• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Printables
  • Farmhouse
  • Shop
    • Favorite Things
    • Shop My Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe

Home Sweet Farm Home logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Recipes

Published: Oct 7, 2021 · Modified: Mar 22, 2024

Salted Caramel Sauce

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Rich and delicious, this easy homemade salted caramel sauce is perfect for all things fall. Drizzle it on pie, dip it in apples, and pour it on ice cream. 

With just a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes, you can have yourself a rich and delicious homemade salted caramel sauce. This caramel sauce recipe is easy to whip up and tastes so much better than store-bought caramel sauce. The best things in life are homemade, and I'm here to tell you that this salted caramel sauce is no exception. Plus, you can make this without using a candy thermometer or corn syrup!

Making this easy salted caramel sauce is quick and fun; just make sure you use a saucepan with high sides. There is a chemical reaction that happens, but there is no need to fear making this recipe. Again, just make sure you have a high-sided saucepan for all the bubbling action. Now that I've convinced you to make this easy, rich, and decadent homemade salted caramel sauce, read on to learn how to make it.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make 
  • Tips for Homemade Caramel Sauce
  • Serving Suggestions
  • More Salted Caramel Serving Suggestions
  • Storage
  • FAQs
  • Recipe Card
  • Recommended Tools

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Perfect Balance of Flavors: The irresistible combo of sweet caramel with a hint of salt creates a flavor explosion.
  • Versatility at Its Best: Drizzle it over ice cream, pies, brownies, or even your morning waffles.
  • Impress Your Guests: It’s a show-stopper that turns simple desserts into gourmet treats.
  • Easy to Make: With just a few ingredients, you can make a batch in no time.

Ingredients

  • granulated white sugar
  • unsalted butter, room temperature
  • heavy whipping cream
  • pure vanilla extract
  • sea salt flakes

How to Make 

  1. Gather Your Ingredients: You’ll need sugar, butter, heavy cream, vanilla and sea salt.
  2. Melt the Sugar: Heat sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until melted and amber in color.
  3. Add Butter: Whisk in the butter until fully combined. Be careful—it will bubble!
  4. Pour in Cream & Vanilla: Slowly add the heavy cream and vanilla, stirring continuously. 
  5. Salt It Up: Mix in a pinch of sea salt, taste, and add more if desired.
  6. Cool and Enjoy: Let it cool in a glass jar, then drizzle over everything!

Tips for Homemade Caramel Sauce

  • Keep a Watchful Eye: Caramel can go from perfect to burnt in seconds.
  • Use a Heavy-Bottomed Pan: This helps distribute heat evenly and prevents burning.
  • Stir, Stir, Stir: Consistent stirring helps achieve a smooth texture.
  • Experiment with Salt: Start with a little, then add more to taste.

Serving Suggestions

  • Over vanilla ice cream
  • As a dip for apples
  • Swirled into brownies or pies
  • Drizzled on top of waffles or pancakes

More Salted Caramel Serving Suggestions

  • Bourbon Pear Pie with Oat Pecan Crumble
    Bourbon Pear Pie with Oat Pecan Crumble
  • Mini Chai Spiced Pear Pies Cast Iron Skillet
    Mini Chai Spiced Pear Pies
  • Bourbon Pecan Pumpkin Pie
    Bourbon Pecan Pumpkin Pie
  • Classic Apple Pie Recipe
    Classic Apple Pie

Storage

  • Fresh: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  • Freezer: Pour into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

FAQs

What is the difference between salted caramel and caramel sauce?

Salted caramel has sea salt added, enhancing its flavor and offering a delightful contrast to the sweetness.

Why do you put butter in caramel sauce?

Butter adds richness, creaminess, and a glossy sheen to the sauce, making it utterly irresistible.

What is salted caramel sauce made of?

The classic ingredients are sugar, butter, heavy cream, and a pinch of sea salt. We add a touch of vanilla.

How do you make salted caramel sauce thicker?

Simmer it for a longer time to reduce the sauce, or add a bit more butter or cream to achieve the desired consistency.

If you give this recipe a try, please leave a comment below, rate the recipe, and don’t forget to tag me @homesweetfarmhome on Instagram. I’d love to see what you come up with and share with our community. Cheers!

Recipe Card

Salted Caramel Sauce

Rich and delicious, this easy homemade salted caramel sauce is perfect for all things fall. Drizzle it on pie, dip it in apples, and pour it on ice cream.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: salted caramel sauce
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 .5 Cups
Calories: 1788kcal
Author: Shannon

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt flakes
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Prevent your screen from going dark.

Instructions

  • In a medium-sized heavy-bottomed saucepan with high sides, whisk the sugar on medium-low until it is melted. The sugar crystals will clump up first but will eventually completely melt. This will take about 10 minutes. Be patient and keep an eye on it to make sure it does not burn, stirring every 30 seconds or so. The sugar mixture should be a deep amber color.
  • Once the sugar has melted, remove from heat immediately and stir in the butter until melted and combined. Be careful in this step because the caramel will bubble rapidly up the sides of the pot when the butter is added.
  • Next, pour in the heavy cream, sea salt flakes and vanilla. Stir until everything is combined.
  • Pour into a small bowl or glass jar and allow to cool completely before using. Taste a spoonful of cooled caramel. If desired, add more sea salt to taste!
  • Cover tightly and store for up to 1 month in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. Caramel solidifies in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove to desired consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 1788kcal | Carbohydrates: 203g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 112g | Saturated Fat: 71g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 315mg | Sodium: 1788mg | Potassium: 143mg | Sugar: 204g | Vitamin A: 3848IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 0.3mg

* The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Recommended Tools

Weck Tulip Jar, High-Sided Sauce Pan, Maldon Salt

« Spiced Pear Waffles
Studio McGee Holiday Decor »

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Lacey says

    January 04, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    5 stars
    Oh man, this is amazing salted caramel sauce! Really easy to make and tastes so decadent. It made our Thanksgiving pies stand out.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Author bio picture.

Hi! I'm Shannon and I live on a farm in Northern California where we enjoy a hard day’s work, home cooked meals and preserving the past. Oh yeah, we’re building a new (old) Farmhouse too! I created this blog as a way to journal our Farmhouse build and collect our family-favorite recipes.

More about me →

Popular

  • Fall kale salad with apples, pomegranates, pecans, bacon, and blue cheese in a wooden bowl.
    Fall Kale Salad
  • A wooden bowl filled with fresh spinach, sliced radishes, crumbled feta cheese, and pistachios, set on a neutral background with a gray-striped cloth.
    Radish Spring Salad
  • A top-down shot of the Greek tomato salad with wooden serving spoons beside it.
    Greek Tomato Salad
  • Vibrant arugula quinoa salad topped with oranges and chickpeas in a wooden bowl, shown from a top angle with a small pitcher of dressing nearby.
    Arugula and Quinoa Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2025 · Home Sweet Farm Home Privacy & Disclosure

Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}