Our Best Caramel Recipes

Caramel is a delicious addition to any dessert, but to many it’s an intimidating recipe to approach at home. While store-bought caramel is perfectly acceptable, having fresh-made caramel at home is worth the time and effort. We’ve got a quick explainer on how to easily make your own caramel sauce, plus 4 scrumptious dessert recipes where your homemade caramel can really shine.

How to Make Caramel at Home

Though caramel making can seem daunting, it’s very easy to do at home once you get the hang of it. Just be sure to keep an eye on the sugar as it cooks, and remove it from the heat as soon as it reaches your desired temperature and color. It can be helpful to use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature as it cooks, but it’s not necessary. Instead, remember that the sugar is done cooking as soon as it reaches the color of a copper penny.

Basic Caramel Sauce Recipe

1 cup granulated sugar

6 Tbsp. unsalted butter

½ cup heavy whipping cream

1. Start by adding the sugar to a large saucepan. Heat to medium-low, swirling the pan every now and then, without stirring. Once the sugar begins to clump and melt, you can stir occasionally. However, it’s best to leave it alone as much as possible.
2. Once all the sugar has melted, it will take on the color of a copper penny. At this point, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, stirring constantly. The mixture will bubble, but this is normal. Continue stirring for a few minutes until thoroughly combined.
3. Now stir in the heavy cream. You can also add a dash of salt, vanilla extract or even cinnamon at this stage, depending on your tastes and whether you’re using the caramel in a specific recipe. Continue stirring until the cream and any additions are fully incorporated.

Just like that, you’ve created homemade caramel in your own kitchen. This recipe will produce a thick caramel sauce, which is perfect for the scrumptious dessert recipes we’ve rounded up below. Give them a try using your homemade caramel sauce for an extra-special touch.

Caramel Recipes

More Fall Inspiration

This spiced cake is made by pouring fresh apple cider right into the batter, resulting in a moist cake bursting with fresh apple flavor. However, the real star of this recipe is the salted caramel buttercream, which is made with cream cheese and salted caramel sauce. If you choose to make a homemade caramel sauce, try whisking in a splash of apple cider for even more bright apple flavor.

Ready for more fall inspiration? Visit our Fall Shop for even more recipes, meal ideas and how-to guides to make the most of the season.