This easy caramel sauce recipe is foolproof! It only uses four ingredients and takes 10 minutes without a candy thermometer. It’s the perfect topping for many desserts, coffee drinks, or for dipping apples!
This easy homemade caramel sauce would be the perfect addition to a waffle bar! If you’re a caramel lover, you’ll want to try some of my caramel-infused drinks like the Three Ingredient Caramel Milkshake and Creme Brulee Coffee.
Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe
My homemade caramel sauce recipe has a creamy, rich, buttery flavor that makes any dessert better! With just four ingredients, this easy recipe creates the perfect dipping and drizzling sauce for practically any sweet treat.
Whether you’re adding it to a fruit board with apple slices and pears, drizzling it over ice cream and waffles, or using it to top your favorite fall desserts like apple crisp or monkey bread, this creamy caramel sauce is about to become your new favorite!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: This sweetened condensed milk caramel sauce only needs four simple ingredients and doesn’t require a candy thermometer, making it so easy to whip up whenever you need it.
Instant upgrades: It’s an instant way to upgrade simple treats, turning a basic bowl of vanilla ice cream or slice of pound cake or chocolate cake into a decadent dessert.
Simple yet fancy spreads: You can use it to create beautiful dessert platters and fruit boards that will impress your guests every time.
Easy Caramel Sauce Ingredients
Butter – Gives it a buttery, creamy flavor. Use pure butter for this recipe. You can use salted or unsalted butter. If you use unsalted, add a pinch of salt to the recipe while it’s heating.
Dark Brown Sugar – Creates a sweet flavor and a deep amber color, giving the caramel a sweet taste.
Sweetened Condensed Milk – The base of the sauce. It has a thick texture and is used in pies and desserts.
Corn Syrup – Helps give it a smooth texture and thickens it. You can try an alternative to this if you prefer.
How to Make This Easy Caramel Recipe
Heat Butter & Sugar: In a medium saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar over low heat. Stir gently until melted.
Add Other Ingredients: Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and corn syrup. Whisk continuously to combine.
Whisk & Watch: Continue whisking. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the pan to prevent crystallization. Watch carefully until the mixture thickens and deepens in color.
Remove From Heat: Once thickened, remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Refrigerate: Transfer to a container and refrigerate until the sauce reaches the perfect consistency.
Storage
Once the caramel sauce has cooled, transfer it to an airtight glass container like a Weck or Ball jar.
Refrigerate
Store your sweetened condensed milk caramel sauce in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. The sauce will harden when chilled, so let it come to room temperature or gently reheat before serving.
You can warm it in a microwave-safe container or over low heat on the stovetop.
Freeze
For longer storage, freeze your caramel sauce for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. While freezing maintains the sauce’s quality, note that the texture may become slightly more liquid when thawed and reheated.
Thaw frozen caramel sauce in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before serving.
Recipe Variations
Salted Caramel Sauce – Add a pinch of kosher salt to the recipe (you can use table salt, but you’ll only need a tiny bit) while it’s heating for a delicious salty-sweet twist on this classic caramel sauce.
Coffee Caramel Sauce – Add 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder to the mixture for a warm coffee flavor to your hot caramel sauce.
Chocolate Caramel Sauce – Stir 1/4 cup of chocolate chips into the sauce while it’s still warm and allow them to melt for a decadent sauce perfect for drizzling over ice cream or dipping fruit in.
Creamy vs. Rich Caramel – Adjust the texture by adding a tablespoon of heavy cream if you want it even creamier or reduce the corn syrup for a slightly thicker consistency.
Adding Spice – For a spiced caramel, add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice while cooking for a warm, cozy flavor perfect for fall.
Eden’s Tips
Make it ahead of time – Store it in an airtight glass container, such as a Mason Jar, and leave it in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. If you’re gifting it, it can stay out for 1 day.
Do not boil this recipe – Only cook it on low heat, or it will start to curdle and become chunky.
Never leave the sauce unattended – This cooking process is easy, but the exact time it takes for your own caramel sauce to thicken and change color may vary, so you need to pay close attention.
Use salted butter – Or add a little salt. Something like fleur de sel is lovely sprinkled over the top.
Use a wooden spoon or heatproof silicone spatula – Stir and scrape down the sides of the pot so you can avoid sugar crystals forming.
How to Make Caramel Sauce Thicker or Thinner
If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can let it cool for a few extra minutes after cooking, or refrigerate it longer to achieve a denser texture.
To make it thinner, warm the sauce slightly, or stir in a small amount of milk or cream to reach your desired consistency.
What Kind of Sugar to Use in Caramel Sauce
Light brown sugar will create a lighter, milder caramel flavor, which works well for a more subtle caramel taste.
However, I prefer using dark brown sugar because it gives the sauce a deeper, richer flavor and darker color.
How Long Homemade Caramel Sauce Will Last
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this caramel sauce can last up to three weeks.
You can also freeze it for up to three months for longer storage. Just remember that freezing may slightly alter the texture, making it a bit thinner once reheated.
How to Fix Curdled Caramel Sauce
If your caramel sauce starts to curdle, you can often save it by stirring in an extra tablespoon of butter or sweetened condensed milk, which can help smooth out the texture. Be sure to keep the heat low and stir gently.
