Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
There is nothing better than Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce, it’s all butter and sugar and a touch of salt; just perfect!
I remember clearly my first introduction to something of the ‘salted’ caramel variety; long before I started making my own Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce. My daughter was in high school and we had traveled west from our home to a new shopping center closer to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains called Aspen Grove.
Of course we had a beautiful shopping center near us but young girls are always drawn to something new even if the shops available are almost identical and I was good with checking it out too. It’s an open air mall so we did a lot of shopping and walking and decided to end our day with a stop at the Starbucks located in this new area.
It was a brisk Fall day so I ordered my usual, an Americano and Lauren saw something new on the menu and went for it. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. Sounded so good and decadent and after letting me have a sip, I had to regroup.
I ditched my Americano and ordered one of the same but opted to have a shot of Espresso included. Oh my. I was hooked; that caramel was ‘the bomb’ at the time. Since then? I’ve become that person. You know, the one who makes all of her own salad dressings and rubs and sauces so of course I make my own Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce.
Caramel is not hard to make but it takes two things I think we too often don’t have enough of. Time and patience. It’s not a 3 hour process but trying to rush it will end up with something quite different than you had planned. As in burnt caramel.
Don’t be tempted to up the heat to speed it along a bit quicker; once sugar gets as hot as this stuff does it can go from perfect to burnt very quickly, so do the medium heat business and take your time and the reward will be so worth it.
I don’t normally take photos of a recipe in progress but I thought my little ‘infographic’ might be helpful; I know I wish I had been using one the first time I made caramel sauce. It might have actually turned out for me.
And I have a question too. Why do we call it ‘Salted Caramel Sauce?’ Hasn’t it been around long enough to have just evolved to ‘Caramel Sauce?’ We don’t say Salted Potato Chips or Salted Broccoli or Salted Chicken do we? Just wondering…maybe food for thought. 🙂
I’ve promised myself that my crazy homemade holiday gift giving is going to get sane with my move. As in no longer a big basket for my besties filled with homemade goodies but more like one really special thing. I think this might be it. It’s good on so many things.
Pancakes and waffles for breakfast or some cinnamon rolls. A dab in some spicy barbecue sauce would be fantastic and then of course there is dessert. Dutch Apple Pie with caramel sauce will be happening for Thanksgiving but I also love simple vanilla ice cream with bananas and warm caramel sauce; sort of a ‘faux’ bananas foster.
Speaking of which? Add a spoonful of bourbon or rum after the cream has mixed in. I wanted this to be plain but trust me I seldom make it without adding a bit of my beloved booze!
You can double the recipe but when I do I like to use a heavy skillet; I really like to be able to see that bottom so I have a good barometer of when the melting has commenced. But whether you do this recipe or make ten times this amount; just do it.
It is that time of year for heavenly and this fits the bill. Do it for your friends and your relatives but let’s be serious. Do it for YOU!!
And oh by the way? The masses can have that pumpkin latte thing but I’ve declared this Salted Caramel Sauce week and I’ll be sharing with you how to make the most stupendous Salted Caramel Espresso Hot Chocolate in a couple of days; you just have to wait until Friday; cocktail day.
You could make this sauce now and be ready because you are going to want what I’m making and no, I’m not telling. Surprises are nice right? I’m moving my blog to a new host this week so I’m hoping I can live up to these promises since…well since I’m moving it…but soon. Very soon.
PIN IT! Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce’
Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 Tbsp butter I used salted; cut into 6 pieces, room temperature
- ½ cup heavy cream you can use half and half but it just won't be quite as rich
- 1 tsp sea salt I used Maldon Flake Salt but any good sea salt is fine just don't use table salt.
Instructions
- In a large, heavy saucepan melt the sugar over medium-high heat. While many recipes call for swirling the sugar and liquid once the sugar starts to melt I've had a few too many burned moments for that. I also don't want it to crystallize by coming in contact with granulated sugar on the sides so I CAREFULLY pull it towards the middle as it melts, level out the sugar and watch again for liquid and then pull it towards the center again.
