Easy Homemade Salted Caramel Recipe
Homemade salted caramel is delicious, rich, with a buttery flavor that you can drizzle over your desserts. This recipe is perfect for drizzling, not for candy making.
Servings 1 1/4 cup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature (85g)
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature (120ml)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½-1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Before beginning, make sure the butter and cream are at room temperature. If not, heat the cream for 1-2 minutes in the microwave. If these ingredients are cold when adding to the caramelized sugar, it can seize up.
- In a medium to large heavy-bottom saucepan, add the sugar and turn the heat to medium-low. Gently stir and watch for the sugar to start forming clumps (this can take 3-5 minutes). As you see larger clumps form, start stirring constantly to help break down the clumps.
- The sugar will melt into a golden brownish color and have a thinner liquid consistency. As soon as you see it turn into a amber/darker color, remove it from the heat (this happens very fast!).
- Be careful with this next step! Adding butter and cream will often cause a semi-violent bubbling. Wear kitchen gloves if you feel nervous about any sugar splatter. Add in the room temperature butter and whisk together. Pour in the room temperature cream and whisk together.
- Add the vanilla extract and kosher salt and whisk until everything is smooth.
- Pour the caramel into a heat safe jar and let it cool. It will thicken once it has cooled. This lasts in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. To use it, warm it in the microwave for 15 second increments. Drizzle over your favorite desserts.
Notes
- Use high quality unsalted butter. Salted caramel only has 5 ingredients, so it's important to use the best quality for the best flavor.
- For freezing, let the salted caramel cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place it in the refrigerator overnight.
- For thicker salted caramel, add 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream.