Name: Recipe "Salted Caramel Sauce"
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 cup granulated sugar; 12 tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature, cut into pieces); 1 cup heavy cream (at room temperature); 1 to 2 tsp fleur de sel or Maldon sea salt flakes (see note)

Don’t miss Lemon Curd, Pizza Sauce, and Avocado Sauce either.

Why This Homemade Caramel Sauce Stands Out

You only need 4 ingredients to make the best salted caramel sauce you’ve ever tasted. It comes together in about 10 minutes with just sugar, butter, cream, and flaky salt. I keep a jar in my fridge at all times for drizzling over ice cream, brownies, or a spoonful straight from the jar.

Why You’ll Love This 4 Ingredient Caramel Sauce

Just 4 ingredients, sugar, butter, cream, and salt, that you probably already have.
Takes only 10 minutes from start to finish, with no candy thermometer needed.
Works on everything from ice cream to coffee to homemade gifts.

Key Ingredients for This Homemade Caramel Sauce

Granulated sugar: Plain white sugar melts into a clean caramel. Avoid brown sugar, which would change the flavor and moisture.
Unsalted butter: Using unsalted lets you control the saltiness. Cut into pieces and bring to room temperature so it blends smoothly.
Flaky sea salt: Fleur de sel or Maldon flakes add a mild salt crunch that dissolves into the caramel. Regular table salt is too strong and fine.

Simple Tools for Making Caramel Sauce

Heavy 2-3 quart saucepan, distributes heat evenly and prevents hot spots.
Wire whisk, for stirring the sugar and later mixing in the butter and cream.
Large glass jar or container, for storing the finished sauce.

Tips for the Best Salted Caramel Sauce

Get everything measured and ready before you start. Once the sugar is over medium-high heat, you’ll need to watch it closely. Whisk only at the beginning when the sugar clumps, then stop and swirl the pan. Look for a deep amber color, then immediately add the butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat, slowly pour in the room-temperature cream while whisking steadily. Finish with flaky sea salt; regular salt won’t give the same delicate crunch.

Easy Variations for This Salted Caramel Recipe

If you prefer a plain caramel sauce, simply leave out the salt. The rest of the recipe stays the same. You can also adjust the salt level to your taste: start with 1 teaspoon of flaky salt, then add more if you like.

Best Ways to Use This Salted Caramel Sauce

Drizzle this caramel sauce over ice cream, brownies, cake, or pie. It’s also fantastic on cheesecake or a skillet cookie. For a quick snack, dip apple or pear slices right into the jar. Add a spoonful to hot chocolate or coffee. And it makes a lovely homemade gift: fill a jar, tie on a ribbon, and write a note.

How to Store Leftover Salted Caramel Sauce

After making the sauce, let it rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then pour it into a jar and allow it to cool to room temperature. Seal and refrigerate for up to one month. The sauce will thicken as it chills.

Can You Freeze Homemade Caramel Sauce?

Yes, you can freeze this caramel sauce for up to 3 months. Pour it into an airtight container, leaving a little headspace. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature before reheating.

How to Reheat Thickened Caramel Sauce

Microwave the cold or thawed sauce for 15 to 30 seconds, then stir until smooth. It will become pourable and ready to use.

Salted Caramel Sauce FAQs

How do I know when the caramel is done?

Cook the sugar until it reaches a deep amber color. Watch closely, as it can go from perfect to burnt very quickly. No candy thermometer is needed.

How long can I store it in the fridge?

The sauce keeps in the refrigerator for up to one month when stored in a sealed jar. It will thicken when cold.

Can I freeze the caramel sauce?

Yes, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before reheating.

Can I omit the salt?

Absolutely. Leave out the flaky sea salt for a classic plain caramel sauce. The recipe works the same way without it.

Recipe

Salted Caramel Sauce

The BEST salted caramel sauce! It's easy to make and is great drizzled over ice cream, cake, cookies, cupcakes, cheesecake...and anything else you can think of!

easyVegetarian

5 min

Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

15 min

Total Time

Servings

French

Cuisine

247 kcal

Calories

Ingredients

Servings

2 cup granulated sugar
12 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into pieces

1 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1 to 2 tsp fleur de sel or Maldon sea salt flakes, see note

Instructions

1
First, make sure you have all of the ingredients ready. Once you start the caramel sauce you have to pay close attention so you don't burn it. To begin, heat the sugar over medium high-heat in the bottom of a heavy 2-3 quart saucepan. When the sugar starts to melt, start whisking the sugar. The sugar will clump up, but keep whisking. It will continue to melt. When the sugar is melted, stop whisking. You can swirl the pan to move the sugar around.
2
Continue cooking the sugar until it reaches a deep amber color. Make sure you watch the pan very closely. This is where it is easy to burn the caramel.
3
As soon as the sugar reaches the dark amber color, carefully add the butter. Stir until butter is melted.

4
Remove the pan from the heat and slowly pour in the heavy cream. Whisk until cream is incorporated and caramel is smooth. Whisk in the fleur de sel or Maldon sea salt flakes.
5
Let the caramel sauce cool for about 10 minutes in the pan. Pour the caramel into a large jar and cool to room temperature. Put the salted caramel sauce in the refrigerator. Store the salted caramel sauce in the refrigerator for about a month.

Nutrition (per serving)

247kcal

Calorie breakdown

Protein1%2 kcal

Fat51%131 kcal

Carbohydrates48%121 kcal

How this was calculated — 4 of 4 ingredients matched

granulated sugarSugars, granulated1848 kcal

unsalted butterButter, salted1291 kcal

heavy creamCream, fluid, heavy whipping816 kcal

fleur de sel or Maldon sea salt flakesSalt, table0 kcal

Serving size ≈ 57 g · 16 servings

Nutrition information is automatically calculated from USDA FoodData Central, so should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, and preparation methods used.

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Keyword: gluten-free, glutenFree, nutFree, Simmered, vegetarian

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