Salted Caramel Sauce

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Caramel sauce might be one of Hubby’s favorite things ever. He will always choose a caramel treat over a a chocolatey treat. I’ve just recently gotten more comfortable making my own caramel sauce. It actually is so much easier than I thought it was. Having a candy thermometer is a must for making caramel at home. But that’s really all you need. If you haven’t made your own caramel sauce, do it. Trust me, it’s worth the minimal effort required.

I ended up making a triple batch of this salted caramel during the holidays. I ordered some cute jars online and gave them away as gifts to some family members. Hubby also enjoyed a bunch of this caramel sauce heated up over vanilla ice cream.

One Year Ago: Crunchy Nut Encrusted Chicken Tenders
Two Years Ago: BBQ Chicken Pizza Sticks

Salted Caramel Sauce

Salted caramel sauce is easier to make than you could ever imagine. And it makes a great gift!

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients:

1 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp cold unsalted butter
1 tsp fleur de sel

Directions:

Add water to a 2-qt saucepan. Gently add the sugar to the center of the pot - it will mound, that's fine. Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat.

Once boiling, uncover the pot and insert a candy thermometer. Continue cooking until the mixture registers 300 F and is just starting to develop some color, about 15 minutes.

Reduce heat under the pot to medium and cook until the syrup is amber and registers 350 F on the thermometer, about another 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, pour the cream into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. If it simmers before the syrup is ready, just take it off the heat and set aside.

Remove the caramel from the heat and add about 1/4 of the warm cream to the pot. It will bubble furiously so be careful. Once the bubbling subsides, add the remaining cream. When it stops bubbling, whisk gently to incorporate fully. Add the butter and the salt and whisk to combine.

Refrigerate up to 1 month.

Recipe from Cook's Illustrated, as seen on Erin's Food Files

Better than Store Bought, Condiments, Dessert, Gift Ideas, Other

4 comments »

14 Responses to “Pink Lemonade Cupcakes”

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1

lifeoftheparty — August 21, 2009 at 1:26 pm

Thanks for sharing this recipe! My mom is doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this fall and I’m going to make some of these to sell at her fundraiser. They look delicious and summery!
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2

oneordinaryday — August 21, 2009 at 5:04 pm

These look perfect to take along to a cookout or picnic. Great summer flavor.
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3

Katrina — August 21, 2009 at 7:50 pm

These look great to me! Yum!
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4

Jelli Bean — August 21, 2009 at 8:59 pm

I love lemon cupcakes! Yummy and oh so cute!
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Carrie — August 21, 2009 at 10:51 pm

I love pink lemonade but I agree it’s a summer dessert.
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nutmegnanny — August 22, 2009 at 12:58 am

These look awesome! You are creative:)
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7

akdilcher — August 22, 2009 at 3:24 am

Totally going to try these…maybe make up a similar version with limeade and green frosting…hmmm…
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Jennifer — August 22, 2009 at 11:08 pm

These are so cute!!! And the lemonade kick is perfect for last minute summer get togethers!
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Jade — August 31, 2009 at 1:59 pm

These are so cute. How can your husband say they are to sweet. Is that possible!
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Bridget — August 31, 2009 at 2:30 pm

I feel like I can almost taste these…and they are so pretty!!!

Thank you for linking them to Flavor of the Month! 🙂
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Melissa — August 31, 2009 at 2:53 pm

These cupcakes sounds extra yummy! Can’t wait to try the recipe. Thanks for sharing.
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12

Dorothy — August 31, 2009 at 3:22 pm

Is it just me, or does pink lemonade taste better than regular? I don’t consider myself a girly gal, but I love pink stuff! Your cupcakes look wonderful! 🙂
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13

Cindy — September 3, 2009 at 1:36 pm

great idea!!!
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14

aly — September 10, 2010 at 9:32 pm

thanks for the recipe! i shared it on my blog here and linked back to you! so yummy!!!

http://funshinealy.blogspot.com/

Salted Caramel Sauce