Our Best Caramel Recipes

August 05, 2019
Greg DuPree
When sugar and heat combine, the result is one of the most beloved sweets around: caramel. The sticky, sweet substance triumphs as a dip, sauce, glaze, or candy. And it's always a welcome way to amp up any number of favorite treats, be it a caramel-enhanced pie, cake, ice cream, or even a batch of coated popcorn. Whether you prefer your caramel with apples, sprinkled with sea salt, or paired with chocolate, we’ve got a caramel recipe that’s sure to make your mouth water. 
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Brown Butter-Caramel Blondies

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Brown Butter-Caramel Blondies Recipe

These ooey-gooey blondies have pockets of delicious homemade caramel throughout. Short on time? Say no more. Just substitute a jarred salted-caramel sauce for the homemade version. For a sweet touch, top the blondies with extra caramel; microwave it for 15 seconds to make it easier to pour.

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Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies Recipe

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Overnight Caramel French Toast

Jan Smith
Overnight Caramel French Toast Recipe

This decadent French toast with caramel gets lightened but without losing the rich flavor everyone loves. And more good news: It can be made the night before and popped in the oven the next morning.

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Caramelized Banana Split

Time Inc. Video Studio
Caramelized Banana Split Recipe

Give your favorite ice cream treat a serious upgrade by caramelizing the bananas before building your sundae. Broiling the banana with brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon intensifies the fruit’s sweetness and adds a layer of rich depth to your dessert. This recipe is for a single split, but is easily multiplied to serve more. 

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Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

Oxmoor House
Peanut Butter Caramel Corn Recipe

When it comes to great flavor, this popcorn really delivers. With just enough butter to create a great caramel coating and enough peanut butter to get that richness, this popcorn still stays on the light side. Snacking just got a whole lot tastier with this delicious batch of popcorn.

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Caramel Apple Blondie Pie

Photo: Hector Sanchez
Caramel Apple Blondie Pie Recipe

Buttery rich layers of tender cake and caramelized apples add up to one sweet combo. The secret to the crisp, flaky crust? Baking in a cast-iron skillet on a lower oven rack.

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Parsnip Spice Cake with Caramel Icing

Greg DuPree
Parsnip Spice Cake with Caramel Icing Recipe

One of the Omaha supper club's favorite recipes is a parsnip layer cake we published in 2003. We took a look at the recipe and decided to update it with less sugar and more whole grains. A few tweaks later, we had a moist, tender, tastier spice cake capped with an indulgent caramel-flavored cream cheese icing.

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Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa Recipe

Using a dark (72% cacao) chocolate brings an intense, not-too-sweet, almost fruity flavor to this bark. If you prefer a sweeter chocolate, substitute bittersweet (60% cacao) chocolate.

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Salted Caramel-Pecan Milk Shake

Photographer: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox 
Salted Caramel-Pecan Milk Shake Recipe
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Oatmeal-Raisin Skillet Cookie with Miso-Caramel Sauce

Victor Protasio
Oatmeal-Raisin Skillet Cookie with Miso-Caramel Sauce Recipe

This sweet-meets-salty oatmeal cookie is chewy in the middle with a crispy bottom and edges. In other words, it’s irresistible. The browned butter adds depth, and the salted caramel sauce has a little bit of tang thanks to the fermented miso. Substitute any dried fruit for the raisins, and serve with frozen yogurt, ice cream, or whipped cream. Keep any leftovers in the skillet and simply cover it.

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Caramel-Stuffed Ginger Cookies

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Caramel-Stuffed Ginger Cookies Recipe

These spice cookies have ooey-gooey caramel centers and are best served warm, straight from the oven or reheated in the microwave.

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Caramel Tart with Brandy Whipped Cream

Victor Protasio
Caramel Tart with Brandy Whipped Cream Recipe
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Salted Caramel Apple Old-Fashioned

Photo: Daniel Agee, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Salted Caramel Apple Old-Fashioned Recipe

For a breezy autumn treat, look no further than this boozy caramel apple old-fashioned that is deliciously balanced while being both tart and sweet at the same time. For a fall party cocktail, look no further than this great drink, which uses the primary fruit of the season to both flavor and adorn the glass with plenty of autumnal richness. The salted rim plays well with the caramel flavors here and allows this drink to earn more of a grown-up flair rather than become overly sweet and dessert-like. 

