
Salted Caramel Sauce is a staple in my kitchen, and this cheat’s version uses only four ingredients and takes about 10 minutes to make! It starts from a brown sugar base, so you don’t have to worry about burning sugar or splattering lava-hot caramel across your stovetop. I’ve shared this caramel sauce in other recipes over the years, but it honestly deserved its own dedicated blog post. Mostly so you can find it fast in a caramel emergency… because we’ve all been there, right?
It tastes incredible on just about everything. Drizzled over ice cream, spooned on top of winter desserts, swirled through cheesecake, poured over pies or even blended into milkshakes! It’s truly the easiest, most versatile salted caramel sauce – and this is exactly why I make it from scratch and haven’t bought supermarket caramel in years and years!

What you need to make Salted Caramel Sauce
Butter – Butter helps to make the sauce glossy and rich, but make sure to use real butter, not margarine for the best flavour and texture. Salted or unsalted both work. If you use salted, just add a little less salt at the end.
Cream – In Australia, the most common option is ‘thickened’ cream which has about 35% fat. It works perfectly to make a silky, stable caramel. You can substitute heavy cream or pure cream, just make sure you’re using a pourable full-fat cream for the best texture.
Brown sugar – My favourite caramel shortcut! Instead of melting and caramelising white sugar – which requires attention and a bit of kitchen confidence – brown sugar gives you a foolproof base with a deep, toffee-like flavour. It dissolves quickly and takes away all the potential stress of burning your sugar, making this recipe perfect for beginners.
Salt – Balances the sweetness and really rounds out the flavour. I don’t give an exact measurement because it depends on your personal taste and what you’re pairing the sauce with. Start small, add a pinch at a time and taste as you go (carefully, because it’s very hot!). I like to use a flaky sea salt like Maldon.
Optional flavourings – Here’s where you can have some fun! You can customise your caramel depending on what you’re serving it with. I have added flavourings like white miso, bourbon, soy sauce, vanilla bean paste and spices like cinnamon or cardamom to change up this sauce. You can even infuse the cream beforehand (think Earl Grey tea leaves, lavender or star anise). Just warm the cream, steep for 30 minutes, strain the solids and carry on with the recipe as written below.

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, place the butter, brown sugar and cream into a saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until the butter melts and the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and let it bubble for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken slightly and become glossy. Remove from the heat, stir through the salt and any flavourings, and you’re done!
You can serve the sauce warm or pour it into a clean, airtight jar. It’s great for making in advance because it keeps for 3-4 weeks in the fridge. To reheat, warm it gently in a saucepan over low heat or microwave it in 20 second bursts, stirring in between, until warmed through and silky again.

What to do with Salted Caramel Sauce?
I’ve been making this caramel for many years, so I have shared quite a few ways that I love to use it in desserts! It’s impossible to pick a favourite!!
- Apple Miso Caramel with Salted Caramel Ice Cream
- Banana Self Saucing Pudding with Miso Caramel
- Sticky Date Rolls with Salted Caramel Sauce
- Salted Caramel and Bourbon Milkshakes
- Fig and Salted Caramel Meringue Smash
- Baked Peaches with Mascarpone, Salted Caramel Sauce and Crumble
- Cider Pancakes with Apples and Cider Salted Caramel
- Sticky Date Donuts with Salted Caramel Sauce

And if you’re interested in swapping more store-bought items for delicious homemade versions, check out this recipe and more in my new free ebook ‘Things I No Longer Buy’. It’s a mini collection of recipes like this one that I make on repeat and haven’t added to my grocery list in years!
Related Post: Homemade Caramel Popcorn


Salted Caramel Sauce
This salted caramel sauce is so easy to make – it only takes 10 minutes to cook! I love swirling this sauce into cheesecakes, no churn ice cream or serving with puddings and other warm winter desserts. You can also add flavours like bourbon, white miso paste or even soy sauce for a unique variation.
Ingredients
- 60 g butter
- 1 cup thickened cream (250ml)
- 160 g brown sugar
- Flaky sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- Place the butter, cream and brown sugar into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until the butter is melted and the ingredients have combined.
- When the mixture comes to the boil, lower the heat and cook for about 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Add sea salt, to taste and whisk to combine.
- Serve warm or transfer to a clean airtight jar or container. Store in the fridge for 3-4 weeks.
- Serve room temperature or warm. To serve warm, gently reheat in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds until warmed through.



































































