Microwave Caramel Sauce
Microwave Caramel Sauce: In less than 10 minutes you’ll have a decadent caramel topping that’s perfect for your ice cream or a holiday gift! Practically foolproof, luscious, and irresistible!
This Homemade Caramel Sauce is my go-to method and it’s super quick and made with easy-to-find ingredients, many of which may already be in your kitchen!
Why You’ll Love this Easy Caramel Sauce
Are you caramel phobic? Scared of attempting a homemade caramel sauce? Push those fears aside as I have a simple solution: an easy caramel sauce made in the microwave.
- Once you’ve done it once or twice, it’s a piece of cake and no candy thermometer is ever needed.
- I have made numerous varieties of caramels and caramel sauces over the years. And some have been big fat flops. This is the recipe I turn to when I need a no-fail caramel sauce recipe.
- Plus, it tastes amazing!!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Should You Store Caramel Sauce?
Although it’s safe to store caramel sauce at room temperature for a day or so, it’s best to keep it refrigerated in an airtight container. It will keep for up to a month in the fridge.
Gently reheat in the microwave to bring it back to pouring consistency before using.
Can You Freeze Caramel Sauce?
Yes, it freezes well. Just make sure you leave room for expansion in your container. Use an airtight container and it will keep well for at least 3 months. It’s best not to freeze in a glass container due to the chance of breakage.
How Do You Make Salted Caramel Sauce?
Start by mixing in 1/4 teaspoon of salt into the warm caramel sauce. Taste and add more salt until it tastes perfect to you. Most likely, the total amount of salt would range from 1/2-1 teaspoon per batch.
Tips for Making this Caramel Sauce Recipe
This is a super easy recipe! Here are a few pointers for making this no-fail microwave caramel sauce at home.
- Since all microwaves heat a little differently, you may have to sacrifice your first batch to figure out the exact timing for your appliance.
- Sugar, corn syrup, water, and just a teeny squeeze of lemon juice are mixed in a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup (affiliate link). This concoction is zapped on high heat just until it starts taking on a very pale amber color.
- PRO-Tip: You’ll want to use a clear Pyrex measuring cup so you can see as the color begins to change.
- Warning: this hot liquid will continue to cook and brown after it’s removed from the microwave. So, if you let it get to a deeper amber color you will have a burnt mess on your hands.
- My old microwave took about 4 minutes to reach the ideal color and my current model needs a few seconds more than 5 minutes.
- PRO-Tip: Make sure to make a note of the timing which gives you the best results for your future batches of this microwave caramel sauce.
How to Make this Caramel Sauce Recipe:
- Whisk together the sugar, corn syrup, water, and fresh lemon juice in a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup.
- Microwave just until the mixture starts to take on a bit of color (a pale amber), about 4-5 minutes.
- Carefully, set the caramel onto the counter where it will continue to bubble and darken to a caramel color (amber).
- Slowly, add hot cream a couple of tablespoons at a time, very slowly as it will bubble intensely.
- When all the cream is added, stir in butter and vanilla.
Ingredient Notes
With only a handful of ingredients, make sure they’re high quality for the best results.
- Sugar – Use regular, granulated sugar
- Corn syrup – Karo is my go-to brand
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice – Never use bottled lemon juice as the taste is sub-par.
- Heavy cream – Use cream with at least 36% butterfat
- Butter – Salted or unsalted will work, but I prefer salted as salt is a flavor enhancer.
- Vanilla – Use only real vanilla extract, never imitation.
More Gifts from the Kitchen
To make this easy caramel sauce into a gift, I love pouring it into Weck canning jars (affiliate link). Adding chef medallions from Felix Doolittle makes it even more personalized.
- Homemade Caramel Corn
- How to Make Vanilla Extract
- Cream Caramels
- White Chocolate Party Mix
- Homemade Irish Cream
- Double Dose English Toffee
- Check out all my other Food Gift Recipes!
This recipe was first shared in November 2014. The text was updated in 2021.
Microwave Caramel Sauce Recipe
An easy recipe for caramel sauce using your microwave! It's ready to use in less than 10 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup hot heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Mix sugar, corn syrup, water and lemon juice in a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup.
- Microwave till mixture just starts to take on a bit of color (a pale amber), about 4-5 minutes. Watch very carefully as it will continue cooking once you pull it out of the microwave. If it gets deeper than a pale amber, it will burn while on the counter.
- Remove measuring cup to counter where it will continue to bubble and darken to a caramel color (amber). Add hot cream a couple tablespoons at a time, very slowly as it will bubble intensely.
- When all the cream is added, stir in butter and vanilla
- Store in refrigerator for up to a month.
Notes
Make a note of the time it takes to make in your microwave so you can reference that the next time you make this caramel sauce.
Beware that all microwaves are different. My previous microwave would burn well before 5 minutes, and my current one takes about 5 minutes, 5 seconds.
Adapted from Cooks Illustrated.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
2 tablespoonsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 117Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 13mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 0gSugar: 20gProtein: 0g
58 Comments on “Microwave Caramel Sauce”
YES! I love homemade caramel sauce and the fact that you can just throw it together in the microwave is awesome!
I know a lot of people who would love this for Christmas (I’m one of them) and this sounds a lot easier than any caramel I’ve made. Your labels are so cute! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your foolproof caramel sauce. It sounds simple and the end result in your pretty little gift jars looks delicious.
So funny – for all the times I made caramel in the past I never tried nuking it! A new one to do now!
i could bathe in this 🙂 haha
oops my finger slipped and ended up in the jar 😛
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
YUM! I have a feeling that if I had this in our house Patrick would use on everything! Including his morning toast! haha
Ok, this is no less than brilliant and your presentation is gorgeous.
I make a lot of caramel sauce for holiday gifts and I’ll probably stick with my old fashioned method since I make a lot at one time BUT…there never seems to be any left for me. This is the perfect solution for a small batch; great idea Liz.
I love this idea. I’ve been trying to decide what to do for food gifts this year. This sounds like a winner.
Looks perfect! I don’t remember when I last time made caramel…
You have presented this caramel sauce so beautifully. I just love the jars and your stickers are gorgeous. What a great idea to make a sauce in a microwave xx
What a nice idea Liz for a present ! Love your recipe and your presentation ! Lovely 😉
Oh this caramel looks dangerously delicious and the perfect holiday gift!
Love this microwave method, will have to try it soon!
Wow!! No more watching the pot for 8-10 minutes! I must try this out!
Liz I could totally just pick this up and drink it! YUM!
Lizzy,
I’ve only made caramel once and it was your recipe. It turned out wonderfully and my hubby who hates commercially made caramel loved it. I can’t wait to try this recipe too.
Annamaria
Oh, my goodness, Liz! I can hardly believe how easy this is! With this recipe, no one need ever BUY caramel sauce ever again. Pinning this one on my Recipes to Try board, as well as the Gifts from the Kitchen!
Brilliant! I always burn caramel sauce when I make it on the stove top- using the microwave will solve all of my problems. I’ll be sure to keep a careful eye on it:) thanks for the great recipe!