It’s no secret that adding a little caramel to your coffee can make it taste amazing.
But buying a cup of coffee with caramel sauce mixed in can quickly get pretty pricey.
The only problem is that store-bought caramel syrup is loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients.
So, why not try making your own?
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How to make caramel sauce for coffee with simple ingredients.
- Why homemade caramel sauce tastes better than store-bought options.
- The best ways to use and store your caramel sauce for long-lasting freshness.
I’ve carefully tested and perfected this caramel sauce recipe to ensure a rich, smooth, and deeply flavorful result—I hope you love it.
Feel free to save this recipe for later so you can enjoy homemade caramel sauce anytime.
Let’s get started!
What is caramel sauce?
Caramel sauce is a delicious topping for various coffee drinks. It’s made from sugar and water that are heated until they turn into a thick, amber-colored syrup. Then, some cream is added to give it its characteristic smooth texture.
The key to making good caramel sauce is to cook the sugar until it turns a deep amber color.
This deep amber color will give the sauce its characteristic flavor and sweetness. If the sugar is cooked too long, it will turn into burnt sugar and taste bitter instead of sweet.
Below, you’ll find a small list of ingredients needed to make this caramel sauce and a step-by-step guide for starting to make it at home.
Which ingredients are used in this caramel sauce?
The ingredients in caramel sauce are sugar and cream. Sugar is the main ingredient, and cream makes the caramel sauce thicker and richer.
A little splash of water is added to prevent burning the sugar from the start. Optionally, you can add a pinch of salt to your caramel sauce for a unique flavor, but more on this later.
I like to collect all the ingredients before starting the recipe so I know I haven’t missed anything.
You can make caramel sauce with many different types of sugar, including white sugar and brown sugar.
I prefer white sugar, as it melts the best and gives the best flavor. I found that brown sugar can be too overpowering.
You can make this caramel sauce with different types of cream, such as heavy cream, but you can also use half-and-half or milk.
Although the flavor will differ slightly, using milk in this recipe is fine. The flavor will be less rich, but you’ll still get a silky smooth caramel sauce.
How to make caramel sauce for coffee at home
You can easily make caramel sauce at home in just four simple steps.
You can scroll down to get to the complete recipe, but here’s a quick overview:
- Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is clear. Do not stir once the sugar has dissolved, or you’ll risk crystallizing your caramel.
- Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil—cook without stirring until it reaches a deep amber color.
- Remove from heat and slowly add the cream while constantly whisking (the mixture will bubble up quite a bit, so be careful!)
- Let the caramel sauce cool before storing it.
That’s all there is to it!
The hardest part of this recipe is reaching the right sugar color so the flavor is at its best.
Now that you have all the information about the sauce, it’s time to make it yourself by following the recipe card below!
“I love the caramel macchiato recipe and have been thinking about trying to make my own non-dairy milk, so both links. Also, a FB coffee forum is a good idea, so I might check out those links.”
Don’t forget to save this recipe for later so you can enjoy this homemade sauce anytime:
Caramel Sauce for Coffee
This caramel sauce can be used for so many coffee recipes and also tastes great in your daily morning cup!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 grams) of white granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (0.12 l) of heavy cream
- 1/4 cup (0.06 l) of water
- Optional: a pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and water.
- Cook this over medium heat, frequently stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Raise the heat to high and bring it to a boil. Do not stir anymore from this point on, but swirl the pan occasionally.
- The syrup will start to turn a light amber color.
- Cook until it reaches a deep amber color. This will take about five minutes, depending on how high your heat is.
- Remove from the heat and carefully add the cream (the mixture will bubble up violently, so be careful!).
- Keep stirring gently until the bubbles have subsisted, the sauce has thickened, and you're left with a silky smooth caramel sauce.
- Optionally, add the salt and stir to combine.
- Let it cool completely, and then store it in a jar of choice. You can check out my favorite ways of storing it by looking above this recipe card.
Notes
Please make sure to use a saucepan big enough, so your caramel sauce doesn't overflow while making it!
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 66Total Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 2.1mgCarbohydrates: 13gSugar: 13g
What is the best way to store this caramel sauce?
Caramel sauce is best stored in the fridge or freezer. When stored in the refrigerator, sealed in a container, it will last up to a week.
When stored in the freezer, sealed in a container, it will last up to three months. When you are ready to use it, let it thaw out at room temperature or microwave on low heat until melted.
I like to store my caramel sauce in a mason jar when I put it in the fridge. This way, I can easily remove a few tablespoons and put the lid back on.
You could also use a glass flask with a pouring spout to easily pour or drizzle some over your freshly brewed coffee.
Tip: You can also use this mason jar to brew cold brew! Check out this recipe here.
Coffee recipes with caramel sauce to try
There are so many ways to use caramel sauce in coffee. I like adding it to my morning coffee to give it more flavor.
You can use this caramel sauce for hot and iced coffees, depending on the weather and your preference.
Below, I’ve listed a few hot coffees that use this caramel sauce as their sweetener:
Do you prefer drinking iced coffee? Then the following recipes are a delicious treat you need to try:
As you can see, there are many recipes that use homemade caramel sauce as a sweetener.
For me, caramel sauce is one of the best sauces to add to coffee. Its delicious flavor combines well with almost all other flavorings.
How many calories are in this caramel sauce?
The number of calories in caramel sauce will vary depending on how you prepare this recipe. However, most caramel sauces contain around 55-70 calories per serving.
If you’re sticking to the recipe and are using heavy cream, this caramel sauce will have 66 calories per serving.
This recipe, made with whole milk as a substitute, will have 55 calories per serving, but it will be less creamy. A serving is one tablespoon; this recipe makes 16 servings.
More coffee sauces to try
Not sure yet if the caramel sauce fits you? Or just curious to see which coffee sauces are out there?
I’ve got you covered! Check out the lists below to find great coffee sauces:
And for even more options, check out the coffee add-ins hub here!
Conclusion
There are so many great ways to enjoy this caramel sauce, and I hope you’ll try it!
Remember that using high-quality ingredients and letting them do all the work for you is key.
I like that this recipe can be made in a few minutes and that it works well with many different coffees.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy caramel sauce? Let me know in the comments below!
Coffee recipes to try
Ready to try different kinds of coffee? Check out my other recipes below:
4 Comments
Greetings!
Your recipe is the first recipe I’ve made that didn’t turn out “gritty” and for that I THANK you! Was tired of wasting expensive ingredients with sugar being $9.00 @ 3 pounds and Heavy Cream @ $5.00 a pint here in our area. Moreover, you’ve made it so simplistic!
Hey,
Thanks for the kind words. Enjoy your caramel sauce and your coffee!
– Jeffrey
How long does this sauce last for?
Hey Mariah,
Great question!
Homemade caramel sauce can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. To extend its shelf life, keep it in an airtight container to prevent moisture absorption and crystallization.
When stored in the freezer, sealed in a container, it will last up to three months. When you are ready to use it, let it thaw out at room temperature or microwave on low heat until melted.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
– Jeffrey