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Salty Caramel Crunch Ice Cream

Salty Caramel Crunch Ice Cream Recipe

Creating the coolest scoops is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

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Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce

Victor Protasio
Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce Recipe

The heirloom apple that makes this apple pie so tasty hails from Benton County, Arkansas. What makes it so special? The fragrant, tart, and tasty apple ripens to a deep red while still on the tree, but it continues to ripen after it is picked and transforms to a nearly black hue. Keep an eye out for these beautiful apples for your Thanksgiving pie. The Arkansas Black Apple Pie just needs a drizzle of Caramel Sauce and a scoop of ice cream to make your night perfect.

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Caramel Apple Cake

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Caramel Apple Cake Recipe

This cake is topped with sauteed apple slices and drizzled in a delicious Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce. 

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Instant Pot Salted Caramel-Pecan Cheesecake

Photo: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Tina Stamos and Gordon Sawyer Prop Styling: Kay Clark
Instant Pot Salted Caramel-Pecan Cheesecake Recipe

Rich, creamy, and smooth, this cheesecake "bakes" surprisingly well right in the Instant Pot. Drizzle your remaining caramel sauce on top after the dessert cools to make this showstopping cake look as amazing as it tastes. 

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Salted Root Beer Caramel Cookie Float

Photo: Stephen Devries; Food Styling: Erin Merhar 
Salted Root Beer Caramel Cookie Float Recipe

Salted Root Beer Caramel Float image

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Chocolate Cookie Cups with Caramel Filling

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Chocolate Cookie Cups with Caramel Filling Recipe

Holiday cookie baking can be impressive without being stressful. Make this easy cookie dough and store it in the fridge up to two days before you need to bake these fantastic filled cookies. What's great about this recipe is that you'll stand apart at the annual cookie exchange. Not only are your cookies a different shape, but they are filled with ooey-gooey caramel and topped with a crunchy pecan and a little sea salt for the perfect mix of sweet and salty. 

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Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce

Oxmoor House
Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

Succulent Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce has a perfectly moist, creamy interior with a crisp outer crust. The layer of bourbon-splashed caramel sauce in the middle of the bread pudding is the secret to this velvety-rich interior. Learn more tips for making perfect bread pudding—no matter the recipe—in this helpful how-to guide.

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Caramel-Walnut Snack Mix

Time Inc. Video Studio 
Caramel-Walnut Snack Mix Recipe

 Pack it up for a tailgate,  package it for holiday gifting, or put it out for a party—this easy snack mix is the perfect all-purpose formula for salty-sweet crunch

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White Chocolate and Bourbon Pecan Slab Pie with Caramel Sauce

Photo: Daniel Agee; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
White Chocolate and Bourbon Pecan Slab Pie with Caramel Sauce Recipe

It doesn't get much better than this decadent version of a Southern classic. White chocolate, bourbon, and caramel give this pecan pie a flavor much more dynamic than the original.

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Chocolate Thumbprints with Caramel and Sea Salt

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Kelly Allen
Chocolate Thumbprints with Caramel and Sea Salt Recipe

From Great Falls, Montana, Colette Tihista-Longin writes, "I found this cookie recipe in an old collection at a yard sale. The original recipe has a chocolate filling, but I adapted it to include caramel and sea salt several years ago. It's a hit every year at our cookie exchange." Despite the name for this style of cookie, the end of a wooden spoon makes a neater, deeper depression in the cookie than your thumb will.

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Apple Fritters with Salted Caramel Sauce

Hector Manuel Sanchez
Apple Fritters with Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

Filled with a spiced apple compote, dipped in a vanilla glaze, and topped with a homemade caramel sauce, these over-the-top fritters take a bit of time to prepare but are well worth the wait.

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Spiced Rum-Caramel Sauce

Jennifer Causey
Spiced Rum-Caramel Sauce Recipe

Parents, coworkers, and family friends will swoon over this “adult” caramel sauce spiked with rum and warm spices. It makes an excellent final touch to pound cake, vanilla ice cream, or bread pudding. To reheat, microwave the desired amount of caramel in a microwave-safe dish at HIGH 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds until pourable.

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Caramel Frappuccino

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount
Caramel Frappuccino Recipe

This easy, copycat version of your favorite coffee shop drink tastes just like the real thing!

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Alfajores de Dulce de Leche (Caramel Sandwich Cookies)

Alfajores de Dulce de Leche (Caramel Sandwich Cookies) Recipe

Paula Austin made these flaky, caramel-filled Argentine sandwich cookies for her sister-in-law's wedding brunch; they drew rave reviews. Dulce de leche, a thick, rich caramel made with sweetened milk, is sold in Mexican markets and some well-stocked supermarkets. If it's unavailable, use a thick caramel sauce or ice cream topping.

