Does caramel ever really need a lengthy introduction? I mean, it’s CARAMEL…we already know it’s amazing right?! This Easy Caramel Sauce however is made with brown sugar instead of white so it’s rich and tastes amazing on pretty much anything….seriously anything!
You start by adding the sugar, butter and water to the pan. How could anything that starts with those ingredients taste anything but great right?!
Once melted, you boil that for 5 minutes. It’s going to bubble like crazy but it’s totally fine. Just stir it to keep it from burning on the bottom.
After the 5 minutes, take it off of the heat and add in your evaporated milk and vanilla and stir until it stops bubbling and is completely smooth.
That’s it!
Easy Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp water
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup evaporated milk depending on the consistency you want
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add your butter, brown sugar, water, and salt.
- Bring to a full boil then immediately lower to a simmer (medium/low) for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- In a separate cup, add the vanilla extract to your evaporated milk. That way you can add it all in to the pot at once.
- Once your mixture has been simmering for 5 minutes, remove it from the heat and slowly pour in your evaporated milk/vanilla mixture. It's going to bubble up like crazy but just keep stirring until it all comes together.
- Make sure you cool it down before serving so it's not piping hot!
45 Comments
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
January 19, 2017 at 11:39 pmThis looks crazy good. I just photographed a hot fudge recipe for Valentine’s Day. Maybe our sauces should get together and have an ice cream party.
Coco and Ash
January 22, 2017 at 10:11 amHaha!! Yes! Chocolate caramel party!!
Amanda
January 19, 2017 at 11:56 pmThis looks super easy and I have never made my own caramel! I’ll try this recipe out for sure!!
Debra C.
January 20, 2017 at 12:10 amHomemade caramel sauce is the best and your pictures look just mouthwatering!
Brian Jones
January 20, 2017 at 1:12 amOh boy that looks so sticky and indulgent, nice job!
Nicola @ Happy
January 20, 2017 at 2:48 amI LOVE homemade caramel, but I’ve never tried it with brown sugar or condensed milk. Super excited to try your version!
Cynthia
May 16, 2020 at 4:45 pmI have tried 4 other online recipes for caramel sauce and this was the best! And it was quick and easy!
Coco and Ash
May 16, 2020 at 5:19 pmThank you!
Cinnamon Sugar Banana Donuts – Coco and Ash
January 22, 2017 at 12:31 pm[…] difficult at all! And if you REALLY want to go all out (trust me…you do!), make them with my caramel dipping sauce on the side. (Tip: You can make the caramel sauce and the donut dough the night […]
Yaz
January 9, 2019 at 2:52 pmBoiling for five minutes created a smokey burnt mess. Keep temp lower maybe?
Coco and Ash
January 10, 2019 at 10:58 amHi there, definitely try it on a lower temperature. Everyone’s stove-top, pans, heat differently. So I would definitely keep a close eye on it and try a lower temp.
Krista
January 8, 2020 at 2:01 pmMine actually came out looking like the picture. A major feat for me!
Crystal Allen
January 14, 2020 at 8:07 amHow long does it keep for ?
Coco and Ash
January 19, 2020 at 1:04 pmI’d say about a week in the fridge. 🙂
Ashley Stewart
April 8, 2020 at 8:57 pmWould it be okay to change the brown sugar to regular sugar?????
Coco and Ash
April 9, 2020 at 6:37 pmFor this recipe to turn out with the right results, I’d stick with brown 🙂
Alicia
September 29, 2021 at 4:44 pmIf you don’t have brown sugar, you can always sub sugar & molasses. I’ve done it twice with this recipe. So freaking good!
Natalie
April 10, 2020 at 8:14 pmGreat recipe to use up evaporated milk! Thanks 🙂
A helpful tip I’ve picked up throughout years of experimenting with various caramels: heat the milk and vanilla 30sec-1min in microwave before adding to caramel (I did this when the butter mixture had been boiling for 4 mins). This helps to prevent caramel sauce from bubbling over and spitting back at you as it does when cold ingredients are added.
