Salted Spiced Caramel Sauce

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This isn’t your basic caramel sauce. It’s salted and spiced! These easy-to-follow instructions will show you how to make a Salted Spiced Caramel Sauce with cozy and warming spices. The perfect topping for ice cream, cakes, pies and so much more.

spiced salted caramel sauce in an apple

Of all the things I make in the fall and colder months, this salted spice caramel sauce is the thing I make the most. It’s requested often, and for a good reason -it’s insanely delicious. The texture is exquisite, and the sweet, salty and spiced flavors are to die for.
Cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and sea salt add warm and cozy flavor. This sauce is perfect with apples, oatmeal and served simply with a spoon. This recipe is inspired by a recipe on my friend Valentina’s blog, Cooking on the Weekends, and I’m so glad I found it. It’s perfect for holiday gifting. This homemade salted spice caramel sauce is so simple and so tasty, you’ll never reach for a jar at the store again. Enjoy!

ingredients for spiced salted caramel sauce

Ingredients

  • Water: You will need to add some water to the saucepan for the sugar to dissolve.
  • Sugar: Caramels are made by heating sugars, so it’s pretty important. No substitutions -granulated sugar is vital.
  • Light Corn Syrup: There’s a bunch of sciencey stuff involved, but corn syrup keeps the caramel from crystalizing and becoming hard.
  • Butter: I recommend using unsalted butter here. You’ll be adding sea salt, which is plenty of salt.
  • Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is another non-negotiable ingredient. It helps make a velvety caramel sauce and can not be substituted.
  • Sour Cream: adds another layer of rich and decadent flavor to this sauce. It also makes it “drippy,” so it’s perfect for drizzling over ice cream and desserts.
  • Sea Salt: highlights the sweet flavors and adds salty flavor to the sauce. You can also use kosher salt here.
  • Warming Spices: I used cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg to spice up this salted caramel sauce. Clove and ginger also add warm and cozy flavor or you can add pumpkin pie spice.

How to Make – The Steps

boiled ingredients for spiced salted caramel sauce

Step 1: Boil sugar.

In a small saucepan, add the sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir it and transfer it to the stove. Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until it becomes an amber color (about 10 minutes).

Step 2: Prep the remaining ingredients.

While the sugar is boiling, you should measure out the remaining ingredients. You want to be prepared because when the sugar gets to the right color, you have literal seconds before it burns.

Step 3: Add remaining ingredients.

As soon as the liquid is the right color, add the spices, salt, cream, sour cream and butter to the saucepot and whisk. It’s normal for the caramel to sputter and spit. Continue whisking. It may seize a little but keep whisking. It will come back together.

Step 4: Remove from heat and serve.

When the sauce is thick and super sticky, remove the saucepan from the stove. I like to serve my caramel sauce with sliced honey crisp apples! Enjoy!

ingredients for salted spiced caramel sauce in a pot

Tips & Tricks

  • When the sugar reaches a deep amber color, you need to move quickly and add everything to the saucepan. Sometimes I mix the sour cream, spices and salt in a measuring cup and pour it all in together instead of separately to save a few seconds.
  • Carefully pour the remaining ingredients into the saucepot. The sugar will be hot. You don’t want it to splash.
  • That said, use a reasonably large saucepan with tall sides. When the caramel starts bubbling, it can get messy.
  • Don’t walk away from the stove. If caramel becomes even the slightest bit overcooked, you’ll have to toss it and start all over.
ingredients for salted spiced caramel sauce in a pot

Why is Salted Spiced Caramel Sauce So Good?

  • It’s quick, easy and so much better than any store-bought caramel sauce.
  • It tastes incredible on so many things – apple pie, cheesecake, cottage cheese, etc.
  • The texture is smooth and buttery and the flavor is next-level sweet and delicious.
  • No candy thermometer is needed!
ingredients for salted caramel sauce in a pot

How to Use Salted Spice Caramel Sauce

Let’s be honest. Caramel sauce is good with just about anything, but just in case you need some ideas:

As a dip: served with sliced apples, pears and marshmallows! Speaking of marshmallows, you might want to try them with our Chai Latte Marshmallows or Vanilla Bean Marshmallows for an extra special treat.

Drizzled over pies:

Drizzled over cakes:

salted spiced caramel sauce in an apple for dipping

Variations

  • Regular Caramel Sauce: If you’re not a fan of salt and spices, you can use this recipe to make a regular caramel sauce. Omit the spices and use just a pinch of salt. A dash of vanilla would also be nice.
  • Bourbon Caramel Sauce: Finish the sauce with bourbon. Whisk in about 2 tablespoons of bourbon to the sauce right before taking the saucepan off the stove.
  • Chocolate Coffee Caramel Sauce: Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder and a tablespoon of brewed coffee.

Storing & Freezing

Storing: Allow your salted caramel sauce to cool completely to room temperature before storing. Pour into sanitized glass jars or any glass airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Reheat it in the microwave or place the jar in hot water.
Freezing: Let your sauce cool to room temperature and then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it again, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

salted spiced caramel sauce in an apple for dipping

FAQ

Why is my salted caramel sauce separating?

The caramel may separate since we used fat in this recipe (butter, cream and sour cream). No big deal! If this happens, reheat the caramel over medium heat while stirring continuously.

Why do you need butter and cream in caramel sauce?

Heating sugar with butter and cream to make caramel makes it so the sauce won’t harden and stays smooth and creamy. Without it, the flavor won’t be as rich and full-bodied.

Can you fix overcooked caramel?

No. Once the caramel is overcooked, there’s no turning back. Be sure to keep a watchful eye on the stovetop. As soon as the sauce is a deep amber color, it will quickly go from perfect to overcooked.

More Recipes Using Caramel

Wrapped Salted Caramels

Maple Bourbon Caramel Sauce

Pumpkin Salted Caramel Blondies

Caramel Cupcakes

salted spiced caramel sauce in an apple for dipping

Salted Spiced Caramel Sauce

bakedbree
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizers & Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cup
Calories 128 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 Tablespoon sour cream
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1/8 teaspoon fresh nutmeg

Instructions
 

  • Add the sugar, corn syrup, and water to a saucepan. Give a stir and put on the stove.
  • Boil until it turns an amber color, about 10 minutes on medium high heat.
  • While the sugar is boiling, prep the rest of the ingredients. You want everything ready because when the sugar gets to the right color, you have mere moments before it burns. (Sometimes, I mix the sour cream, spices, and salt in a measuring cup and pour it an all together.)
  • Add the spices, salt, cream, sour cream, and butter.
  • The caramel will sputter and spit, but keep whisking. It may even seize a little, but keep whisking on the heat. It will come back together.
  • This sauce keeps in the fridge for about a week. If it hardens, gently reheat it in the microwave or in hot water.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 20gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 167mgSugar: 20g
Keyword homemade caramel, how to make caramel, salted spiced caramel
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