Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

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3030 Minutes or LessVGVegetarian

4.35

/5

15 minutes mins

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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 12/06/2017

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Perfect for both gift giving and parties, this bourbon caramel sauce will become an instant favorite of anyone who tries it!

Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (1)

Thick and sweet, creamy and bourbon-y, this caramel is already calling your name, isn’t it? It’s good enough to eat off a spoon, and you might just find yourself doing that. Not like I know anything about that…

Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2)

If you find yourself needing a last-minute hostess gift or a dessert for a party, this is the recipe for you! It’s super easy to make and all you have to do is pour it in a jar and tie some ribbon around it and it’s ready to gift. Or, you can bring it to a party with ice cream for an easy dessert that everyone will love. It would also be great on a number of other things like apple pie, french toast, bread pudding, and more.

Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (3)

If you’ve never made caramel before, don’t be scared! This recipe is nearly fool-proof and you can absolutely conquer it. I have faith in you.

In a nutshell:

  1. Boil sugar with water, corn syrup, and a touch of salt. You’ll want to be besties with the stove at this point – don’t leave its side. Swirl the pan and keep a close eye on it.
  2. Watch for it to become the color of a strong-brewed iced tea – or, the color of caramel.
  3. Remove from heat and add the cream and bourbon. Stand back and watch out for steam!
  4. Whisk to combine and then whisk in butter and vanilla.
  5. Let cool and enjoy!

Between the unmistakable flavor of the bourbon (or whiskey, whatever floats your boat), and the rich creaminess of the cream and butter, this is holiday perfection in the form of a smooth, sweet sauce. You guys are going to love it!

Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (4)

PS: Love caramel? Try these recipes:

Is it just me or would this caramel also be amazing on french toast?

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (5)

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Bourbon Caramel Sauce

4.35 from 172 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

12 servings

Print Rate Recipe

Perfect for both gift giving and parties, this bourbon caramel sauce will become an instant favorite of anyone who tries it!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons corn syrup
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Boil sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat, swirling occasionally. Cook until caramel is the color of iced tea, about 10 minutes.Watch it closely. It takes awhile to get going, but once it gets going, it can scorch quickly.

  • Remove from heat and add cream and bourbon (watch out for steam!), whisking to combine. Keep off the heat and whisk in butter and vanilla. Transfer sauce to a bowl to cool (and thicken). Store covered in the fridge and reheat slowly in the microwave or over low heat in a saucepan. Also great cold with apples as a dip.

Notes

  • Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 146kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 47mg, Sugar: 20g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

Disclosure: Ihave been compensated byMilk Means Morefor my time to develop this kale sweet potato salad recipe and write this post. All opinions are as always, my own. Find out more about why Milk Means More onTwitter,Facebook,YouTube,InstagramandPinterest.

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Kristen says

    What size jar?

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      The recipe makes about 1 ½ cups, so 12 ounces.

      Reply

  2. Ashley says

    Would this be shelf stable long enough for shipping within the US? Thinking of making it as a gift for family. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      I wouldn’t recommend it, sorry!

      Reply

  3. Reba says

    Can this recipe be canned? Is so what is the shelf life? I would like to make and send to relatives that are out of state. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      I’m not an expert on canning so unfortunately I can’t provide you with advice on that subject.

      Reply

  4. Florrie Gramm says

    I will make this recipe. It seems simple.
    I have a couple of questions.
    1. Does this recipe yield enough to make 1 small jar?
    2. Can it be made without the alcohol?

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Yes and yes!

      Reply

  5. Karen Carlson says

    I see you have it shown in little jars to give as gifts….does it have to be refrigerated and then microwaved to soften when ready to use it? And, what is the “life” for this sauce when it is made?
    Thank you –
    k

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Yes, I typically refrigerate this caramel. You can eat it straight from the jar, but it will be thick, so if you want it pourable, a quick microwave will help. I would say the life is a week or two, but I always err on the conservative side.

      Reply

Older Comments

Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

FAQs

Why butter in caramel sauce? ›

Some form of dairy — typically butter and/or heavy cream — is usually added to the mixture at either the beginning or the end of cooking. This addition makes the caramel richer, thicker, and lighter in color, lending more viscosity and rounder flavor.

