Salted Caramel Sauce

This quick and easy Salted Caramel Sauce recipe is perfect for drizzling over ice cream, pound cakes, pies or used as a dip for fresh fruit and cookies. You could also serve it as a sweet glaze for homemade doughnuts and cookie bars. You can also enjoy it for an easy, kid-friendly after-school snack or dessert topping!

Easy Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

Caramel lovers, this one’s for you, this homemade caramel sauce truly delivers. Making your own dessert toppings at home is surprisingly simple, and chances are you already have all the ingredients in your pantry. Keeping a well-stocked kitchen with shelf-stable staples makes recipes like this effortless to pull together anytime.

This quick caramel sauce comes together in minutes and is incredibly versatile, perfect for everything from ice cream to baked goods. Inspired by a recipe from Bobby Flay, it’s rich, smooth, and easily rivals any store-bought option. Enjoy it right away, or pour it into mason jars, add a ribbon, and you’ve got a thoughtful homemade gift.

Key ingredients to make Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card with quantities.)

• Sugar – Granulated sugar for sweetness. (white sugar)
• Cream – Heavy cream gives the caramel sauce a creamy texture.
• Water – Cold water to combine with the sugar and form a simple sugar.
• Butter – Salted butter or unsalted butter and sea salt.

How to Make Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

• Water and Sugar – Add water and sugar to a medium size heavy bottomed saucepan. Combine using a whisk.
• Cook – Cook over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes or until it turns amber in color. (Don’t stir) Turn heat down to medium-low.
• Warm Heavy Cream – Warm cream for 20-30 seconds in microwave. It needs to be warm just enough to take the chill off.
• Combine – Whisking constantly pour the warm cream into the melted sugar mixture. Allow to simmer over medium-low for 2 minutes or until smooth.
• Add Butter – Turn off the heat. To the saucepan add butter and salt. Stir until butter has melted and salt dissolves. Remove from heat and add vanilla, mix well.
• Cool and Serve – Let stand to cool slightly, then serve over ice cream, with fruit or any of your favorite desserts.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Easy Caramel Sauce Salted

• One large pan or pot.
• Balloon whisk.
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• Heat safe spatula or wooden spoon for stirring.
• Mason jar or similar glass jar for storing.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Sugar – You could use half brown sugar and half white sugar for a stronger molasses flavor.
• Flavorings – You could add a dash of bourbon or rum extract to change the flavor profile.
• Adjust the Texture – If you’d like to thin the caramel sauce more, you can. You can add one tablespoon of cream (or two) mixing in thoroughly until you reach your desired consistency.
• Caramel Sauce Solidifies – Storing this sauce in the refrigerator will cause it to set and be a bit firm. It’s easy to remedy, you will need to remove the amount you need for serving placing it into a microwave safe bowl. If you need a full batch, place the entire container into the microwave and heat it on 50% power. This is assuming the container is microwave safe. You can heat it in 30 second increments (more or less, depending on the wattage of your microwave) then stop and stir. Repeat until it’s the texture you like. Heat it just enough for the sauce to warm up and thin out again.
• Does this Caramel Sauce Recipe Have to be Salted? No, if you can opt to leave out the salt at the end you’ll still end up with a delicious homemade caramel sauce.

Shelf Stable Caramel Sauce

Caramel sauce made with heavy cream should not be stored at room temperature for long periods. Because it contains dairy, it’s perishable and can spoil if left out. Here’s how to store it safely:

• Refrigerator – Store in an airtight container or jar for up to 2 weeks.
• Room temperature: Only safe for a few hours (about 2–3 max) while serving.
• Freezer – Can be frozen for up to 2–3 months (thaw in the fridge before using)

When you’re ready to use it again, just reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring until smooth. If you’re planning to gift caramel sauce (like in mason jars), it’s best to include a note to refrigerate after opening to keep it fresh and safe.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – This salted caramel sauce can be stored chilled in the refrigerator in an airtight container or mason jar for up to 2-3 weeks.
• Reheating – You can reheat in a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop or in a microwave safe bowl in single servings. Stop to stir constantly and don’t walk away.
• Can I Freeze Salted Caramel Sauce? Yes, it freezes well. Cool completely then store it in a freezer safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw completely overnight in the fridge before warming it up again.
• Serving Options – Serve this Salted Caramel Sauce on ice cream, drizzled on cheesecake or pound cake, use it as a glaze for apple pie or cookie bars, pancakes or as a dip for fresh fruit like apples and bananas. It also goes well with pumpkin bread or muffins.

More Southern Style Caramel Dessert Recipes to Make

• Homemade Caramel Pie recipe.
• Caramel and Chocolate Drizzled Caramel Apple Fluff is filled with chopped Snickers bars and Granny Smith apples.
• Scratch made Caramel Bundt Cake is topped with a buttery caramel icing.
• Caramel Rum Macaroon Cookies are chewy and sweet.
• Caramel Banana Pudding Lush is a fusion of two favorites.
• My Easy Caramel Pecan Sticky Rolls require no bread making at all.
• Homemade Caramels from Julie’s Eats and Treats.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Saucepan
• Measuring Set
• Silicone Spatula
• Dessert Bowls