How do you make caramel sauce harder?

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.

How do you dilute caramel solution?

Add corn syrup, honey, or lemon juice to keep the sauce thin . You'll need about 1 tablespoon (14.8 mL) of corn syrup or honey for every cup (236.6 mL) of caramel sauce your recipe makes. These ingredients may slow the hardening of your caramel when it's complete.

Why is my caramel not hardening?

you simply haven't cooked it enough -- possibly your microwave is less powerful (the original recipe doesn't specify a wattage for cooking the caramel) or the butter you used has a higher water content. You could try cooking the mixture for a little longer, and seeing if it sets up firmer.

Why won't my caramel get hard?

If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough .

What happens if you add too much water to caramel?

That water will end up in the caramel itself, so if you've added too much it might result in a thin caramel sauce . Try adjusting the cooking time to allow the excess water to evaporate.

What is the formula for caramel?

The typical formula for caramels is C24H36O18 , so the elements of water have been removed from the sucrose.

How do you make caramel more firm?

How to Thicken Caramel Sauce Add heavy cream. Some caramel sauce recipes call for milk, but if you find this still produces a thin sauce, you can add room-temperature heavy cream and return the caramel sauce to the stove for another few minutes. ... Cook the sauce longer. ... Make more caramel. ... Use a slurry. Jan 21, 2022

How do you fix caramel that is too soft?

Yep, you can do it for sure. Ive had the problem in the past when I removed a caramel too quickly and it was too soft. You just need to add water to dissolve the sugar completely, the go ahead and reboil.

Will caramel harden after melting?

Once you make caramel, it will harden as it cools , and you'll have to heat it up again to use it. However, if you want to turn it into a more spoonable sauce, you add other ingredients like butter or cream to the melted caramel.

Does caramel harden in the fridge?

Plus, popping it in the fridge will keep your caramel sauce fresher for longer. The caramel sauce will harden slightly because of the introduction of a colder temperature , but storing it in a proper container in the fridge will keep it fresh and ready to use for 2 to 3 weeks.

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

Home Recipes by Type Desserts

3030 Minutes or LessVGVegetarian

4.35

15 minutes mins

83 Comments

Jump to Recipe

By: Rachel GurkPosted: 12/06/2017Updated: 03/23/2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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:
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.
Watch for it to become the color of a strong-brewed iced tea – or, the color of caramel.
Remove from heat and add the cream and bourbon. Stand back and watch out for steam!
Whisk to combine and then whisk in butter and vanilla.
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:
Homemade Caramel Corn with Bourbon and Bacon
Whole Wheat Caramel Banana Bread
Caramel Apple Wraps from Milk Means More
Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream from Milk Means More

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

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.

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.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

Kristen says
December 20, 2023 at 4:04 pm
What size jar?
Reply
- Rachel Gurk says
  December 26, 2023 at 10:35 am
  The recipe makes about 1 ½ cups, so 12 ounces.
  Reply
Ashley says
November 22, 2023 at 11:34 am
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
  November 27, 2023 at 2:37 pm
  I wouldn’t recommend it, sorry!
  Reply
Reba says
November 14, 2023 at 3:34 pm
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
  November 19, 2023 at 2:14 pm
  I’m not an expert on canning so unfortunately I can’t provide you with advice on that subject.
  Reply
Florrie Gramm says
November 7, 2023 at 4:35 pm
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
  November 9, 2023 at 7:12 am
  Yes and yes!
  Reply
Karen Carlson says
February 15, 2023 at 5:23 pm
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
  February 20, 2023 at 7:33 am
  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

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