Vanilla Bean Salted Caramel Sauce

Jul 10, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Pantry Sauces syrups glazes Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Beans Medium

Jar of vanilla bean salted caramel sauce with a spoon

Homemade vanilla bean salted caramel sauce made with vanilla bean, butter and flaky salt. About 20 minutes of hands-on time. Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky). Any pure vanilla works.

Prep 5 min

Cook 15 min

Total 20 min

Servings 16

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1.0 cup (200.0 g)granulated sugar
¼ cup (60.0 ml)water
6.0 tbsp (85.0 g)unsalted butter, cubed
½ cup (120.0 ml)heavy cream, at room temperature
1.0 tsp (3.0 g)flaky sea salt
1.0vanilla bean

Make it at home

As an Amazon Associate, VanillaGoods earns from qualifying purchases. We only suggest tools that fit this recipe.

Instructions

Split the vanilla bean lengthwise with a paring knife and scrape out the seeds with the back of the blade.
Combine the sugar and water in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring only until the sugar dissolves.
Stop stirring and let it boil, swirling the pan occasionally, until the syrup turns a deep amber, 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter; it will bubble up vigorously, so stand back.
Slowly whisk in the cream, then return the pan to low heat for 1 minute, whisking until smooth.
Off the heat, stir in the vanilla seeds and salt. Let cool; the sauce thickens as it cools. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Tips

Caramel goes from amber to burnt quickly; have the butter and cream measured and ready before you start.
Rewarm gently in the microwave in 10-second bursts before drizzling.
Choosing vanilla: Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic) is our pick here; Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky) is a great alternative.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla bean salted caramel sauce?

Plan on 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 16 servings.

How should I store vanilla bean salted caramel sauce?

Refrigerate in a sealed jar for up to 2 weeks and rewarm gently before using.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 16 servings this recipe makes.

112 Calories / serving

6.9g Fat

12.7g Carbs

0.2g Protein

12.7g Sugar

Whole recipe (16 servings): ~1792 cal · 110g fat · 203g carbs · 3g protein · 203g sugar

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

Per serving · 112 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 21 min·1.2 mi·~2450 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 15 min·0.8 mi·~1500 steps
Moderate cycling 11 min·2.2 mi
Swimming laps 16 min
Jogging 11 min·0.9 mi·~1750 steps
Stair climbing 10 min·~900 steps
Dancing 18 min
Bodyweight circuit training 11 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 26 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.