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Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe (15-Minutes!)

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

April 6, 2025

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5 from 8 votes

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Homemade salted caramel sauce pinterest image.
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This 15-Minute Easy Salted Caramel Sauce makes it easy to create the most amazingly delicious, rich salted caramel topping in a hurry!

Salted caramel sauce in small weck jar.

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Table of Contents

  • Ingredient notes
  • How to make salted caramel sauce
  • How to use it
  • How to make ahead and store
  • FAQs
  • Recipes using salted caramel sauce
  • Full Recipe

Why you’ll love this recipe

This salted caramel sauce is amazingly simple to make. There’s no thermometers needed, no fancy ingredients. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes to make. It’ll take that long for the ice cream to soften up from the freezer.

This Easy Salted Caramel Sauce is by far one of the most requested recipes from my husband. I think that he could just stand in front of the fridge and eat it by the spoonful. Actually… I think he has.

Reader

Love



5 stars
So easy and delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!

–

Jen

Ingredient notes

Ingredients for Salted Caramel Sauce.
  • Sugar – Plain white granulated sugar.
  • Butter – Unsalted butter is best here so that you can control the salt at the end. If using salted butter, reduce the amount of salt used.
  • Heavy Cream – Aka heavy whipping cream.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract – I love making homemade sous vide vanilla extract.
  • Salt

How to make salted caramel sauce

  1. Melt sugar: Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add in the sugar and stir until it’s liquefied and turns an amber color.
  2. Add butter: To that, you’ll add in some butter. Be careful, because it will bubble up. Just keep on stirring and things will settle down a bit.
  3. Add cream: Then, add in the heavy cream, let it heat through for just a minute longer.
  4. Finish it off with a sprinkling of sea salt and a splash of vanilla.

That’s it – Super simple! Drizzle that warm sauce over a bowl of ice cream, and you’re guaranteed to enter heaven for at least a brief moment.

But, there are more uses for this homemade caramel sauce than just an ice cream topping. Many, many more uses.

I’ve been striving over the past few years to somehow work this Salted Caramel Sauce into as many recipes as humanly possible…

How to use it

  • Salted Caramel Apple Tartlets
  • Salted Caramel Yogurt Popsicles
  • Butterscotch Budino with Salted Caramel
  • Salted Caramel Banana Bread

How to make ahead and store

  • Store your homemade salted caramel sauce in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to serve, simply heat up the caramel in the microwave or on the store.

FAQs

Does Salted Caramel Sauce Need to be Refrigerated?

Because there is cream and butter in this salted carmel sauce recipe, it does need to be stored in the refrigerator.

How Long Does Salted Caramel Sauce Keep?

Homemade salted caramel sauce keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks – if you can keep it around that long

Can Salted Caramel Sauce be Frozen?

You can freeze this salted carmel sauce in an airtight container for up to three months. I like to transfer it to a small ziploc bag and freeze it flat (it defrosts quicker that way). To defrost – place it in your refrigerator overnight.

Salted Caramel Sauce in jar with spoon.

How would you enjoy this caramel? Simply over a bowl of ice cream, or used in one of the recipes above? Let me know in the comments below!

Recipes using salted caramel sauce

  • Salted Caramel Yogurt Popsicles (Yasso Copycat Recipe)

    new!

    Salted Caramel Yogurt Popsicles (Yasso Copycat Recipe)

  • Butterscotch Budino Recipe with Salted Caramel

    new!

    Butterscotch Budino Recipe with Salted Caramel

  • Salted Caramel Banana Bread with Yogurt

    new!

    Salted Caramel Banana Bread with Yogurt

  • Caramel Apple Tartlets

    new!

    Caramel Apple Tartlets

Did you try this quick caramel sauce recipe?

If you loved this post on how to make salted caramel I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

PS – If you loved this recipe, be sure to try my dulce de leche too… All you need to make it is a can of condensed milk!

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Salted caramel sauce in small weck jar.

Full Recipe

Salted Caramel Sauce

This 15 Minute Easy Salted Caramel Sauce recipe makes it easy to create the most amazingly delicious, rich salted caramel topping in a hurry!
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin
Serves 6 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Rubber spatula

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter (cut up into 6 pieces)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Heat the sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat and stir with rubber spatula until sugar is liquefied and amber in color.
  • Once sugar is completely melted, add butter and stir until dissolved.
  • Slowly add in heavy cream and heat for one minute.
  • Remove from heat and add vanilla and salt.
  • The sauce will keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

Notes

This recipe makes 1 cup of salted caramel sauce. 
How to make ahead and store
  • Store your homemade salted caramel sauce in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to serve, simply heat up the caramel in the microwave or on the store.

Nutrition

Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 495mg | Potassium: 14mg | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 640IU | Calcium: 16mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

This recipe was originally published in 2016. It was updated in 2019 to add new content, photographs and an instructional video. The original salted carmel sauce recipe remains the same. Enjoy! 

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5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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25 responses

  1. Erin
    December 3, 2018

    I’d love to hear your method Ben! I happen to think this recipe is super simple, but am always looking for ways to improve.

    Reply
  2. PJ
    December 28, 2018

    can I sub brown sugar or half brown instead of white?

    Reply
  3. Grilled Peaches with Whipped Mascarpone Recipe | Urban Foodie Kitchen
    July 24, 2019

    […] grocery store, which will work just fine for this recipe. I like to make my own and with this quick 15-minute recipe from my friend Erin at Platings & Pairings you can whip up a batch in no […]

    Reply
  4. Salted Caramel Apple Galette | Urban Foodie Kitchen
    June 7, 2020

    […] speaking of caramel sauce, remember that caramel sauce that I used in this Salted Caramel Ice Cream. Well, it’s back on top of this galette – […]

    Reply
  5. hanna
    October 28, 2020

    do you use unsalted butter?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      October 29, 2020

      Hi Hanna – I tend to use unsalted butter for this recipe.

      Reply
  6. Aspen
    May 31, 2021

    5 stars
    Delicious rich caramel sauce. I used this recipe to drizzle on banana nut bread.

    Reply
  7. Jen
    December 1, 2023

    5 stars
    So easy and delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      December 11, 2023

      Thank you!

      Reply
  8. Carol Babineaux
    July 16, 2025

    5 stars
    The easiest and most delicious salted caramel sauce I’ve made so far.

    Reply
    1. Erin Lynch
      July 16, 2025

      Thanks so much Carol!

      Reply
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Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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