Forget the canned caramel sauce, take a few minutes to make your very own easy 10 minute caramel sauce. No candy thermometer needed.
My mom always makes her own caramel sauce… and chocolate sauce, and actually everything as a matter of fact. Without a doubt, most things do taste (or can) taste better if you make them yourself, you can focus on including ingredients you like, and can have a connection to your food by making it yourself. But, the reality is that it does take extra time to make most food items by scratch. Sometimes it’s well worth the extra time, sometimes it’s not.
Well, here’s one of those times where it’s WELL worth the few minutes.
I mean if you’re going to eat caramel sauce (or anything), it might as well be DANG good, right?! I often go back to the insightful quote from Elyse Resch (one of the authors of Intuitive Eating)
If you love it, savor it, if you don’t love it, leave it.
How it Fits Into My Lifestyle
For me, on my journey to become more of an intuitive & mindful eater, this phrase resonated with me and lead me to make this super easy & even more delicious caramel sauce a few times over the past month. Because all foods you enjoy are emotionally equivalent. Also, eating delicious foods, even desserts, is all part of a balanced way of eating.
How It’ll Make Your Life Easier
Store bought caramel sauces are fine, but once you try a homemade version, it’s life changing. Making your own caramel sauce seems totally overwhelming, but there really isn’t anything to be afraid of. I’ve watched multiple people make this and it’s foolproof. Plus it only takes 10 minutes to make. It’s the best and will make your life so much sweeter.
Quick Notes on this Recipe
Know the secret ingredient that makes this caramel sauce extra amazing? Dark brown sugar. I bought brown sugar at Trader Joes a while back without realizing just how much darker this brown sugar was compared to what I usually bought. I used it in this caramel the first time I made it…. and will never make caramel sauce with light brown sugar.
I learned something interesting about different types of brown sugar too, dark brown sugar has more molasses content. Which I thought would mean more sugar compared to light brown sugar, but no! It’s jus that a higher percentage of the sugar is from molasses vs white sugar. Know what that means? MORE FLAVOR.
So, without any further ado, here’s the caramel sauce that my taste buds beg me to make.
10 Minute Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add heavy whipping cream, butter, and brown sugar to pot. Cook over medium-low heat. Stir regularly.
- Caramel will develop consistent bubbles and will thicken up a bit
- Check caramel at 7 minutes, if it's thickened a bit, then take it off heat source, if not cook for 2 more minuets. Add vanilla extract, then serve or pour into a glass bottle and refrigerate to save for later.
Here are a few foods I LOVE it on:
- crisp, tart apples
- this amazing apple tart with a yogurt filling
- my finger
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Let’s get chatty:
- Do you bake with light brown sugar or dark brown sugar?
- What are your favorite foods to make at home vs buy?
PS if you want to eat more intuitively & mindfully, and reject society’s influence on your eating choices, sign up for a free 15 minute call with me (because eating can be so wonderful and you deserve to eat delicious food, and yes that absolutely includes desserts).
Deborah Brooks says
I love caramel sauce! I’ve never made my own looks so easy
Rebecca says
me too & I didn’t before this, but it was so easy & insanely delicious that I had to make it again to post ๐
Chrissy @ Snacking in Sneakers says
I’ll take a big ol spoonful of this on top of some apple cinnamon pancakes. YUM!
Rebecca says
oh man, that sounds like HEAVEN! great idea
Mikki says
I love realizing that I can make things at home for myself. It’s so much easier and so self satisfying.
This sauce looks amazing too!
Rebecca says
so true! I can’t believe just how easy this sauce was! it’s a must-make for sure
Abbey Sharp says
This sauce looks incredible! i wanna put it on everything!
Rebecca says
thanks Abbey! I haven’t found anything it didn’t taste good on ๐
Rachel says
Whipping cream! My recipe doesn’t use whipping cream… great idea! I bet it’s super smooth and creamy.
Rebecca says
ohhhh yes it’s so smooth and dreamy!
Laura says
I usually don’t use any brown sugar. However, this caramel looks so good that I think I have to buy some brown sugar ๐
Rebecca says
haha yes! thanks! I’m obsessed with dark brown sugar now, it’s a game changer
Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com says
Yum! this caramel sauce looks so delicious, my kids will love it!
Rebecca says
thanks! let me know how it goes ๐
Sandi says
I love homemade caramel…it is perfect on everything from my latte to apple crisp!
Rebecca says
ohhh oh yes it is! yum