Cookie Butter Again…Sweet! | Sister Sweetly
June 13, 2020 at 8:07 pm[…] *recipe from Coco and Ash […]
Ruth MacKenzie
August 13, 2020 at 5:10 pmIs a stick of butter a quarter of a cup or a half of a cup?
Coco and Ash
August 13, 2020 at 8:03 pmI stick is half a cup
Diane Stonehouse
March 19, 2024 at 7:21 pmThis really was sooo good on vanilla ice-cream . Easy way to make this perfect sauce. I just wanted to use up the carnation milk. Thanks for sharing . Diane and Sheryl.
Easy Apple Pie Bread Pudding - Coco and Ash
September 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm[…] brown. In my opinion, you HAVE to serve this with a scoop of ice cream and some caramel sauce (click here for a homemade caramel) but it’s up to you to devour as you see […]
Caramel Apple Cheesecake - Coco and Ash
October 30, 2020 at 9:25 pm[…] caramel topping. I just quickly sauteed some apples in butter and cinnamon and drizzled with this easy caramel sauce, also made with brown sugar for extra rich caramel goodness. You’ll have some left over but […]
Gramma Di
November 14, 2020 at 4:48 pmThis caramel sauce is sooooo easy and soooooooo good! Served it with white cake and ice-cream . It is the best!
Coco and Ash
November 15, 2020 at 5:55 pmThank you!! 😀
Maya
November 18, 2020 at 2:27 pmThis is the first caramel recipe that has worked for me ! It came out wonderful definitely will use this recipe again!
Coco and Ash
November 19, 2020 at 3:26 pmThat’s awesome!!
Theresa
November 24, 2020 at 2:28 pmIs this sauce good for dipping apples or will it slide off?
Coco and Ash
November 24, 2020 at 4:05 pmI can’t guarantee it won’t slide but it’s delicious with apples! It’s not as thick as a store bought apple dip though.
Constance Nora
August 3, 2021 at 12:28 pmI just love to this recipe I’m from new Orleans and I make our caramel candy but I wanted to make it into a sauce using the exact same ingredients this is perfect I did a little dance it was that awesome so thanks so much evaporated milk is way better to use to than regular milk , heavy cream , half n half etc is has more deep flavor that’s makes up the sauce so every one give it a try you won’t regret it
Amber
October 7, 2021 at 4:34 pmI followed the recipe but mine did not bubble at all when adding the evaporated milk. What might I have done wrong?
Coco and Ash
October 11, 2021 at 9:04 pmYou might need to adjust the heat. Sorry it didnt work for you!
Claire
August 20, 2022 at 10:43 amCame out perfect, so rich and delicious. Thank you!
Aisha
September 4, 2022 at 12:20 pmBeen looking for a super easy recipe for caramel sauce,I make my own caramel candies and I need sauce now too!! Getting ready to throw it down in the kitchen 🤞
Coco and Ash
September 4, 2022 at 12:21 pmEnjoy!!
Random baker
September 4, 2022 at 7:28 pmThis caramel is way better than the stuff I made in culinary school!
Coco and Ash
September 4, 2022 at 7:32 pmAw thank you so much!! I appreciate the compliment!
Jenny S
November 21, 2022 at 4:38 pmIf I want to add a touch of heat to the caramel to drizzle over roasted sweet potatoes, how much cayenne should I add?
Coco and Ash
November 21, 2022 at 4:39 pmI would start with 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon, taste then add more if needed 🙂
Ashley Penn
November 23, 2022 at 8:39 amDecided to make some since I had leftover evaporated milk from making my pumpkin pie. It was so easy and SO good! I’m gonna use it as a drizzle on my apple pie. I’m NEVER buying storebought caramel sauce again!
Coco and Ash
November 23, 2022 at 9:14 amYay!! Thank you!
Busola
January 21, 2023 at 6:30 amJust made it this morning, turned out well, exactly like your pictures. I love the taste, thank you for the recipe
Leslie
January 28, 2023 at 4:02 pmIt tastes wonderful, but I used a half cup of evaporated milk and it was too thin😔
Michal
February 20, 2023 at 12:10 pmCan I use this to make a caramel cream cheese frosting?