Cardamom & Coconut

Exploring the world one dish at a time

  • Instant Pot
    • All Instant Pot
    • Appetizers & Side Dishes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Dinner
    • Desserts
    • Rice, Pasta, Grains
    • Soups
    • Vegetarian
  • Dinner
    • All Dinners
    • Seafood
    • Vegetarian
    • International
  • Desserts
    • All Desserts
    • Cakes
    • Cookies & Bars
  • Vegetarian & Vegan
    • Vegetarian Dinners
    • Vegetarian Sides & Appetizers
    • All Vegan Recipes
  • Other Recipes
    • Appetizers & Side Dishes
    • Breakfasts
    • Dog Treats
  • About
    • About Me
    • Stay in Touch
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
August 12, 2018

Homemade Caramel Sauce

  • Share101
⇩ Jump to Recipe

An easy recipe for homemade caramel sauce: perfect for dipping apples, topping ice cream, adding to coffee drinks, or incorporating in other desserts.

Homemade caramel sauce in a mason jar on a dark surface

Caramel sauce is one recipe that I’ve struggled with for years.  I’ve tried so many recipe variations – various proportions of ingredients, dry caramel, wet caramel, stir method, no stir method, with a thermometer, and without.  And most of the time I’ve failed.  I’ve ended up with burnt sugar, crystallized sugar, or a runny sauce.  Last year I needed to make caramel sauce for a specific dessert recipe that I was serving for a dinner party.  I made the caramel sauce three times that day until I finally succeeded.  I’m sure it was user error with all of the recipes I’ve tried over the years, but it became a personal challenge of mine to figure out the key to consistently successful caramel sauce.

I recently heard of a trick: adding a small amount of corn syrup to the sugar and water mixture, which helps the sugar dissolve and lowers the likelihood of crystallization.  I tried it once, tried it again, then one more time for good measure, and one final time to make sure the first three weren’t a fluke.  It’s been consistently successful for me, and I hope it works just as well for you!

How to Make Homemade Caramel Sauce

With this recipe, it’s important to prepare your ingredients before you start and to pay close attention to what you’re doing.  I love to multi-task in the kitchen, but this is one recipe that you want to focus on, otherwise, you’ll end up with burnt sugar which smells terrible and is no fun to clean up.

Measure out your salt and heavy cream before you start and set it aside.  Then grab a medium saucepan and mix together the sugar, water, and corn syrup.  When you add the heavy cream at the end, the mixture will bubble up, so use a larger pan than you think you need.

Place the pan on the stove and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved.  I like to use either a metal or wooden spoon to mix.  Once the sugar has dissolved, you won’t need to stir as much, but continue to watch closely.  The mixture will boil and then start changing colors.  You’re looking for it to turn a rich caramel color: if you take it off too early it won’t be quite as rich –  if you take it off too late it can burn.

As soon as the sugar mixture is a rich caramel color, remove from heat and mix in the cream mixture.  You’ll want to start stirring pretty soon, but you may need to step back for a few seconds so you don’t burn yourself on the steam that will be released when the cream hits the hot sugar mixture.  Once you’ve mixed everything together, carefully pour into a glass container.  Store in the refrigerator.  Then when you’re ready to serve, microwave for 30 to 60 seconds to soften.  Enjoy with apples, cheesecake, ice cream, oatmeal, coffee drinks, in other desserts, or on its own!

Homemade caramel sauce in a mason jar on a dark surface

If you try this recipe for homemade caramel sauce, leave a comment and review below and let me know how it worked out for you.  Or just let me know your favorite ways to use caramel sauce!  If you’re not in the mood for caramel sauce right now, pin it here to save the recipe for later.

Homemade caramel sauce in a mason jar on a dark surface
Print Recipe
5 from 19 votes

Homemade Caramel Sauce

An easy recipe for homemade caramel sauce: perfect for dipping apples, topping ice cream, adding to coffee drinks, or incorporating in other desserts.
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 145kcal
Author: Cardamom & Coconut

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt use 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons for salted caramel
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Mix together the cream, salt, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.  Set aside.
  • Combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan.  Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved.
  • Once the mixture starts to boil, stir occasionally and watch the color of the mixture closely - you're looking for a caramel colored liquid.  This can take anywhere from 8 to 12 minutes depending on your stove.
  • As soon as the color has turned caramel, immediately remove from heat and mix in the heavy cream mixture.  Step back for a few seconds while the mixture bubbles and steams, and then start stirring.
  • Once the caramel is smooth, pour into a glass container to cool.  Store in the refrigerator.  Microwave for 30 to 60 seconds to soften before serving.

Homemade caramel sauce in a mason jar on a dark surface

Caramel sauce in a mason jar on a dark surface

Post navigation

Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Easy Banana Bread Muffins

13 comments

  • The Novice
    August 15, 2018

    Oh my gosh, this looks amazing! I’m one of those people who eat caramel straight out of the can with a spoon, so this is right up my alley. Yum!

    Reply
  • Danielle
    August 14, 2018

    This looks so easy. There are so many different ways you can use it too – I want to put it on ice cream.

    Reply
  • Emma
    August 14, 2018

    I have had no luck making caramel in the past. So pleased to have a new trick up my sleeve – I wonder if it would work with golden syrup too – we don’t have corn syrup in the UK

    Reply
    • Lisa
      May 26, 2021

      We do have corn syrup in the UK … now. You can find it in Chinese supermarkets. If none exist near where you live, Dr Oecker’s glucose will work just as well. 🙂

    • Cardamom & Coconut
      June 5, 2021

      Thanks for the helpful tip!

  • Taylor Kiser
    August 13, 2018

    So easy to make at home! This caramel sauce looks delicious and is such a versatile topping!

    Reply
  • Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
    August 13, 2018

    That caramel is beautiful, and so tasty! What a great recipe!

    Reply
  • Tisha
    August 13, 2018

    Love a good homemade caramel sauce! Always better 🙂

    Reply
  • Demeter
    August 13, 2018

    This is such a great topping to have on hand for desserts So much better homemade than store-bought!

    Reply
  • ali randall
    August 13, 2018

    You make it look so easy. I have always bought the sauce from the store but this would save a pretty penny and this would be good because my kids can finish off a jar in no time. Thanks for this recipe 🙂

    Reply
  • Mike from Chili Pepper Madness
    August 13, 2018

    Thanks for sharing this. I have struggled and struggled with making caramel. For some reason it doesn’t come out. Using this now!

    Reply
  • camila
    August 13, 2018

    ohhh this looks fantastic. nothing like having an easy and perfect homemade caramel sauce up your sleeve!!

    Reply
  • Jacqueline Meldrum
    August 13, 2018

    Just look at that colour! Just fabulous. I’ve only made it by melting caramel sweets. I must try it your way. *drool*

    Reply

Share your thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

I’m Danielle and I’m obsessed with food, from trying new foods in my travels to recreating memories from the past in my own kitchen.  Cooking, eating, and traveling with the people I love is what I live for.  I’m excited to share a bit of my world with you.  Read more about my life here.

Subscribe to Emails

Cardamom & Coconut is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.  See the Privacy Policy.

  • Elara by LyraThemes
  • Copyright © 2018-2021