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Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 72 reviews
  • Author: Zoe
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: About 1 ¾ cups 1x

Description

This rich and velvety Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce is a simple homemade treat perfect for drizzling over ice cream, desserts, or even adding a sweet touch to your favorite drinks. Made with butter, light brown sugar, heavy cream, and a hint of vanilla, this sauce balances sweetness with a buttery depth and a touch of salt to enhance the flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Pinch sea salt or sea salt flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Melt Butter and Brown Sugar: In a heavy saucepan, melt together the salted butter and packed light brown sugar over medium heat, stirring often to combine thoroughly.
  2. Cook Until Bubbly: Continue cooking the mixture for a couple of minutes until it becomes bubbly and the sugar is fully dissolved, creating a smooth base for the sauce.
  3. Incorporate Heavy Cream: Slowly pour in the heavy whipping cream while gently whisking, as the mixture may bubble up. For a light and thin sauce ideal for drinks or pouring over ice cream, remove the pan from heat immediately. For a darker, thicker caramel sauce, simmer the mixture for an additional several minutes until it reaches your desired golden color and thickness.
  4. Add Vanilla and Salt: Once removed from heat, stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt or salt flakes to enhance flavor complexity and balance sweetness.
  5. Cool and Store: Transfer the caramel sauce to a heat-proof container and allow it to cool to room temperature. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Warm gently before using if the sauce thickens too much.

Notes

  • The salt is optional but highly recommended to balance the sweetness and bring out the caramel flavor.
  • For a thinner sauce, remove from heat immediately after adding cream; for thicker sauce, simmer longer.
  • Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  • Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop before serving if the sauce becomes too thick.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: brown sugar caramel sauce, homemade caramel sauce, caramel sauce recipe, easy caramel sauce, dessert sauce

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Find it online: https://cookingwithzoe.com/brown-sugar-caramel-sauce-recipe/