Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce

Oct 9, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Pantry Sauces syrups glazes Vanilla: Extract Easy

A small glass jar of golden-brown caramel sauce with a spoon, beside an iced latte finished with caramel drizzle

A quick, foolproof caramel made with light brown sugar and butter, cooked a shade darker for a toasty, molasses-rich flavor, then finished with cream.

Prep 5 min

Cook 10 min

Cooling 10 min

Total 25 min

Servings 10

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

6.0 tbsp (85.0 g)unsalted butter
1.0 cup (213.0 g)light brown sugar, packed
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)water
½ cup (120.0 ml)heavy cream
¼ tsp (1.5 g)fine sea salt
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add the brown sugar and water and stir until the sugar melts and the mixture bubbles, 2 to 3 minutes.
Let it cook without stirring for 2 to 3 minutes more, until it darkens a shade and smells toasty.
Slowly whisk in the cream; it will bubble up.
Simmer, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes, until slightly thickened.
Remove from the heat, stir in the salt and vanilla and cool for 10 minutes.

Tips

Brown sugar caramel can't crystallize the way white sugar can, so it's the easiest caramel to make.
For a thinner syrup to stir into iced drinks, whisk 3 tablespoons of hot water into the finished sauce.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make brown sugar caramel sauce?

Plan on 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 10 minutes to rest. The recipe makes about 1 1/3 cups (10 servings).

How should I store brown sugar caramel sauce?

Refrigerate in an airtight jar for up to 2 weeks. It thickens when cold; warm it for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave or in a pan of warm water and stir before using.

Can I make brown sugar caramel sauce ahead?

Make it up to 2 weeks ahead.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

A quick, foolproof caramel made with light brown sugar and butter, cooked a shade darker for a toasty, molasses-rich flavor, then finished with cream.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 10 servings this recipe makes.

184 Calories / serving

11.2g Fat

21.3g Carbs

0.4g Protein

21.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (10 servings): ~1840 cal · 112g fat · 213g carbs · 4g protein · 211g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 184 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 35 min·2.0 mi·~4100 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 25 min·1.3 mi·~2500 steps
Moderate cycling 19 min·3.8 mi
Swimming laps 26 min
Jogging 18 min·1.5 mi·~2900 steps
Stair climbing 17 min·~1550 steps
Dancing 30 min
Bodyweight circuit training 19 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 43 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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