Homemade caramel sauce has been on my to make list for a long time, but recipes that include melting sugar often scare me. I finally got around to making homemade caramel sauce with an easy recipe that uses only five ingredients. I also found some tips and tricks to make sure that your homemade caramel sauce is a success!
This week’s Secret Ingredient for Iron Chef Mom is caramel! Yum, right? Well, as it turns out, I have absolutely NO recipes that include caramel! It’s a travesty, really. I’m not sure how that happened considering caramel is a favorite of my husband. I have, however, had homemade caramel sauce on my list of recipes to make for ages. The problem is that melt sugar scares me. It’s just so fussy! I’ve ruined my fair share of homemade toffee recipes. Honestly, instead of making homemade caramel sauce, I’ve just bought it. Shame!
But no more store bought caramel sauce for us! I can’t believe how easy it is to make homemade caramel sauce. The recipes are basically all the same, but I found a few tips and tricks on successfully making homemade caramel sauce from Danielle over at Hugs & Cookies (she has one insane blog — you have to check it out!). Danielle makes two suggestions that I didn’t see on other recipes for homemade caramel sauce. First, warm the whipping cream so that it’s not such a shock to the caramel when you add it. Second, add the heated cream very, very, very slowly. I added mine a tablespoon at a time and I did end up with small hard chunks in the sauce. I’d like to avoid that so next time, I’ll add even less cream at a time.
This homemade caramel sauce would be really delicious on some pumpkin ice cream or drizzled on top of Snickers Cheesecake. Pair a jar of homemade caramel sauce with a jar of homemade hot fudge sauce and add an ice cream scoop for a fun Christmas gift for pretty much anyone!
Homemade Caramel Sauces: Iron Chef Mom
Ingredients
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 2/3 cup heavy cream, warmed
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Instructions
Evenly distribute sugar over the bottom of a large metal pan (mine was 8 quarts).
Heat sugar over medium to medium low heat without stirring. Turn heat down if it seems like the sugar is burning.
When the sugar around the edges begins to melt, begin gently stirring with a wooden spoon.
Continue to stir gently until all the sugar is melted and turns a nice amber brown. You will smell caramel at this point.
Tun off heat. Slowly, slowly, slowly start adding warmed whipping cream and stirring constantly. I used a Tablespoon and that was too much. Take your time and keep dripping in the cream and stirring.
Once all of the cream has been incorporated, add butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir to combine.
Sauce keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks.
This week’s Iron Chef Mom is hosted at Lemons for Lulu! Head on over and link up your favorite recipes using caramel! I will definitely be pinning ideas since I obviously need more caramel in my life!
This post is also linked up to these link parties!
Hello! I”m stopping by from Family Home & Life’s Mason Jar Link Up – I made caramel sauce for the first time this year – you’re right, it is a little scary at first! How long will this keep?
Mine has been in the fridge since this post so at least 2 months. 🙂
haha I’ve definitely ruined my fair share of toffee recipes too 🙂 I’m allergic to dairy too so I have to make vegan caramel which is even fussier! I’m jealous because this recipe looks fabulous! Thanks for linking it up, I’m so glad I found your blog!
Thanks for stopping by, Ashley!
Thank you for joining Homa Style’s Simple Holiday Gift Idea Link Party. It’s hard to come up with new ideas for gifts and you helped with your yummy recipes. Thanks! Mark you calendar for the No Red Holiday Decor Link Party on Nov. 28. Plus the 12 Days of Christmas link party December 1st ~ 12th. http://homastyle.com/
MMMMM. Salted caramel is a favorite of mine. And this sounds divine. Stopping by from TT&J and definitely pinning this! 🙂
Kelly
Thanks for stopping by!
Homa Style is having a Simple Holiday Gift Idea Link Party. Your caramel sauce would be perfect as a holiday gift idea. Please join the link party at Homa Style.
Here’s the link http://homastyle.com/wp/2012/10/31/simple-holiday-gift-ideas/
Hope to see you there!
Thanks for the invitation! I linked up.
Congratulations! Your Yummy caramel sauce is featured at my Super Link Party! Come on by, check it out, and grab a featured button! 🙂
http://earning-my-cape.blogspot.com/2012/10/super-link-party-25.html
Awesome! Thanks, Susie!
YIPEEEEEE-SO EXCITED I WAS ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME HELPFUL HINTS-THANKS FOR THE NICE WRITE UP HERE-WHAT A TREAT!!!! XOXO DANIELLE @HUGS & COOKIES XOXO
Oh my… This looks so yummy, and easy enough for even me to make!! Thanks so much for sharing at We Share Wednesday at http://www.juliek.org
Camille, that sauce looks HEAVENLY!!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!
Hi Camille,
This is a perfect sauce for this time of the year, great recipe. Have a fabulous weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
salt and caramel = heaven!!!!! I love the Christmas gift idea might have to be teacher gifts this year! Thanks so much for linking up at Miss Information!
Oh this looks so yummy! I pinned this to try VERY soon! Would be great gifts for the parent helpers in my classroom.
I found you through the Pinteresting Link Party on Handy Andy’s site.
Beth
haven’t tried this. But I think I just may. Thank you for joining in the fun at the Thursday Favorite Things hop. Happy weekend wishes xo
This looks delicious!! I would love for you to link up to my Tasty Thursdays party at The Mandatory Mooch going on right now. Thanks, Nichi
http://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/10/tasty-thursdays-14.html
All linked up! Thanks for the invite. I’ll add your party to my Linky Love page!
This caramel sauce looks so yummy! Caramel is my favorite flavor (besides vanilla)! Thanks for sharing at Gettin’ Krafty With it!
Thanks so much for the recipe! Have a great weekend!
Rebecca
http://www.heronscrafts.blogspot.com
yummo pinned it so l can make it later-Thanks
This looks and sounds delicious! I am definitely going to be pinning this one! Thanks for the post! Blessings, Nancy at livininthegreen
Hi Camille, I’m Anne from Life on the Funny Farm, and I’m visiting from Wicked Good Weds.
Boy, does this look good. Can you imagine it in coffee? Iced or otherwise? Yum. Thanks for sharing!
Anyway, it’s nice to “meet” you! Hope you can pop by my blog sometime to say hi…
My youngest son loves caramel on his ice cream. I’d just eat it by the spoonful! lol This is definitely something I want to make and it would probably be waaaay more affordable!
This just sounds amazing! Thanks for coming to party with us at Whimsy Wednesday!
Kelly,
Smart! School {House}
http://www.smartschoolhouse.com
This looks so good and will definitely come in handy with the sweet tooth I have developed! I have pinned it for easy reference! Thank you for sharing it with Delicious Dish Tuesday 🙂 Would you mind providing a back link when you get a chance?
Hi Amanda! Thanks for stopping by. I put all my links here: http://growingupgabel.com/linky-love/
I believe I link up at Mama Chocolate.
I love Salted Caramel . I’m now going to have to have Brandie make that for me. Of course now I’m going to Pin this.
Thanks for pinning! I gotta tell you that in my world, burning sugar to make caramel is just as scary as The Screamont Experience! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Have you tried the slow cooker and sweetened condensed milk carmel recipe? I did this the other weekend. YUM just like carmel and super easy! Too Funny I had homemade carmel on my list of things to make too!
No, I haven’t tried that! Sounds fun, though.
Love making homemade caramel sauce! So much yummiest!
Your caramel sauce looks divine 🙂 I would like to invite you to link it up at my mason jar Pantry linky. You will find it at http://www.familyhomeandlife.com/2012/08/the-pantry-for-mason-jar-monday.html
Mason Jar Linky?! Yes, please!!