Get ready to fall in love with this Easy Caramel Sauce recipe. With just a few simple ingredients and easy steps, you'll have a rich, creamy caramel sauce that's perfect for drizzling over anything you like.
This tasty, rich topping is perfect on ice cream or other desserts, such as cake, or cheesecake. It is also great for a hot coffee drink or hot chocolate. It’s seriously easy to make, too!
This delicious sweet sauce is thick enough to pair with apples, pears, and other fruit. There’s no need to buy caramel sauce when it is so easy to make at home. This homemade caramel sauce is so much better than store-bought versions, too. It’s free from high fructose corn syrup, and bursting with delicious caramel flavor.
Enjoy making this easy caramel sauce, and feel free to experiment with your favorite variations and uses! This go-to recipe will surely become a staple in your kitchen.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe requires only butter, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.
- Quick and Easy: The whole process takes less than 10 minutes.
- Versatile: Use it for caramel apples, ice cream sundaes, or your morning coffee.
- Delicious Caramel Flavor: The rich, buttery taste enhances any dessert.
- No Special Equipment Needed: All you need is a medium saucepan and a wooden spoon.
This caramel sauce also makes a good glaze to pour over breads that are so popular during the fall. It is also good on ice cream and brownie sundaes, just sayin'!
Ingredients for delicious caramel sauce
- Butter
- Brown sugar, packed
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
How to make hot caramel
You will only need four ingredients to make this wonderful caramel for apples without corn syrup. It is honestly so easy that you will want to make it again and again.
Would you like to save this?
- In a sauce pan over medium heat, add brown sugar, butter, and milk to a soft boil.
- Cook another 2-3 minutes until thickened.
- Remove from heat.
- Add vanilla extract and combine.
In just minutes, you will have a nice caramel sauce for dipping those apple slices. This is really the easiest to make, too!
We hope you enjoyed this simple snack recipe idea. We are all about helping you make the most of your time. To save this recipe to your Pinterest board, pin the recipe below:
Tips for the Best Results
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter and milk are at room temperature to help them combine smoothly.
- Use Medium Heat: Cook the caramel on medium heat to prevent burning and ensure a smooth texture.
- Stir Constantly: Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture frequently and prevent sugar crystals from forming on the sides of the pan.
- Pay Close Attention: Keep an eye on the caramel as it cooks to avoid burning.
- Add Vanilla Extract Off Heat: To maintain the depth of flavor, add the vanilla extract after removing the caramel from the heat.
Substitutions and Variations
- Butter: Use unsalted butter if you prefer less salty caramel.
- Milk: For a richer sauce, use evaporated milk instead of milk.
- Sugar: You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar for a different flavor profile. White sugar can also be used for a lighter caramel.
- Flavor Additions: Mix in a bit of sea salt or kosher salt for a salted caramel version. You can also add a splash of bourbon or rum for an adult twist.
FAQs About This Recipe
I would not recommend making this ahead of time, but if you do, keep it refrigerated in a glass jar and warm it up in the microwave to serve.
No, this recipe doesn't require a candy thermometer. Just follow the instructions and cook the caramel until it thickens.
For a thicker caramel sauce, cook the mixture for an additional 1-2 minutes. Alternatively, use evaporated milk instead of milk.
This caramel sauce is perfect for caramel macchiatos, ice cream sundaes, drizzling over apple pie, or even as a dip for apple slices.
Make sure to stir constantly and use a wet pastry brush to wipe down the sides of the pan if you notice any sugar crystals.
Yes, this easy homemade caramel sauce is great for dipping caramel apples. Just let the caramel cool slightly before dipping.
If your caramel sauce is too thick, add a little water or milk to thin it out to your desired consistency.
More Caramel Recipes
📖 Recipe
Caramel Dip
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
In a sauce pan over medium heat, add brown sugar, butter, and milk to a soft boil.
- Cook another 2-3 minutes until thickened.
- Remove from heat.
- Add vanilla extract and combine.
Nutrition
If you are not yet subscribing to my newsletter, you can subscribe here. I share a few things that I don’t share here and I email you only once a week. I know how valuable your time is and respect that tremendously!
Tamara
Four ingredients for that kind of magic? Sign me up. I think there is absolutely nothing better than a simple caramel sauce and the freshly picked apples that we got last weekend at the Orchard.
Akaleistar
I just ate an apple, and now I wish I had had that caramel sauce 🙂
Sonia
I love caramel sauce, I didn’t realize it was so simple. I guess I never really thought about it. Thank you for sharing.
Raquel
Thank you Sonia - it is super easy and you won't need to buy caramel sauce ever again.
Dennee Diane
Fantasic