor.

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Step 5: Cool and Store

Let the caramel sauce cool for 15–20 minutes before transferring it to a glass jar or heatproof container.

It will thicken as it cools.

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 weeks. When ready to use, simply warm it gently in the microwave or on the stove.

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Tips for Perfect Caramel Every Time 👩‍🍳

1. Use a heavy-bottomed pan – Prevents hot spots and uneven melting.
2. Avoid high heat – Caramel can go from golden to burnt in seconds.
3. Use room temperature ingredients – Cold butter or cream can cause the caramel to seize.
4. Stir constantly at first, then swirl – Once sugar melts, swirling helps maintain smoothness.
5. Be careful with splatters – Caramel is extremely hot when liquid!

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Flavor Variations 🍫

You can easily customize your salted caramel sauce to create delicious twists:

🍯 Vanilla Caramel:

Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract after removing from heat for a classic flavor.

🥃 Bourbon Caramel:

Stir in 1 tablespoon of bourbon at the end for a warm, smoky finish.

☕ Coffee Caramel:

Mix in 1 teaspoon of espresso powder for a rich, deep caramel-coffee flavor.

🍫 Chocolate Caramel:

Stir in 2 ounces of dark chocolate for a luxurious chocolate caramel sauce.

🍎 Apple Cider Caramel:

Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider along with the cream for a fall-inspired twist.

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How to Use Salted Caramel Sauce 🍨

This sauce is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with sweet (and even savory) dishes.

Here are some delicious ideas:

🍦 Desserts:

• Drizzle over ice cream sundaes or milkshakes.
• Pour on cheesecake, brownies, or bread pudding.
• Layer between cake layers or swirl into buttercream frosting.

🍎 Fruit:

• Dip apple slices or banana chunks for a quick treat.
• Drizzle over grilled peaches or poached pears.

🍿 Snacks:

• Toss with popcorn for homemade caramel corn.
• Drizzle on pretzels for a salty-sweet combo.

☕ Drinks:

• Stir into coffee, hot chocolate, or lattes.
• Use to flavor milkshakes or frappes.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid ❌

1. Overheating the sugar – Burnt sugar tastes bitter and can ruin the sauce.
2. Adding cold butter or cream – Can cause clumping or separation.
3. Stirring too aggressively – May cause sugar crystals to form.
4. Walking away from the stove – Caramel needs full attention!
5. Over-salting – Start with a small amount and adjust gradually.

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How to Fix Seized or Crystallized Caramel

If your caramel seizes (turns grainy or lumpy):

• Don’t panic!
• Add 1–2 tablespoons of water and gently heat while stirring until smooth again.

Crystallization usually happens when sugar particles stick to the side of the pan. To prevent this:

• Wipe down the sides of your pan with a damp pastry brush as sugar melts.
• Avoid scraping hardened sugar crystals into your sauce.

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How to Store and Reheat 🍯

🧊 Refrigerator:

• Store in a glass jar or airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

❄️ Freezer:

• Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

🔥 To Reheat:

• Warm gently in the microwave for 20–30 seconds or on the stovetop over low heat, stirring until smooth.

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The Science Behind Perfect Caramel 🧪

Caramelization is a fascinating process where sugar breaks down under heat, forming hundreds of new flavor compounds.

• At around 320°F (160°C), sugar begins to melt.
• Between 340°F and 350°F (170–175°C), it turns golden brown and develops deep caramel notes.
• Go beyond 360°F (182°C), and it burns — turning bitter and dark.

Adding butter and cream lowers the temperature and transforms the mixture into a luscious, pourable sauce.

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Homemade vs. Store-Bought: Why Homemade Wins Every Time 🏆

Feature	Homemade	Store-Bought
Ingredients	Real butter, cream, and sugar	Often contains corn syrup & preservatives
Flavor	Deep, rich, customizable	Often overly sweet or artificial
Texture	Smooth, creamy	Can be too thick or grainy
Cost	Budget-friendly	More expensive per serving
Freshness	Made-to-order	Processed and shelf-stable

Homemade caramel sauce gives you control over sweetness, saltiness, and quality — plus it fills your kitchen with the most irresistible aroma imaginable!

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Salted Caramel Sauce Pairing Ideas 🍰

Here are some irresistible dessert combinations to try:

• Salted Caramel Apple Pie 🍏
• Chocolate Lava Cake with Caramel Drizzle 🍫
• Pumpkin Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Topping 🎃
• Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies 🥨
• Banana Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce 🍌

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Fun Fact: The Origins of Salted Caramel 🌍

Salted caramel became a global sensation thanks to Henri Le Roux, a French chocolatier from Brittany, in the late 1970s. Brittany is famous for its salted butter, and Le Roux ingeniously combined it with caramel to create caramel au beurre salé (salted butter caramel).

This flavor quickly gained international fame, becoming a staple in desserts, coffee drinks, and ice creams around the world. Today, salted caramel is a timeless favorite that continues to elevate modern desserts.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What kind of salt should I use?
Use flaky sea salt or fleur de sel for the best flavor and texture. Avoid iodized table salt — it’s too harsh.

2. Can I use brown sugar instead of white?
You can, but it will produce a butterscotch-like flavor instead of classic caramel.

3. Why did my caramel turn grainy?
This usually happens if sugar crystallizes. Stir gently and wipe down pan edges with a damp brush.

4. How thick should the sauce be?
It should be pourable when warm and thick enough to coat a spoon. It will thicken more as it cools.

5. Can I double the recipe?
Yes! Just use a larger pan and keep an eye on the heat to prevent burning.

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Nutrition Information (Per Tablespoon – Approximate)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	95
Fat	6g
Carbohydrates	10g
Sugar	10g
Sodium	120mg
Protein	0g

(Values vary depending on ingredients and portion size.)

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Final Thoughts: Your Go-To Sweet & Salty Indulgence 🍯💛

Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce is one of those recipes every home cook should have in their arsenal. It’s simple, quick, and endlessly adaptable — a silky, buttery dream that turns any dessert into a showstopper.

Whether you’re drizzling it over ice cream, dipping apples, swirling into lattes, or spooning it straight from the jar (we won’t judge!), this easy caramel sauce recipe delivers perfection every time.

So grab your saucepan and sugar — once you make this at home, you’ll never go back to store-bought again. ✨

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