Caramel Sauce Cockaigne

Mmm…c-a-r-a-m-e-l. Say it again… c-a-r-a-m-e-l. *drool* Rarely is my kitchen without it. At this time of year, it is a staple, and it must be shared. I use it as a sauce for desserts like Apple Galette, a schmear on Graham Crackers for Pumpkin Pie Marshmallow s’mores, a drizzle on Vanilla Ice Cream, as a dip for sliced apples, or even a spoonful stirred into my morning coffee☺. It is also a great gift to share during the holidays.

I have several caramel sauce recipes, but this is the one, the pièce de résistance, the crème de la crème. There is no brown sugar, no corn syrup, no sour cream—just sugar, water, butter, and cream seasoned with a good vanilla extract and sea salt. It is hard to believe that something so wonderful comes from such simple ingredients.

If you are new to making caramel, here are a few tips and step-by-steps:

*Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan, preferably copper or copper-lined. Stay away from thin pans that are uneven on the bottom.

*Make sure the sugar is completely dissolved before you bring it to a boil.

*Placing the lid on the syrup creates condensation on the sides of the pan, keeping crystallization from forming.

*At this point do not take your eyes of the caramel. It can go from this…

to this in a few short minutes.

*Once the syrup begins to caramelize, you will notice puffs of smoke coming from the surface. Cook it just beyond this point until it reaches a deep amber, but not burnt.

*When the butter is added to the hot caramel, it is slightly browned for a nutty flavor. Browned butter + salted caramel = YUM!

*When adding the butter and cream to the hot caramel, the mixture will bubble vigorously.

*If any hard lumps form, cook over low heat until smooth.

End result– liquid gold or the best thang you ever tasted. (Pardon the internal Southern dialogue.) 😊

Caramel Sauce Cockaigne

Prep: 5 minsCook: 6 minsTotal: 11 mins Servings: 1.5 cups This is the one! It is the most luxurious of all caramel sauces!

Ingredients 

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup water
• 8 tablespoons (4 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• ½ cup heavy cream, not ultra-pasturized
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes, kosher salt can be substituted

Instructions 

1. In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan add the sugar and evenly pour the water over top. Place the pan over medium-high heat and swirl the pan gently until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup is clear. Avoid letting the syrup boil. Increase the heat to high, cover the saucepan with a tight fitting lid, and boil the syrup for 2 minutes. Uncover the saucepan and continue to boil the syrup until it begins to darken around the edges. Gently swirl the pan until the syrup turns a deep amber and begins to smoke. Remove from the heat and add the butter. Gently stir the mixture until the butter is incorporated. Add the cream and stir to combine. If the sauce becomes lumpy with hard clumps, set the pan over low heat and stir until smooth. Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Serve warm or at room temperature. The sauce can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 month; it will become solid. Reheat or set out at room temperature before using. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 1334kcal, Carbohydrates: 136g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 90g, Saturated Fat: 57g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 23g, Trans Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 250mg, Sodium: 1280mg, Potassium: 104mg, Sugar: 136g, Vitamin A: 3032IU, Vitamin C: 0.5mg, Calcium: 74mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.