Description
The BEST Caramel Sauce is rich, buttery, and perfectly sweet with a deep amber flavor. Made with simple ingredients, it’s a foolproof topping for ice cream, cakes, lattes, or just about any dessert that needs a luscious, golden drizzle.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional, for salted caramel)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula. It will clump at first, then melt into a thick amber-colored liquid.
- Once fully melted, immediately add the butter and stir until completely combined. Be careful as the mixture will bubble vigorously.
- Slowly pour in the heavy cream while continuing to stir. The sauce will bubble up again—keep stirring until smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt, if using.
- Let cool slightly before using. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Reheat gently before serving.
Notes
- Use a light-colored pan so you can see the sugar color change clearly.
- Do not walk away while melting the sugar—it can burn quickly.
- For a deeper flavor, let the sugar darken slightly before adding butter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: caramel sauce, homemade caramel, easy caramel recipe, dessert topping, buttery caramel