This quick and easy microwave caramel sauce hack needs only 3 ingredients.
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Caramel Sauce Hack
The technique when making traditional caramel sauce is browning white sugar for taste and color. This recipe is a timesaving hack, no stovetop, no fancy technique or thermometers required.
It's as easy as warming the ingredients in the microwave, letting it cool down, pouring it into a jar and storing it in the refrigerator.
After it has chilled it can be poured right from the fridge. Drizzle over ice cream, coffee drinks, apple pie, cinnamon rolls, cakes, cookies or as a dip for apples.
Love easy dessert toppings? Check these 2 ingredients condensed milk sauces or try this Amazing Ice Cream Sundae Charcuterie Board.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Butter – You can use unsalted or salted. I prefer to use unsalted, so I can add flaky sea salt.
Heavy Cream – You can also use half and half. Heavy cream has a higher fat content which makes the sauce nice and thick.
Brown Sugar – I used dark brown sugar, I love the flavor and texture. Dark brown sugar has more molasses than light brown sugar. More molasses means a darker color and stronger flavor.
Step by Step Directions and Photos
1. Place butter into microwavable safe container.
2. Microwave butter for 45 seconds or until melted.
3. Add light or dark brown sugar to the melted butter and mix.
4. Add some of the heavy cream to the sugar butter mixture and mix.
5. Cover with a paper towel and place back into the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
6. Remove from the microwave and cool the mixture down with extra heavy cream. Mix well. Completely cool.
7. Pour the mixture into your storage container.
8. Place a lid on your storage container and refrigerate. Overnight is best.
9. After your caramel sauce has been refrigerated overnight. You will notice the next morning the color and texture changes, I suspect the butter and heavy cream are the reason. It's ready to serve.
FAQ & Tips
What kind of flavorings can I add to caramel sauce?
Adding vanilla extract, sea salt, or warm spices like cinnamon or nutmeg would enhance the flavor.
What kind of brown sugar can be used?
Dark brown sugar for a deep color and flavor or light brown sugar for a lighter color and mellow flavor.
How to store caramel sauce?
Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to two weeks. This sauce is pourable right out of the refrigerator.
How to reheat caramel sauce?
Place your caramel sauce in a microwavable container and microwave and mix every 15 seconds until warm to the desired temperature.
Prefer to Watch? Check out the How to Video
Microwave Caramel Sauce
Equipment
- Glass Measuring Cup or Deep Bowl
- Measuring Tools
- Metal Whisk
- Kitchen Mitts
- 16oz Mason Jar with plastic lid or storage container
- Microwave
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Butter Unsalted or Salted
- ¾ Cup Heavy Cream (½ Cup and ¼ Cup, Seperated)
- 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
Instructions
- Microwave butter covered with kitchen towel in glass measuring cup or bowl. Melt for 45 seconds - 1 minute.
- Carefully remove hot glass measuring cup from microwave with kitchen mitts.
- Add brown sugar and mix well with whisk.
- Add ½ cup of heavy cream and mix well with whisk.
- Place back in microwave covered for 1 - 2 minutes.
- Carefully remove hot glass measuring cup from microwave with kitchen mitts
- Add ¼ cup of heavy cream and mix well with whisk
- Cool completely and pour into glass mason jar.
- Cover and chill in refrigerator overnight.
- Next day, remove and mix well. Keep stored and chilled in the refrigerator.
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