- Once the majority of the sugar has melted and the color has started to change it's time to watch closely. I switch to a knife at this point so I can break down any sugar pieces that might be a bit large.
- As soon as the sugar has all melted and the caramel is about the color of a copper penny, add the butter and whisk while it is melting. It's HOT; use caution.
- Turn the heat down to low and slowly pour in the cream while whisking vigorously. The caramel is going to bubble aggressively so be careful (and why a large pan is such a good idea!).
- Whisk until all the cream is incorporated and then whisk in the fleur de sel and let it bubble for one minute.
- Remove from the burner and set aside to cool. DO NOT PUT THAT SPOON IN YOUR MOUTH. Not just yet at least; you'll burn your tongue!
- After 15 minutes you can pour the sauce into jars, over ice cream or onto a spoon for taste testing. 🙂
- You can refrigerate the sauce for up to 2 weeks, but you will need to warm it before use. Warm in the microwave; checking at 10 second intervals or heat in a pot with warm water.
I’ve just tested this recipe to use as part of my family’s Christmas gift, and I am loving the results! Thank you so much for sharing it with us??
This would go straight on my vanilla ice cream! 🙂
Perfect companions!
Yes, please! This is a great idea for homemade gift gifting–it’s so versatile!
That it is Claire; trying to get a post out now for a salted caramel liqueur. Yes, it is a decadent as it sounds. 🙂
I could seriously sit down with a spoon and do an amazing amount of damage to that jar…
and if I was on your “besties” list I would love to receive a jar of this with the links to your recipes using it – perfect gift!!!!
Wait until you see what I’ve got planned for Friday Cocktails; I fear we would finish off the entire bottle!
I saw the picture of this and knew I was going to fall in love with it. John doesn’t like caramel but I’m happy to eat his share.
Sometimes it has to be all about you. 🙂
Oh good golly salted butter caramel sauce beats pumpkin anything! I love it and even have been known to eat it straight from the jar. I can see that it is about time I make another jar of the stuff. It is heaven.
Why yes it does. Proud I made nothing of the pumpkin variety at all in October much less August or September! Now I might like this poured on a pumpkin pie I admit. 🙂
I’ve been waiting for you to post this since I saw the first pic on FB. As for how/where to use it, well I just get a spoon ….
It is so good all by it’s little self, I think it’s time for an intervention. I’ve been ‘testing’ it a bit too much. 🙂
Great recipe, Barbara, really love this one.
Thanks a bunch Lizzie!
Nice photos, Barbara…..this caramel sauce looks delicious and I know it is as it is just like mine. Thanks for that tip with the knife! 🙂
I was pretty sure this recipe wouldn’t reinvent the wheel Pat but I still had friends beg me to put on the blog so here it is! That knife trick is simple but I do think it has saved more than one batch from burning.
We love making caramel sauce, salted or not. We’ve been doing it a lot in the microwave lately — a lot easier (just do it in increments so you can watch its progress). This looks terrific — love the pictures. Thanks.
I usually do double this amount but then I’m always giving a jar away! Yeah, those people who do process shots of everything though? Well, just so not me!
Girl!! This sauce is amazing!! I want it on everything! Shared on Twitter, FB, and pinned for later. I am in love ❤
Thank you Bobbi; for the sweet comment and the shares! XOXO
Beautiful! I hardly ever make “dry caramel” like you do because I *am* so impatient. I add a touch of water and let ‘er rip. Maybe I’ll try to slow down and do it the advanced way. Your sauce is just lovely, and I want to eat it on everything. =)
I’ve done it both ways and have actually had more issues with sugar on the pan sides when I use water so dry and slow is best for me.
Oh my gosh this sounds so good!What a fabulous gift idea, Id be over the moon to receive some of this!
I had to open this! What a treat to discover so early in the morning. I can’t wait to make this caramel sauce. I may have to get a bit crazy with my gift giving this year and make a batch of this for my closest neighbors. Thanks for the recipe and have a lovely day! Sherron
Wish you were closer; I would make some for YOU!