The Perfect Way to Make Homemade Caramel

Aside from nutmeg and cinnamon, one of the popular flavors of fall is caramel! Most of the desserts are not complete without this delicious buttery and sweet sauce. Not only that, it’s also a great ingredient to add to your drinks, whether it is hot or cold. Learn the perfect way to make homemade caramel at home with this recipe by Southern Living. Read on or watch the video below for full instructions.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/3 cup of water
• 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• pinch of sea salt
• butter (optional)

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Instructions

Step 1:

Start by putting your sugar in a large clean saucepan. You can add 1/3 cup of water to evenly distribute the sugar crystals. Next, add 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice. This will prevent crystallization.

Step 2:

Keep the sugar on high heat, and don’t touch the pot until it begins to take color. For 3/4 cup of sugar, it will take about 8 minutes for color to appear at the edges. Gently swirl the pot to evenly distribute the color. Keep your eye on the sugar when it changes color because everything from this point happens very quickly. You want it to have a dark amber color. If you have a candy thermometer, it should reach 348F. If you don’t have one just use your nose. It should have a sweet and slightly bitter smell. Remove the sugar from the heat once achieved.

Step 3:

Immediately stir in 1 cup of heavy cream using a long-handled wooden spoon. Do not use a metal spoon because it conducts heat, and the sugar is extremely hot. It will bubble up once you stir it. If you are using butter, now is the perfect time to stir it in. Mix until fully incorporated.

The Perfect Way to Make Homemade Caramel