Easy 4-Ingredient Caramel Sauce
Easy Caramel sauce recipe made with just butter, sugar, cream & vanilla. Simple recipe for smooth, buttery caramel sauce perfect for ice cream topping, apple dipping & more!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy Caramel Sauce recipe
Servings: 12
Calories: 173kcal
- ½ cup salted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch sea salt optional
In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Stir in brown sugar and bring to a low simmer. Cook 1-2 minutes until mixture is bubbly.
Gently whisk in heavy whipping cream, pouring slowly as mixture may bubble up. For a light and thin caramel sauce (great for drinks or pouring over ice cream/desserts), remove saucepan from heat. For a darker and/or thicker caramel, simmer for several more minutes until desired golden color is reached.
Once removed from the heat, stir in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, if desired.
Transfer to a heat-proof container and allow to cool to room temperature. Cover with a lid and store in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.
Be very careful not to heat the sugar on high or scorch it. It is possible to burn the caramel and it will change the flavor dramatically.
Normal recipe yields 1/2 pint. The recipe can be doubled, which makes just over a full pint.
Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 35mg | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 382IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg