As much as I love chocolate, caramel comes in a close second…and actually, a chocolate caramel combination is total perfection if you ask me! Twix, 100 Grand Bars, chocolate covered caramel apples…all so yum! If you love caramel too, then you need to add this super easy and delicious recipe to your recipe box. This is the BEST easy homemade caramel sauce recipe ever!

This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Making caramel can be a bit tricky, which is one of the main reasons I love this recipe so much, just a mix of simple ingredients from the grocery store and a little bit of time. It doesn’t take any special kitchen equipment like a candy thermometer or special ingredients.

I like to keep this in the fridge to use over ice cream. It is the perfect topping for so many yummy treats and the easiest recipe with only 4 ingredients! 

The kids love to dip apple slices in it, drizzle it over a chocolate cake, dunk pretzels in it,  pour over a salty, buttery bowl of popcorn or apple pie…it’s pretty much good on anything. And it’s always good by the spoonful straight out of the jar when you just need a little midnight treat if you have a sweet tooth like mine. 🙂 

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious homemade salted caramel sauce:

• 2 cups granulated pure cane sugar 
• 12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into 12 equal pieces
• 1 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons flaky sea salt

The real secret to this salted caramel sauce is a little bit of patience. Turn the stove on medium heat and let it come together slowly. When you just start to see the caramel sauce turn the slightest amber color, that’s when it’s time to add the butter. It can seem like it’s taking a long time to turn a color, and when it starts to turn amber be sure to start stirring! You may question yourself if it’s time just yet, but just do it. It only takes a second for good caramel to turn to burned caramel.

Adding the cooler ingredients to the hot sugar will make the caramel foam and bubble up, so if this is your first time making this caramel, sure you have a big enough pan to have some extra room for it to grow and bubble up. It may seem too thin when you are mixing all the ingredients together, but after the caramel cools it becomes a thicker caramel and will be the perfect consistency.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE DELICIOUS HOMEMADE GOOEY CARAMEL SAUCE

1. Place the sugar in a large stainless steel saucepan over medium-low heat. It can feel a little different to just put dry sugar in a pan and cook it without adding any moisture, but don’t worry! The sugar will begin to melt and become wet. The sugar will clump together at first, but as soon as you see it beginning to melt, start stirring! Be sure to scrape the sides of the pan and the bottom of the pan to keep the sugar moving so it won’t burn. 

2. Feel free to adjust your heat to a little bit lower temperature if the sugar needs more time to melt and you are worried about it burning. Keep stirring it until all the clumps are gone. 

3. Cook your sugar mixture over medium-high heat until the sugar caramelizes and changes to an amber-brown color, this usually takes 6-7 minutes. The darker the amber color, the more bitter tasting the caramel, so I like to start adding the butter as soon as it shows just a slight amber color. 

4. As soon as your sugar turn light amber, add your butter. 

5. Stir the sugar and butter together until the butter has completely melted. The addition of the cool butter to the hot sugar may cause your caramel sauce to bubble and spit at you as it releases steam, so add it carefully. Cook for 30 seconds. 

6. Pour in your room temperature cream adding slowly and mixing constantly. The caramel may continue to bubble and release steam. Cook for another 30-60 seconds then remove from the heat. 

7. Add your salt and stir until combined. 

THE BEST TIP FOR MAKING THIS SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

The best way to make sure you have success making this caramel recipe is to have all of the ingredients measured, at room temperature, and ready to go before you begin making the caramel sauce. Things start to happen quickly when the sugar starts to melt and having everything on hand and ready to go helps insure that your sauce won’t burn while you stop to measure something. 

HOW TO STORE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

I always keep my sauce in a mason jar. These are the jars I like to keep on hand for all of my baking and cooking needs. The are the perfect size for this recipe, mixing dressings etc. Jars full of caramel sauce makes great gifts for neighbors, friends and teachers too! Print out any number of our free printable tags from our free printable library to add to it and you’re all set!

Whether you use a jar or not, store your finished caramel sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Before you know it you’ll be coming up with all kinds of apple recipes so that you have an excuse to use this delicious caramel sauce!

The Best Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

Print

Learn how to make this sweet and salty 4 ingredient Salted Caramel sauce in minutes with this easy recipe.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated pure cane sugar 
• 12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into 12 equal pieces
• 1 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons flaky sea salt

Instructions

1. Place the sugar in a large stainless steel saucepan over medium-low heat. It can feel a little different to just put dry sugar in a pan and cook it without adding any moisture, but don't worry! The sugar will begin to melt and become wet. The sugar will clump together at first, but as soon as you see it beginning to melt, start stirring! Be sure to scrape the sides of the pan and the bottom of the pan to keep the sugar moving so it won't burn. 

2. Feel free to adjust your heat to a little bit lower temperature if the sugar needs more time to melt and you are worried about it burning. Keep stirring it until all the clumps are gone. 

3. Cook your sugar mixture over medium-high heat until the sugar caramelizes and changes to an amber-brown color, this usually takes 6-7 minutes. The darker the amber color, the more bitter tasting the caramel, so I like to start adding the butter as soon as it shows just a slight amber color. 

4. As soon as your sugar turn light amber, add your butter. 

5. Stir the sugar and butter together until the butter has completely melted. The addition of the cool butter to the hot sugar may cause your caramel sauce to bubble and spit at you as it releases steam, so add it carefully. Cook for 30 seconds. 

6. Pour in your room temperature cream adding slowly and mixing constantly. The caramel may continue to bubble and release steam. Cook for another 30-60 seconds then remove from the heat. 

7. Add your salt and stir until combined. 

I hope you love this salted caramel recipe as much as we do! Looking for more great recipes ideas?  You can find so many good ones here in our Recipe Gallery.

Here are a few of my most popular treat recipes…

Delicious Iced Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Amazing Tres Leches Cake Recipe

Incredible Seven Layer Bar Recipe

Easy and Delicious Grasshopper Pie Recipe

Perfect Cinnamon Roll Recipe

The Best Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe

Have you signed up for our newsletter?  Don’t miss out on getting all of the latest from Pink Peppermint Design delivered right to your inbox.  Click here to subscribe to our newsletter and get access to our entire library of over 65 free printables.  

Thanks for visiting the blog! Come and join me on social to follow along with all of my Design, Travel, DIY, Shopping Deals and other posts. You can find me here:

Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Like to Know It

Happy baking!

Tammy