A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I’m not really a dessert person. I’m a pastry chef, and I love baking, but I can resist freshly baked cookies and cake. Okay, what I mean to say is that I love my desserts to be salty and sweet, like this salted caramel sauce.
I know a lot of people like to skip the salt in dessert recipes because it seems unnecessary. They are mistaken! In fact, it’s a really important ingredient! Salt actually brings out the sweetness and balances flavors in food and dessert.
Caramel sauce is a sweet, decadent treat. It elevates every dessert it is added to without overpowering it. Caramel sauce is smooth, decadent, and silky, but it can be intimidating to make. It takes a long time to cook the sugar to the proper temperature, the sugar gets scary hot, you need a candy thermometer…who has time and patience for that?!
This caramel sauce skips all the craziness and is really quick and simple to whip up. The trick is that it calls for brown sugar. I think this technically makes this recipe a butterscotch, but all I can taste is deliciousness. The brown sugar is loaded with molasses so the sauce already looks like a caramel from the start. All it needs is some heat to melt the sugar crystals and bring the butter and cream together…no thermometer required! I like my caramel to taste slightly salty, so I use a full teaspoon of salt. If you want a more classic caramel flavor, just use a half teaspoon of salt.
This caramel sauce comes together really quickly, no candy thermometer needed! You will find yourself drizzling it on everything, from pies to cakes to ice cream. It makes a beautiful gift; just pour it into a cute glass jar and wrap it up. Add the recipe to the tag for a nice touch.
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SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE CHIP BLONDIES
These caramel blondies couldn’t be easier to make. I love a recipe that can be baked in a pan; it’s really hard to mess up. Mix up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, press half into the pan. Drizzle with homemade salted caramel sauce. Top with the remaining cookie dough, and bake. Cut into squares and share with family and friends; or keep it all to yourself— these are hard to resist! For an even better dessert, serve warm, topped with ice cream and more caramel sauce.
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This layered dessert is a showstopper. The contrasting colors and textures will make you look like a star! The components are simple to make, but if you are pressed for time, use store-bought pudding, brownies, and whipped cream. Just layer individually or in one large trifle dish for a picture-perfect dessert!
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I love my snacks to be salty, crunchy, and sweet. That’s exactly why this popcorn is my latest obsession. Just whip up a batch of Simple Salted Caramel Sauce, pour it over freshly popped popcorn, and bake.
I like it simple, but you can get creative by drizzling it with melted white or dark chocolate once it comes out of the oven. You can also mix in your favorite candy or marshmallows.
For a sweet and spicy variation, add a few drops of sriracha or other hot sauce to the caramel. For another spicy variation, try sprinkling the popcorn with some cayenne pepper before drizzling the caramel on top. For a Cracker Jack, try mixing in salted peanuts or your favorite nuts, then drizzle the whole thing with the caramel sauce.
TIP: This makes a really delicious gift: Package it in a clear gift bag and tie with a ribbon.
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