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With three basic ingredients and fewer than 20 minutes, you can whip up the most luxurious homemade caramel! Whether it’s used as a dipping sauce for apples or a topping for ice cream, this sweet Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce will steal the stage.
Looking for something more traditional? You’ll love my Classic Caramel Sauce.
My Favorite Homemade Caramel Sauce
In many cases, the condiment makes the meal, and I think the same is true for dessert food. From sauces to dips to spreads, condiments always have me scraping the container with a spoon to savor every last taste. If you’re anything like me, that’s exactly what you’ll be doing with this caramel sauce.
It has a silky-smooth texture and a wonderful caramel flavor thanks to the use of brown sugar. Plus, theres no meed to melt sugar down. And the sweet, caramely goodness is wonderful!
Why I Love This Recipe
Brown sugar caramel sauce doesn’t just taste amazing – it’s a must-make all around. Here are some more key advantages to this particular recipe:
- It’s Super Quick and Simple
- You Only Need 3 Ingredients
- It Doesn’t Burn as Easily as Your Typical Caramel
- You Can Control the Consistency
- It Stays Good in the Fridge for Weeks
- It’s Freezer-Friendly
What You’ll Need
Let’s talk about the trio that makes it all possible. For specific amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Butter: Even if you’re making Salted Caramel Sauce, it’s best to use unsalted butter and add your own.
- Light Brown Sugar: If dark brown sugar is your only option, you can use that instead – just keep in mind that it will intensify the flavor and may affect the texture as well.
- Heavy Cream: This gives the sauce a nice consistency for drizzling.
How to Make Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce
I like to measure out my ingredients before I get started so that everything is ready when I need it. You’ll have to work pretty quickly while the caramel cooks.
- Melt Butter: Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan.
- Add Sugar & Cream: Add the brown sugar and heavy cream, whisking constantly over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Boil: Bring the mixture to a boil and allow it to boil for no more than 3 minutes.
- Let Cool: Remove your caramel from the heat and allow it to cool. If you’re not serving it right away, transfer the cooled caramel to a covered container and keep it in the fridge.
Tips for Success
Make sure your caramel is up to snuff by reviewing the following tips. You can easily tailor it to suit your preferences!
- Never Touch Hot Caramel: It’s always important to prioritize safety when you’re cooking, and caramel sauce is certainly no exception. This stuff gets hot – even hotter than boiling water. Don’t forget to wear long sleeves and heat-proof gloves while you cook it in case any caramel splatters out of the pan.
- Whisk Only Until the Sugar is Dissolved: You’ll want to whisk your caramel constantly when you add the brown sugar and heavy cream. Once the sugar is dissolved, stop whisking. The caramel must be left undisturbed while it boils.
- Fine-Tune the Consistency: When this caramel sauce is warm, it has the perfect drizzling consistency without being too runny. It becomes a bit firmer at room temperature, but you can always warm it up in the microwave if needed. If you prefer a thinner caramel, you can add some extra cream.
Ways to Use Caramel Sauce
There are tons of tempting ways to serve your brown sugar caramel sauce. Let’s eat!
- Drizzle It Over Brownies
- Make Caramel Apple Cupcakes
- Layer It Into a Trifle
- Use It as a Dip for Pretzels or Fruit
- Drizzle It Over Ice Cream
- Mix It Into Yogurt
- Toss It With Popcorn
Storage and Reheating
Once your caramel has cooled down, transfer it to an airtight jar or container and refrigerate it for up to 3 weeks. It will harden as it chills. Pop it into the microwave for 20-30 seconds at a time to bring it back to a drizzling consistency, stirring after each increment. If you make it too thin, simply let it rest until it creates a nice drizzle.
Can I Freeze This?
Yes, as long as it’s not in a glass container. The freezing process causes the caramel to expand as it solidifies, which would likely break the glass. Instead, keep it in a freezer-safe container made of a more flexible material. Make sure you leave a little extra space in there as well.
Once your caramel has fully cooled, it can be frozen for 2-3 months. Thaw it out in the fridge overnight before you reheat it. If it’s still frozen after sitting in the fridge, let it rest at room temperature until it thaws.
Print
Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 10
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: American
Description
With three basic ingredients and fewer than 10 minutes, you can whip up the most luxurious homemade caramel of your life! Whether it’s used as a dipping sauce for apples or a topping for ice cream, this sweet Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce will steal the stage.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Add brown sugar and heavy cream and whisk constantly over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
- Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 3 minutes, no more.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool. Store in refrigerator.
Notes
- Makes about 1 1/2 cups caramel sauce
- Recipe slightly modified from Pioneer Woman’s Easy Caramel Sauce.
- To Store: Transfer cooled caramel to an airtight jar or container and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks. It will harden as it chills. Microwave it for 20-30 seconds at a time to bring it back to a drizzling consistency, stirring after each increment. If you make it too thin, let it rest until it creates a nice drizzle.
- To Freeze: Transfer cooled caramel to a freezer-safe container (make sure it’s not made of glass). Freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. If it’s still frozen after sitting in the fridge, let it rest at room temperature until it thaws.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 TBS
- Calories: 143
- Sugar: 16.3 g
- Sodium: 6.6 mg
- Fat: 8.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.4 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 24.1 mg
Categories
More Easy Dessert Sauces to Try
Need more mouthwatering condiments for your favorite sweets? Allow me to assist you.
Awesome recipe made this to go with your awesome brown butter pecan cheesecake which is off the hook delicious 😋 as always an awesome recipe. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed it!
As always another awesome recipe and so simple
Come on guys it’s just caramel but its soooo good
Holy smokes. I only had whole milk and added a couple of punches of Salt (with salted butter ) to get a salted caramel vibe , phenomenal thank you so much !
I love this recipe. I made a pumpkin cheese cake, as the topping I used chopped pecans and caramel sauce. It was marvelous.
I am going to make this tonight. My only question is Salted? Or Unsalted butter?
You could use either. I’d personally use salted.
LOVE the taste but it’s a little gritty… I’m assuming that means i didn’t let the sugar melt. Should I reheat it and try to dissolve it a little better?
Yes. I’m not sure it would work if you reheat it, but you could try.
Do u use soft brown sugar or granulated brown sugar in this car
We only have one kind of brown sugar. I assume it’s more like a soft brown sugar.
How long can I safely store this in the fridge and out of the fridge?
Caramel sauce is generally safe at room temperature for three days, safe in the fridge for three weeks and safe in the freezer for three months.
I don’t usually comment on recipes but this one is amazing! I drizzled this on some apple slices and it gave me the caramel apple taste I wanted without the mess! Thank you! 😋❤️
This is the recipe I was searching for! Just perfect caramel in 5 minutes, and only 3 ingredients too! Would’ve saved myself a lot of burnt sugar, tears and pain from whisking over the stovetop if I found this earlier. Thank you for this beautiful recipe!
This recipe is so good its so simple how long can i store it in my fridge for?
soooo unbelievably easy, i never knew.
now to find an equally easy butterscotch syrup recipe!!
Would this be suitable for making gourmet caramel apples?
Probably not.
Love this recipe, so easy. You can add Kari light corn syrup to recipe for caramel apples.
I love this recipe! its smooth and sweet. thankyou so much! (it goes PERFECTLY with my ice cream!)
this recipe was great and so easy i loved it and my family loved it to thank you!
I have a question pls! Is brown sugar caramel sauce the same thing as butterscotch sauce?
Love how the smell and the taste of your recipe thank you for sharing this super simple caramel sauce