5-Ingredient Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce

This quick and easy homemade salted caramel sauce only has 5 ingredients and is so easy to make. I love caramel on almost anything and I was in search of creating a salted caramel recipe that can go perfectly with all desserts. Making homemade caramel from scratch does not need to be as scary as it sounds. Trust me, I’ve been there. Let’s go step by step to make the best 5-ingredient easy and quick caramel sauce you've ever had. You're never going to try another recipe after this one.

Why you need this recipe

Caramel is so rich and decadent and is the perfect addition to many recipes. Use it in your favorite caramel cake, add salt for a yummy salted caramel to top your favorite ice cream, or whip it up in your next batch of buttercream. Or if you’re like me, just eat it by the spoonful.

Trust me, I have made tons of homemade caramel recipes that I found online, and many of them just never worked or they burned. I have made this easy homemade caramel a hundred times over, and got the same result every time. I created this foolproof recipe for you to make the easiest and best velvety smooth, buttery homemade caramel. I love this recipe because it is made with just 5 ingredients and will only take 15 minutes to make. No special instruments or baking tools are required on this one. All you need is your favorite saucepan.  

My tips for making the best homemade caramel

1. Use european cultured butter: With so few ingredients involved in making this caramel, you want to make sure your butter really shines. The difference between low-quality and high-quality butter can make or break the flavor of your sauce. I suggest splurging for a high-quality or European cultured butter.
2. Use a light-colored saucepan: If you have a light bottom saucepan, this will help you see how the sugars are caramelizing while the sauce is cooking to reduce burning.
3. Don’t walk away: You never want to leave caramel sauce unattended. The main reason for this is that caramel sauce is the process of melted white sugar while essentially toasting it. If you leave it unattended for too long without mixing, the sugar will burn rather quickly. You're going to want to stick around in the kitchen while this comes together.
4. Measure out your ingredients: This is the key to success! I always suggest when making homemade caramel to have all of your ingredients measured and ready to go. Caramel will turn from smooth and delicious to clumpy and burnt really fast, so having all of the ingredients ready will help prevent this from happening!
5. Bring on the salt: In my opinion, no homemade caramel is complete without salt. Caramel is very sweet on its own but a generous amount of salt will really enhance the flavor of your caramel sauce and even out the flavors.

Step-by-Step Instructions

I created this step by step instructions to break every part of the process down for you so that you can create a winning caramel straight from your own kitchen. Get your spoon ready, it’s time to make some caramel!

Step One: Measure out all of your ingredients. This is truly the key to a successful caramel. Have all ingredients measured and ready to go.

Step Two: Heat the sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. DO NOT STIR. Let the sugar begin to melt and liquefy on the edges, about 4 minutes. Watch carefully.

Step Three: Once the caramel is melting and turning a light amber color, give it a stir with a whisk or wooden spoon until all of the sugar crystals melt. The sugar will clump up at first and then begin to melt. Trust the process.

Step Four: Once the caramel begins to melt, start stirring consistently until no large clumps remain. It can take 10-15 minutes (from when you first started) for the clumps to fully disappear so you have to be patient. I recommend putting an oven mitt on during this part as the heat from the caramel can burn.

Step Five: Once it begins to turn a deeper amber color, reduce heat to low and add cubed butter. Be careful as it will bubble here. Keep stirring till incorporated.

Step Six: Microwave heavy cream until warm, about 30 seconds. Pour slowly into caramel mixture, stirring until combined. Let the caramel bubble for 1 minute then remove from heat.

Step Seven: Add vanilla extract and salt, stirring until combined. Transfer to a glass container.

Let the caramel cool to room temperature before utilizing it as a cake filling or in a buttercream recipe. 

How to store your caramel sauce

This caramel sauce can be stored in an air-tight container (a glass dish or jar is best!) in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. When you are ready to use your caramel, simply microwave it in 15-30 second intervals until desired consistency is reached.

What recipes can I use this caramel in?

Well, if you ask me, I’d say any recipe could use a little salted caramel in it! Truly, I love all things caramel so this is an easy one for me.

• Drizzled over your favorite ice cream
• As the filling for banana caramel cake.
• Made into a delicious, luxurious buttercream
• In made-from-scratch boxed caramel cupcakes.

And if you are anything like me, just grab a spoon and dig in.

If you make and loved this recipe, please make sure to leave a REVIEW! Hearing from you is so helpful! If you make this recipe, tag me on Instagram @handfulofsugarco and follow me on Pinterest for my delicious dessert ideas!

📖 Recipe