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Banana Caramel Pudding Cake

Oxmoor House
Banana Caramel Pudding Cake Recipe

This cake is similar to a very decadent banana bread with the addition of rich caramel flavor. The texture is wonderfully moist- not quite cake, and not quite pudding. It's already done cooking when the center springs back to the touch. Serve while still warm with vanilla ice cream. 

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Apple-Pear Pie with Cookie Butter Caramel

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Pam Lolley
Apple-Pear Pie with Cookie Butter Caramel Recipe

If you’re looking to go next-level for you next holiday pie, this speculoos infused apple and pear pie is exactly what you’re looking for. Featuring finely ground speculoos cookies (we used Biscoff brand) in the crust, larger crumbles in the pecan streusel topping, and a decadent salted cookie butter caramel sauce both in the filling and drizzled over top, this fruit pie is anything but boring. While it may seem like a hassle, don’t skip giving your fruit the little pre-cook described in step 5. This method of par-cooking the slice apples and pears will help your fruit achieve a delightfully tender, but not-too-mushy texture through the baking process.

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 Apple-Spice Bundt Cake with Caramel Frosting

Photo: Greg DuPree; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
 Apple-Spice Bundt Cake with Caramel Frosting Recipe

We updated an old-fashioned Southern cake with the warm spice of chai, an Indian tea. Praising the flavors of autumn, this Bundt cake can be served as a sweet brunch option to replace the usual coffee cake or as a perfect ending to a crisp fall day for dessert. Do not be afraid of the total time; the cake will be in the oven for an hour and will have to cool for two hours before adding the caramel frosting resulting in only about 30 minutes of active cooking. For the final touch and once the cake is completely cooled, drizzle with our Caramel Frosting. 

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Salted Caramel-Pecan Bars

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Salted Caramel-Pecan Bars Recipe

This is a classic recipe updated with a sprinkle of kosher salt.

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Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

Victor Protasio
Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream Recipe

If you're looking for an easy, decadent, and oh-so-yummy chocolate fudge cake, this is the perfect recipe. The key to this layer cake’s lusciously messy look? A short spell in the freezer, which allows the ganache to set over the cake layers so that the buttercream can be spread on top of it. Make sure there is enough space in your freezer before you assemble the cake. This recipe comes in handy for birthdays, holidays, and the odd Wednesday pick-me-up.

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Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo: Daniel Agee
Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

The flavors of gingerbread, salted caramel filling, and pumpkin cream cheese frosting marry to become the ultimate fall and holiday poke cake. This cake is a great snack cake or dessert and it's pretty enough to serve to guests. One taste and you're sure to bring this cake to potlucks all season long.

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Chocolate-Caramel Cone Ice Cream

Chocolate-Caramel Cone Ice Cream Recipe

Creating the coolest scoops is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

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Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce Recipe

For a smooth cut, dip the knife's blade into a glass of hot water and then wipe clean before using.

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Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake with Whiskey Caramel Sauce

Photo: Thomas J. Story
Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake with Whiskey Caramel Sauce Recipe

Moist, dense, and foolproof, this cake by Naomi Robinson, the blogger behind Bakers Royale, includes a mix of cocoa and chocolate chips for fudgy flavor. You can vary the intensity by adjusting the amount of chocolate chips, but don't pass up the silky caramel sauce.

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Caramel Apple French Toast Skillets

Photo: Daniel Agee, Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylists: Audrey Davis
Caramel Apple French Toast Skillets Recipe

Say hello to apple season with the perfect breakfast or brunch option served up in miniature skillets! The warm and creamy brioche custard paired with baked apples and cinnamon makes for a marvelous flavor combination that is sure to delight everyone at the table. The cinnamon cream on top acts as a neutral cool topping to temper the sweetness of the dish. Comforting and homey, this french toast is also elegant with a spiral look that originates from the perfectly placed apples on top!

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Salted Caramel Banana Pudding

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman
Salted Caramel Banana Pudding Recipe

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie with Salted Caramel

Photo: Zoë Engongoro; Styling: Emma Crist
Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie with Salted Caramel Recipe

Start with a delicious warm oatmeal chocolate chunk cookie base and take it over the top with fun toppings like caramel or chocolate syrup, sea salt, and vanilla ice cream.

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Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr
Salted Caramel Ice Cream Recipe

It is hard to beat the sweet and salty flavor of this indulgent yet lightened ice cream.

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Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel

Iain Bagwell
Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Recipe

A spiked caramel sauce makes this bread pudding truly spectacular. Resist the urge to stir the caramel as it cooks, and watch it closely. Once it starts to brown, it can easily turn too dark and become bitter.

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