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    Home » Recipe Index » Desserts

    Peanut Butter Caramel (1 cup)

    December 4, 2019 Updated April 4, 2024 By Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD Desserts, Fall Recipes

    Jump to Recipe
    dipping apple into peanut butter caramel sauce in a jar
    pouring peanut butter caramel sauce into jar with text overlay

    This peanut butter caramel is sweet, salty, and just a tad peanut buttery. It makes for a delicious topping to your dessert or some fruit. Homemade caramel sounds hard, but you can make this easy recipe in just 10 minutes.

    peanut butter caramel sauce on spoon with jar of caramel in background

    [This peanut butter caramel recipe was originally posted in March 2018. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, video and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

    Table of contents

    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Storage Tips
    • Substitutions/Tips
    • FAQ
    • How can I repurpose this caramel?
    • What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    This 10 minute homemade peanut butter caramel sauce would make a great dessert dip, or even better, a holiday gift! OR these chocolate covered oreos, homemade hot cocoa mix would both make great holiday gifts.

    If you haven't made homemade caramel or thought of it before, now's your opportunity. it's surprisingly easy! (plus, people would be super impressed with you).

    It's really actually easy, I always thought caramel was so hard, but if you follow the instructions, and not stir it, it'll work out great! Plus the added peanut butter powder adds so much peanut flavor, it's a great addition.

    Ingredients

    Scroll down to the peanut butter caramel recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick description of what's in this recipe.

    • Dark brown sugar
    • Heavy whipping cream
    • Salted butter
    • Vanilla extract
    • Peanut butter powder: Instead of using peanut butter, I recommend using the powder for a strong peanut butter flavor, without changing the consistency of the caramel. It's a great ingredient to have on hand for smoothies!

    Instructions

    Scroll down to the peanut butter caramel sauce recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.

    hand stirring butter into caramel sauce in a pot

    1. Add heavy whipping cream, butter, and brown sugar to a medium sized pot. Stir well. Cook over medium-low heat.

    bubbling caramel sauce in pot

    2. As it cooks, the caramel will develop consistent bubbles and will thicken up a bit. Do not stir caramel while it's cooking or it will get clumpy.

    3. Check caramel at 7 minutes, if it's thickened a bit, then take it off heat source, if not cook for 2 more minuets. It'll look like it's almost as thick as you think it should be.

    peanut butter powder in caramel sauce in a pan

    5. Dip apples, graham crackers, and other treats into this peanut butter caramel sauce. Or serve over ice cream.

    4. Add vanilla extract and peanut butter powder, after it's been removed from heat source. Then serve or pour into a glass bottle and refrigerate to save for later.

    Storage Tips

    Store leftover peanut butter caramel in an airtight container in the fridge. To use, reheat in the microwave, covered. It should last about a week.

    Substitutions/Tips

    • Peanut butter powder is a great flavor enhancer for this caramel
    • Use dark brown sugar to get a deeper caramel flavor.
    • Do not stir while cooking, or caramel may become clumpy.
    • Remove right before you think it's thick enough. Once it seems thick enough, it'll harden pretty easily.
    • Swap peanut butter powder for 1-2 teaspoons creamy peanut butter if you don't have peanut butter powder.
    • Dip apples, graham crackers, and other treats into this caramel

    FAQ

    How do you make caramel sauce thicker?

    Just keep boiling caramel sauce until it's almost to the desired thickness. Caramel sauce gets thicker by water evaporating through boiling it. It usually takes 5-10 minutes to boil enough water out of the sauce to thicken it.

    How do you fix broken caramel sauce?

    Caramel can get too thick and harden up, it can also be too thin. If it's too thick, set it over gentle heat and slowly add water or whipping cream back into it so it thins out. If it's too thin, cook for a few more minutes to thicken up.

    How do you cook caramel without crystallizing?

    Try to not stir it when it's cooking. If you stir caramel too much, it can get clumpy because the sugar crystals hook up to each other.

    Try to stir before heating, heat over gentle heat, and then stir again once it's thickened up and you've removed it from the stove.

    dipping apple into peanut butter caramel sauce in a jar

    How can I repurpose this caramel?

    • Add caramel peanut butter to yogurt
    • Serve over ice cream, maybe even with this homemade strawberry sauce.
    • Top this delicious yogurt tart with caramel sauce and apples

    What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    • Heavy whipping cream: add to this Creamy Asparagus Soup or Sweet Potato Soup.
    • Peanut butter powder: add it to a smoothie, like this Triple Berry Smoothie with Granola or Strawberry Banana PB Smoothie.
    • Keep the other ingredients in your pantry for other baking recipes.

    Did you make this peanut butter caramel? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

    peanut butter caramel sauce on spoon with jar of caramel in background

    Peanut Butter Caramel (1 cup)

    This peanut butter caramel is sweet, salty, and just a tad peanut buttery. It makes for a delicious topping to your dessert or some fruit. Homemade caramel sounds hard, but you can make this easy recipe in just 10 minutes.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 cup
    Author: Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN

    Equipment

    • Medium Pot
    • rubber spatula
    • Glass bottle

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup dark brown sugar packed
    • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
    • 4 tablespoons salted butter
    • 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoons peanut butter powder

    Instructions

    • Add ½ cup heavy whipping cream, 4 Tablespoons butter, and ¾ cup brown sugar to pot. Cook over medium-low heat. Stir regularly. 
    • Caramel will develop consistent bubbles and will thicken up a bit. Stir occasionally.
    • 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 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons peanut butter powder, then serve or pour into a glass bottle and refrigerate to save for later.
    • Dip apples, graham crackers, and other treats into this caramel sauce.

    Notes

    • Peanut butter powder is a great flavor enhancer for this caramel
    • Use dark brown sugar to get a deeper caramel flavor.
    • Do not stir while cooking, or caramel may become clumpy.
    • Remove right before you think it's thick enough. Once it seems thick enough, it'll harden pretty easily.
    • Swap peanut butter powder for 1-2 teaspoon creamy peanut butter if you don't have peanut butter powder.
    • Dip apples, graham crackers, and other treats into this caramel
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @NourishNutriCo or tag #NourishNutriCo!

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    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

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    About Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian who has been cooking for one for over 10 years. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alyssa says

      April 13, 2018 at 9:51 am

      Dang! This is so easy and I have all the ingredients sitting at home!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        April 13, 2018 at 1:34 pm

        yay! aren't easy recipes just the best?!

        Reply
    2. Beth says

      April 13, 2018 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      This sounds so amazing! Two of my all time favorite flavors! This sounds like a great treat with apples!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        April 13, 2018 at 1:35 pm

        thanks, and yes! apples are such a great vehicle for this caramel

        Reply
    3. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      April 13, 2018 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      PB + Caramel? Genius! Two of my fave things and I've never thought of combining before. Bet this would taste delicious on yogurt too 🙂

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        April 13, 2018 at 1:36 pm

        ohhh yes! so good on yogurt, great idea!

        Reply
    4. Camilla Hawkins says

      April 13, 2018 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      Oh my, you caramel sauce looks just heavenly - must try this!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        April 13, 2018 at 1:36 pm

        thanks Camilla

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes

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