The easiest homemade Caramel Sauce made in minutes, with just 5 basic ingredients. Enjoy it on top of ice cream, in your hot chocolate, or literally over anything!
If you love caramel, you have to try my Homemade Caramels, Caramel Apples, Caramel Popcorn, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, or Chocolate Covered Marshmallows!
Homemade Caramel sauce is a big reward for little effort.
Homemade Caramel sauce is a big reward for little effort.Before you even think about buying an artificially flavored caramel sauce from the store, let me tell you how EASY it is to make yourself. You get that real, rich caramel flavor, with no of the additives or preservatives, and it will keep in the fridge for weeks. Drizzle it over pumpkin cheesecake, apple crisp, or better than sex cake. Use it for ice cream sundaes (with brownies and hot fudge, too), or as a dip for fresh sliced apples.
How to make Caramel Sauce:
Combine: Grease the sides of a saucepan, then add butter, brown sugar, water, and salt, and cook over medium-low, stirring constantly until butter is melted. Bring mixture to a boil then simmer on low for 5-8 minutes, stirring constantly. It should be golden brown and thickened (it will continue to thicken as it cools).
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and evaporated milk. Add additional evaporated milk if you want a thinner consistency. Serve easy caramel sauce over ice cream, chocolate chip skillet cookie, or drizzle over pumpkin eggnog or hot cocoa.
Storage and Freezing Instructions:
To Store: Refrigerate leftover caramel sauce for up to 2 weeks. Rewarm in the microwave for a few seconds.
To Freeze: Store in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before using.
Serve Caramel Sauce With:
- Caramel Apple Dip
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Baked Peaches
- Better Than Sex Cake
- Ice Cream Cake
- Bread Pudding
- Hot Cocoa
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Recipe
Homemade Caramel Sauce
Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar , firmly packed
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk , or heavy cream, or more, to thin the sauce
Instructions
- Grease the sides of a medium saucepan with oil or non-stick spray. Add butter, brown sugar, water, and salt to saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the butter has melted.
- Bring the mixture to a boil., stirring constantly. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring, until golden brown and thickened (keep in mind it will continue to thicken as it cools).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and ½ cup evaporated milk. Add more evaporated milk if you'd like a thinner consistency.
- Store caramel sauce in a covered container or jar in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. Re-warm in the microwave for a few seconds, or on the stove over low heat.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe September 2015. Updated May 2020 and October 2024.
Original recipe adapted from Food.com
This post contains affiliate links.
Alergic to milk. Can I use almond milk?
Yes, that would be fine!
Can this sauce be frozen?
(Sorry about leaving same question for apple crisp – thought I was on this page.)
I haven’t tested it to say for sure–I’m worried it may separate when it’s reheated.
It can be frozen for up to three months in an airtight container (NOT GLASS!). Place in fridge overnight to defrost 🙁
I have no idea why there is a frown face there!!
I made this once and it was delicious but it seemed more like butterscotch sauce. What is the difference?
What could you use instead of evaporated milk?
I am use to using cream
Cream would be fine!
Hi! this sounds delicious! I am making it right now and it looks to be very runny. The recipe says how to make it thinner, but what can i do to make it thicker? Please respond as fast as possible! I would really appreciate it 🙂
If it’s not thick enough you can cook it longer until it thickens.
Phenomenal and easy to make! Wanted to eat it alone by the spoonful but great over the apple crisp!
Sweet. Caramel was drizzled over a dollop of Alden’s Vanilla organic ice cream that nested atop your apple crisp; it was a family hit, even on a full belly. Could you tell me why the water is necessary and suggest modifications for a caramel flavor that is a little sharper, I guess meaning less sweet.
Hi! Sounds delicious, but a couple questions before I try this.
1. I’m confused on the measurement listed for the evaporated milk. It’s listed as … ‘1-2 – 3/4 cups evaporated milk’ .
2. I took the butter to be regular salted butter, but then read through all the comments and noticed you say to use “Unsalted”. So, if I use regular butter – do not use additional salt, but if I use unsalted butter then add the salt?
This sounds so delicious and I’d love to make it for Thanksgiving. I just want to make sure I understand everything since Thanksgiving is a few days away!
Thank you!
Hi Joanne, I hope you enjoy it! To answer your questions:
1. you will use somewhere between 1/2 cup to as much as 3/4 cup of evaporated milk. As you’ll see in the recipe instructions, you start by adding 1/2 cup and add a little more if you need to.
2. that’s right about the butter. If you use salted butter you don’t need to add all of the 1/4 teaspoon extra salt.
Hope that helps 🙂
Have you used this to make caramel apples?
Hi Barbara, I wouldn’t use this recipe–I would use a caramel recipe like this one, https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/homemade-caramels/ , cooked to the soft ball stage. Sounds delicious!
I was a little leery because it started to smell burnt, but it just added to the flavor!
Also, I like to improvise, and I didn’t have evaporated milk on hand, but I did have sugar-free French vanilla coffee creamer so I used it instead, omitting the vanilla extract. DELISH!!!!!