Salted Caramel Sauce
This salted caramel sauce is easy to make and cheaper than buying it at the store. It’s ready in less than 10 minutes! Use it on all of your favorite desserts like ice cream, cakes, and pie or just eat by the spoonful from the jar – it’s that good.
Lately, I’ve been trying to make homemade versions of items I buy and now I’ve made my own salted caramel sauce. I love drizzling salted caramel sauce on lava cakes, chocolate ice cream or over pies and other desserts.
I was inspired to make my own during a heavy recipe testing phase because I went through several store-bought jars in just a few days and I finally had enough. I didn’t want to spend so much money on store-bought salted caramel sauce. I knew making it myself would be so much cheaper and I was happy to discover it’s very easy to make, too.
What is Salted Caramel Sauce?
Salted caramel sauce is made just like regular caramel sauce. It’s a combination of sugar, butter and cream but is also flavored with salt so it has that salty-sweet combination that’s so great in desserts.
Traditional caramel sauce is made with granulated sugar which is caramelized in a pan. You can also use brown sugar, which is what is used to make butterscotch, and it gives the caramel sauce a deeper more complex flavor. That’s what I opted to do for this recipe. I love the combination of the caramelized sugar with the salt.
How Long Does It Keep?
Unless I hide it, it doesn’t last long at our house! But, properly stored in an airtight container, salted caramel sauce will keep well for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. I like to keep mine in a glass jar fitted with a tight lid.
Because it keeps well, it’s a great gift and I plan on making some to give to family and friends.
How to Make Salted Caramel Sauce
Homemade salted caramel sauce is so easy to make. You might even have all of the ingredients on hand right now! My version is very easy and quick.
- Light brown sugar
- Salted butter
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
All you do is combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan and bring them to a low boil over medium heat. Whisk continuously until the mixture thickens which takes about seven minutes or so.
You can serve the salted caramel sauce right away or you can store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
This caramel sauce is thick, sweet, and a little bit salty– just how I like it. I won’t be buying it at the store anymore – it’s just too easy to make at home.
More Easy Recipes to Try
If you want to try more easy recipes like this one you might like to try some of these other easy recipes for dessert sauces and toppings.
Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 4 tbsp 1/2 stick salted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, bringing to a low boil. Whisk sauce while cooking at a low boil for about 7 minutes, until thickened. Serve right away or pour into a jar and seal tightly and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Hi! I made the Caramel sauce and while hot it was good but once it cooled it was gritty? Did I do something wrong? I followed the instructions completely. I was expecting chewy caramel sauce.
It sounds like your sugar crystalized after cooling. I’ve never had that happen with this recipe, but it is something that can happen generally with caramel sauce if it is overcooked or if you have sugar crystals stuck on the side of the pot that fall in and then form a chain reaction.
This salted caramel sauce is perfect. Love how easy it comes together too!
thanks!
Yes, very easy! So , is it not good after weeks in the fridge? I can see myself making this but not sure if I would use up everything so quickly.
The issue is that it contains dairy, so it won’t last as long as the store jars that have shelf stabilizers and preservatives extending the life. You could always make a smaller amount too if you can’t use up all of it. I found that we used up about half after I made it, then had some leftovers for another batch of ice cream and desserts.
Thank you for the info : )