10-Minute Stovetop Salted Caramel Sauce

Rich and creamy homemade salted caramel sauce is delicious straight from the jar and perfect for drizzling over ice cream or caramel cheesecake! Made in less than 10 minutes with just 5 ingredients, this foolproof stovetop method makes perfect caramel sauce every time, no candy thermometer required. Recipe yields 1 cup sauce.

There’s nothing more satisfying than homemade caramel sauce! It’s buttery, creamy, sweet, and one of my favorite dessert toppers.

With just five ingredients (granulated sugar, unsalted butter, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt) and about 10 minutes, you too can make your first batch of caramel sauce.

This recipe uses the dry method, meaning the sugar is caramelized in a saucepan without adding any water or corn syrup. Step-by-step photos provided below!

Love homemade caramel? Don’t miss my collection of caramel dessert recipes!

How to Make Salted Caramel Sauce

1. Melt sugar – Melt and caramelize granulated sugar in a large heavy saucepan. Cook until sugar is completely melted and has reached a light amber color. I don’t recommend cooking to a deep amber color as the finished sauce may taste bitter.
2. Add butter – Once all of the sugar crystals have fully dissolved, whisk in cubed unsalted butter a few pieces at a time until completely incorporated.
3. Add heavy cream – Drizzle in heavy cream while whisking constantly. Let mixture boil for 1 minute (the mixture will bubble up rapidly).
4. Flavor caramel – Remove pan from the heat and pour caramel into a glass bowl. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt (salt balances out the flavor and keeps the caramel from tasting too sweet).
5. Cool caramel – Let caramel sauce cool to room temperature before using (the sauce will thicken as it cools).

Success Tips

1. Prep Ahead – Read through the entire recipe before beginning, and prepare all of your ingredients ahead so that you can work quickly.
2. Room Temperature Ingredients – Use room temperature unsalted butter and room temperature heavy cream. Adding cold butter or heavy cream directly from the refrigerator to the saucepan may cause the mixture to seize up.
3. Saucepan – Use a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan (I recommend a 2-quart saucepan). A light-colored saucepan is idea so that you can easily see the sugar melting and the color of the mixture.
4. Use Caution – Caramel is extremely hot, so wear oven mitts while handling the saucepan and whisking to prevent burns.
5. Larger Batches – Do not double or triple this recipe for a larger batch of caramel. Instead, make a few batches if you need additional caramel sauce.

Step 1: Prep Caramel Ingredients

Measure out granulated sugar, butter, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Cut butter into small cubes so that it melts quickly, and bring heavy cream to room temperature.

Step 2: Melt Sugar

Place granulated sugar in a large saucepan and heat over medium heat.

Continue cooking, stirring constantly with a spatula, until sugar forms clumps, caramelizes, and then melts into a light colored amber liquid.

Step 3: Add Butter

Whisk in cubed unsalted butter a few pieces at a time until completely melted and incorporated.

Step 4: Add Heavy Cream

Drizzle in heavy cream. Let mixture boil for 1 minute while whisking constantly (the mixture will bubble up rapidly).

Step 5: Flavor Caramel

Pour caramel sauce into a glass bowl and stir in vanilla extract and salt until combined. Caramel sauce will thicken as it cools.

How to Store Caramel Sauce

Store salted caramel sauce covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (I like to use a small glass jar).

When you’re ready to use the sauce, reheat in 10-second bursts in the microwave, stirring until smooth before using. You can also reheat the sauce in a small saucepan over medium low heat until warm.

If you plan to use the sauce as a cake filling or in a frosting, it’s easiest to use straight from the refrigerator when the caramel sauce is cool and thickened. For drizzling, warm the sauce to room temperature.

Favorite salted caramel recipes:

• Salted Caramel Cheesecake
• Caramel Fudge Layer Cake
• Caramel Apple Puff Pastry Tarts
• Fudgy Caramel Turtle Brownies
• Salted Caramel Crumb Bars
• Salted Caramel Apple Pie
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Cups
• Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
• Caramel Apple Bars
• Chocolate Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
• Caramel Pear Crumble Pie
• Salted Caramel Apple Tart

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