Homemade Caramel Topping
I love Fall! Fall screams comfort food. What better comfort than homemade caramel? Caramel is like the “Cherry on Top” of any Fall favorite. Let’s face it, caramel makes any dessert better. The only problem I have is keeping it in stock. We eat it on apples, ice cream, cookies, and brownies. I decided to try to make it for myself so I will never be out again. I learned a lot experimenting with the many, many batches I made. The amount of sugar you use will determine how thick your caramel will be. Less sugar will result in a caramel candy. Today we are making a homemade caramel topping for pouring onto our wonderful desserts.
Supplies for Homemade Caramel:
Can you believe that only 3 ingredients make caramel? I will never be out of caramel again!! (Insert evil laugh here!)
Before you make this, I have a tip for you. Use a bigger pot than you need. Bigger is better for this recipe. The sugar will bubble up when you add the butter and whipping cream and it will make a huge mess and you could get burned! So use caution and a big pot.
Begin by putting the sugar into a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir constantly with a whisk. The sugar will start to clump up and that’s a good thing. That is exactly what you want.
Then, it will start to turn into a liquid and all that big ball of sugar in the middle of your whisk will dissolve also. Keep stirring!
Then, it will start to bubble and become a beautiful amber color. You want to watch it closely because it will burn.
- Once it starts bubbling, it will start to smoke a little. When you see an amber color and smoke, remove it from the heat.
- Add the butter while continuing to stir.
- It will bubble a LOT! Stir, stir, stir until the butter melts!
- Then, add the cream and stir, stir, stir and it will bubble again.
- Pour into cute little jars and let it come to room temperature before you keep it in the refrigerator.
Homemade Caramel Topping
I hope you get a chance to make some to pour over your cookies and ice cream! It’s good!
The Pioneer Woman Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe
Add a Pinch
Bear hugs,
That is the richest looking homemade caramel sauce I’ve seen and having it drizzled over that cookie is just beautiful!
Thanks Paula! Drizzling it over anything is fun! LOL
Hi Lisa. Great tutorial for a recipe that sounds delish! Homemade caramels are always on my fall list, but I haven’t done this sauce. When drizzled on cookies as show, does it remain sticky or will it set up enough to pack cookies in a box/container?
Hey Laura, It will remain a little sticky.
Thanks for the reply. I thought it might based on the ratio of ingredients. I am still going to give it a try.
I love making carmel and making chocolate carmel turtles.
Chocolate caramel turtles…yummy!!!
This looks fabulous! Thank you so much! I bet this would be amazing mixed into buttercream or spread as a filling on cakes. Mmmmm…
I would love a cake with caramel!! You have my head spinning! 😉
Guess what I was just making last night… homemade caramel! Yours looks better than mine! Mine was good… but not awesome… I guess I need to give it another try.
I was planning candy corns!! That is so funny!!! We are reading each others minds! LOL
Haha! I guess we were on the same wave length! I can’t wait to see your candy corns!
I love caramel any way, shape or form! And your photo is awesome!
Thanks Kim! I am waiting for you to throw a caramel themed party! 😉
I die!
Don’t die!! The world needs YOU!!! 😉
These are DELICIOUS photos!!!! I LOVE caramel! Next time you make it…try adding a couple of tablespoons of sour cream to it…. it totally changes the flavor, but somehow its the exact same. I don’t get it. I hope everyone in the world pins your ingredient photo — its LOVELY!!
Sour cream? Never heard of that but, I am willing to give it a shot!
You are so sweet! I want to cross the world to give you a ((((Bear Hug))))!
I made some on Thursday and it was yummy, but there was something missing I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Know what it turned out to be? Salt! I was shocked! Now we know why salted caramel is such a hit. I made spiced cupcakes filled with chopped apple cooked in sugar and butter and frosted with caramel swiss meringue buttercream. I need to make a huge batch of caramel now so I’ll always have some!
You have me drooling all over myself Lesley! I am gong to be dreaming of “spiced cupcakes filled with chopped apples cooked in sugar and butter and frosted with caramel swiss meringue buttercream” all day! YUMMY!! Do you have leftovers and do you live close to me? 😉
How many jars will I need if I want to share or how big of one do I need if I want to keep it ALL for myself ?
Hi Louann! I filled 3-4oz jelly jars. If you chose to use a 16 oz Ball jar you will fill it with a little left over. I recommend making a batch to give and keeping a big jar for yourself! 😉
OMG! Just made this and man is my arm sore! I had to have my husband come and stir for awhile cuz I just couldn’t do it any longer. It was well worth the pain though!
Hahaha Louann!! My daughter says I have arms of steel! I am glad it was worth the pain!! LOL
oh yummmmm!!!!!!!! I always use caramel candy and melt it onto my cookies, but am so going to try your recipe, YUMMO! Thnx for sharing Lisa! <3
What kind of cookies do you add the caramel to? Sounds like it could be my new favorite!! =)
Chocolate fudge peanut butter cookies…mmmmm… :0P
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh sounds amazing!
All caramel is amazing!! LOL
Oh, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa…..You’re killin’ girl, you’re killin’ me! I’m not fond of sweets, I just love making them (weird, right? I know) but caramel anything is one of the few exceptions on my list. Yes, you MUST make some caramel apple cupcakes. They are to DIE for… as in Heavenly little globes of joy. I made some for my Nephews wedding and have had 3 calls to make wedding cupcakes for his friends…..one of the girls wasn’t even engaged yet but wanted to book them in advance. haaaaaa
Now you are killing me with those cupcakes! I want them! I NEED THEM!!!!! lol
Look at you getting orders from “future brides!” Does she have a boyfriend!! LOL
OMG, I so shouldn’t be reading this at 9:22pm, now I want caramel and it’s soooooooo not on my diet 🙂
You are so cute Karen!!
Yum, that looks delish. I am making a Sticky Date Pudding and might just try this instead of my usual sauce. Thanks again, Jennie
If you are going to use it on a fav. recipe, I would recommend making it the day before so you can test it! I would hate to ruin your Stick Date Pudding!!!! LOL
I’ve been making this for several years and what a coincidence I just made some today. I really did, for a dessert I’m making. This is my favorite caramel sauce recipe. So delicious. Thanks for the step by step photos, too.