How to Gift Caramel Sauce
Use small glass jars for individual servings and tie them with ribbon or twine. Add a custom label with serving suggestions like “Drizzle over ice cream” and include a small spoon for a cute touch.
Pair with treats like apples or hot chocolate mix for a bigger gift to create a thoughtful, cozy gift set. Perfect for any occasion!
How To Use Caramel Sauce
This caramel sauce is incredibly versatile! Here are some tasty ideas for topping and pairing:
- Drizzle a little caramel sauce over ice cream sundaes, brownies, or cheesecake for a rich, buttery touch. Chocolate Ganache would be great for this, too!
- Dip apple slices, pears, or pretzels for an easy snack or dessert board addition.
- Swirl into coffee, hot chocolate, or milkshakes for a cozy caramel flavor. You could even use it in caramel macchiatos, and it would be divine in a Pumpkin Pie Milkshake.
- Spread over pancakes, waffles, or crepes for a sweet breakfast treat.
- Add as a filling in cupcakes or drizzle over pies and tarts or any of your favorite desserts for extra decadence.
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Easy Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 14 ounces
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
Instructions
- Melt the butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan on low heat. Never bring this mixture to a boil, or it will curdle – always low heat.
- Then, add in the sweetened condensed milk and corn syrup.
- While the sauce thickens, use a whisk to mix until it thickens and the sugar melts gently. Scrape the sides of the pot, too. Please pay close attention to the texture of the caramel as it simmers.
- Lastly, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool a bit.
- Let it sit in the refrigerator to thicken.
Video
Notes
- Make it ahead of time: Store it in an airtight container and leave it in the refrigerator for one month. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. If you’re gifting it, it can stay out for one day.
- Never leave the sauce unattended: It can quickly burn, so you want to watch it closely as it’s cooking.
- For salted caramel sauce: Use salted butter or add a pinch of salt.
- Mind your temperature: Always cook on low heat only; do not boil, or it will be ruined.
Nutrition
This creamy caramel sauce isn’t quite thick enough for caramel apples, though it is delicious with apple slices! If you’re looking for a great caramel apple recipe, be sure to try my Bourbon Caramel Apples Recipe!
Not at all! Just be sure to monitor your caramel sauce closely as it cooks. It should thicken and become a deep amber color.
It can go from perfect to burnt really quickly, so don’t walk away!
Leave a comment and review if you make this caramel recipe. I’d love to know your thoughts!
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Loving this caramel sauce! It’s amazing on so many things!
I love how easy and delicious this caramel sauce is! My kids would love it!
Such an easy caramel sauce recipe! It was amazing over our vanilla ice cream.
Yum – my kids went crazy for this! Great recipe!
This recipe is delicious! I used it as a caramel layer for a Frankenstein batch of homemade twix bars after my first recipe for the caramel layer turned out so hard it was inedible! I will definitely make this again!
Yum!! Thank you for sharing this! Homemade twix bars sound amazing!
This recipe is delicious! For the 1/2 cup of corn syrup I used mostly molasses and some dark corn syrup. I also added some coconut oil, vanilla, and a bit of salt and it is absolutely divine. I will totally be making it again!
Does sweetened condensed milk come in different size cans? I have a 14oz can. What size do you use?
This was so easy to make and absolutely delicious! I love serving it with sliced fruit.
I really love how easy this is to make!! Thanks for the recipe!
Yum! Anything with condensed milk is seriously so good. I’m going to use the caramel sauce to try to get my son to eat his fruit!
So we made this during quarentine for a pumpkin cheesecake topping and with slight modifications it was delicious. I followed all instructions all the way to to cooking 5-7 minutes. We found that at 5 minutes over low to medium heat the sauce still just tasted like sweetened condensed milk so we put it back on a low flame and cooked an additional 8 minutes with constant stirring. We also added salt to taste. We love salty with sweet. We didn’t measure the salt but probably put at least a teaspoon of sea salt and half a teaspoon of kosher salt. Mmmm. Delicious!
This sauce is so easy! I’ve made it twice and will make it again. I agree with the reviewer who cooked it an additional 8 minutes and added some salt. I’ll try that next time. It’s very good, but I think extra cooking would add more depth to the flavor. Great recipe…thank you!
So happy this worked for you! Good idea on letting it cook even more and salt is always good!
Almost did the same thing, but I added 4 tbsp of dark baking cocoa at the butter and brown sugar stage…. pretty much our go-to topping now.
Love hearing this!!
So easy to make; I’ve been using it in my lattes and its 10x better than the fake tasting sauces from the store.
Thank you Bells! We love hearing that!!
So good and easy! Thanks for the recipe!
I love caramel sauces, I can’t wait to try this. Thank you! 😉
This was SO GOOD! Thanks so much for sharing!
Yummy! I love caramel sauces, and this is super easy! Love it. 🙂
This is so easy and absolutely delicious!
We’re under COVID-19 stay-at-home order and I didn’t have the ingredients for the carmel glaze I wanted to use on a cake. I found this recipe and used it as a cake topping. It was a hit and there’s more in the fridge. I’ll definitely be making it again.
oh yay! thank you Kayla!! stay healthy and safe!!
Looks yummy. Easy to make sauce for sweet lovers. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Really loved making this and not having to use a candy thermometer! So easy!
So easy and so delicious! You can’t go wrong with a great caramel sauce to put on so many things.