How to make caramel Jamie Oliver? ›

Sprinkle 100g of the sugar into a non-stick frying pan, add 3 tablespoons of water and place on a medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until you've got a chestnut brown caramel – don't be tempted to stir or taste it, just gently swirl the pan occasionally. Quickly and carefully divide the caramel between the ramekins.

How do you harden caramel sauce? ›

Caramel thickens as it cools. Cover tightly and store for up to 1 month in the refrigerator. Caramel solidifies in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove to desired consistency.

How do you liquify caramel sauce? ›

To thin caramel, just add some cream or water over heat. Melt caramel loaves in the oven. You can also add corn syrup or lemon juice to caramel sauces to prevent them from crystallizing. It's also a good idea to know how to make caramel in the first place!

What happens if you add too much butter to caramel? ›

If you have added too much butter to your caramel sauce, you may find that it is too oily or it might even begin to separate. To fix this, add 1 tablespoon of either water or milk and stir while cooking over medium heat. Adding 1-2 Tbsp of a simple cornstarch slurry may fix the problem, as well.

What not to do when making caramel? ›

12 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Caramel
  1. Not assembling your ingredients. Juanmonino/Getty Images. ...
  2. Choosing the wrong pan. Milanchikov Sergey/Shutterstock. ...
  3. Using the wrong sugar. ...
  4. Getting the temperature wrong. ...
  5. Stirring the sugar too much. ...
  6. Forgetting about safety. ...
  7. Not heating your liquid. ...
  8. Stopping before the sugar browns.
Jan 29, 2024

Why do you put vinegar in caramel? ›

To make a perfect easy caramel every-time, simply add one or two drops of vinegar and just enough water to wet the sugar. The idea is to lower the PH. you can also use a small pinch of citric acid or cream of tartar if you have.

Why is my homemade caramel so hard? ›

This is usually caused by sugar crystals stuck to the side of the pan that didn't get fully dissolved. It only takes one to set off a chain reaction, and before you know it you have crunchy caramel.

What is the difference between caramel and carmel? ›

Generally, “caramel” is defined as a chewy, light-brown candy made from butter, sugar, and milk or cream. For example: I love eating caramels because they are soft and chewy. In contrast, “Carmel,” is used as a proper noun, and it is a popular beach town in California, known as Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Why is my homemade caramel sauce not thickening? ›

Add more sugar to the sauce.

Most caramel sauces are made by caramelizing sugar and adding milk and a little salt. If you increase the amount of sugar in the recipe you'll end up with a thicker caramel. Try increasing the sugar by about 1/3.

Why did my caramel sauce turn out grainy? ›

If too many bits of sugar get stuck to the side of the pan, they will harden and can cause the caramel to seize or become gritty or grainy when you add in the butter and/or the cream. Prevent this by gently swirling the sugar around as it melts, while holding the pan's handle, instead of using a utensil to stir it.

Why does my homemade caramel taste bitter? ›

Follow the recipe carefully, and never melt your caramel on your stove's highest setting—it will cause the caramel to scorch and taste burnt. Once it gets a burnt or bitter flavor, it can't be saved. Luckily, sugar is inexpensive, so you can always start over!

Do you add milk when melting caramel? ›

The key to getting it right is to use soft caramels as opposed to hard. You must also add some sort of liquid, such as milk or cream, to prevent the caramels from drying out. Knowing these tricks will help you to melt caramels with ease.

Why do people put butter in sauce? ›

The addition of butter really rounds out the flavor of the sauce and helps to temper the acidity. It also gives the sauce a nice sheen, which is a fun bonus.

Does caramel have butter in it? ›

The main ingredient in caramel is sugar. However, depending on the recipe you use, you may have to incorporate butter, heavy cream, water, or corn syrup as additional ingredients. High-quality, real caramel is always made with three basic ingredients and those are sugar, heavy cream, and butter.

How do you keep caramel sauce from being grainy? ›

Add Moisture: If the sugar is melted but you still see a few crystals- sometimes adding some liquid like water or heavy cream to the mixture can help dissolve any sugar crystals that have formed and promote a smoother texture.

What is it called when you add butter to a sauce? ›

Monter au Beurre is a French term used to describe the process of adding or whisking in whole, cold butter into a sauce or puree at the end of the cooking process. This process, which is usually done off the heat, adds shine, flavor and richness.

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