Our 23 Best Caramel Dessert Recipes For Every Sweet Tooth
Easy crème caramel. (Photo: Roberto Caruso)
Drizzled over cheesecake squares, chilled with chocolate fudge or layered into a decadent pie—here at Chatelaine, we have so many ways to indulge a caramel craving. (We even have some Canadian favourites, like Caramilk shortbread!) Here are our best caramel dessert recipes to bring an extra dose of decadence to the dessert menu—and satisfy any sweet tooth.
What's the difference between caramel, butterscotch and dulce de leche?
Caramel
The primary ingredient in caramel is white granular sugar—caramel is as much a product as it is a process. It is created by slowly heating sugar to between 320F-350F, at which point the sugar will take on a range of colour, starting from light golden all the way to deep amber. At this point, you have caramel. Caramel candy is produced when the sugar is heated to a "firm ball" stage. Liquid is then added and the mixture is gently brought back to room temperature. Often flavourings such as vanilla, salt or a citrus such as lemon or lime are added. For caramel sauce, water or cream is added to thin the caramel.
Butterscotch
Sugar is also the primary ingredient of butterscotch, however the term butterscotch commonly refers to the flavour combination of brown sugar and butter. In this case, the sugar and butter are slowly melted together and gently brought to a boil. The mixture is then cooked to a “soft crack” stage on your candy thermometer. Because of the combination of ingredients, the mixture is not as temperature sensitive as a caramel. You can achieve the butterscotch flavour very easily simply by bringing the two ingredients to a boil and cooking until slightly thickened (without a candy thermometer). In this case, the addition of corn syrup is commonly used to achieve the chewiness of the butterscotch. Cream can be added to make a butterscotch sauce. (Oh, and if you continue cooking your butterscotch to the “hard crack” point on your thermometer, it is then referred to as…toffee!)
Dulce de Leche
What distinguishes dulce de leche from butterscotch and caramel is the "leche," meaning milk. Traditionally, milk and sugar are slowly simmered together until much of the milk has evaporated and the sauce had taken on a thick consistency with a caramel-like colour. Prepared dulce de leche is also available in the grocery store.
Easy Crème Caramel
Serve this spectacular dessert family style in the middle of the table, and spoon out portions into shallow bowls to hold the caramel. Get this easy crème caramel recipe.
Sticky Toffee Pudding With Caramel Sauce
A classic British dessert, allegedly made popular in the 1970s by Francis Coulson, chef at Sharrow Bay Country House in northern England. No matter its origins, this deluxe moist spongey cake with caramel and creamy custard sauce will please every sweet tooth. Get this sticky toffee pudding recipe recipe.
Caramel Apple Millionaire’s Shortbread
Recipe developer Camilla Wynne put a caramel-apple spin on her granny’s millionaire’s shortbread—a buttery base topped with a thick layer—and she thinks this version is even better than the original. Get her caramel apple millionaire's shortbread recipe.
Turtle Fudge
A rich chocolate base topped with a caramel and pecan layer...what’s not to love about this no-bake treat? Get this turtle fudge recipe.
Caramel-Pecan Sticky Buns
This easy brunch treat—crammed with brown sugar and pecans—is sticky, gooey and glorious. Get this caramel-pecan sticky buns recipe.
Caramel Cheesecake Bars
Classic cheesecake bars are draped in golden caramel sauce for an extra-decadent finish. Get this caramel cheesecake bars recipe.
Salted Caramel-Filled Chocolate Cookies
These treats are filled with gooey caramel and just the right amount of salt to cut down on the sweet, then drizzled with roasted white chocolate. Get our salted caramel-filled chocolate cookies recipe.
Sweet And Salty Caramel Apple
Covered in broken-up pretzels and drizzled with chocolate, these decadent caramel apples are perfect for your Instagram feed (and your belly). Get this caramel apple recipe.
Salted Caramel And Chocolate Tart
It will be love at first bite when you taste the rich chocolate ganache, gooey caramel, buttery crust and delicate sprinkling of pink salt that make up this sinfully good dessert. Get this salted caramel and chocolate tart recipe.
Cookies And Cream Caramel Apple
Doused in crumbled cookies and white chocolate, this twist on a classic caramel apple is perfection. Get this cookies and cream caramel apple recipe.
Caramel Apples With Popcorn
Caramel, popcorn and salted peanuts add a little something different to this fall favourite. Get our caramel popcorn candy apple recipe.
Double Caramel Sponge Candy
This delicious—and deliciously sweet—sponge candy has a caramel-honeycomb centre and is garnished with toffee bits. Get our double caramel sponge candy recipe.
Grilled Pineapple With Caramel And Lime
Here, tangy pineapple is offset beautifully by the sweet caramel and vanilla ice cream. Get this grilled pineapple with caramel and lime recipe.
Quince Tarte Tatin
Sweet, fragrant quince are exquisite apple-like fruits. Use them in an easy, classic French recipe for a stunning autumn dessert, topped with a delicious caramel sauce. (No quince available? Use Honeycrisp apples instead.) Get this quince tarte tatin recipe.
Caramel Skillet S’mores
A caramel-filled chocolate bar takes your traditional s’mores to the next level. And since it’s cooked in a skillet under the broiler, you can make this dish all year round. Get this caramel s’mores recipe.
Banana-Caramel Cream Pie
Creamy, with hits of caramel and crunchy chocolate toffee, this over-the-top banana cream pie is nothing short of spectacular. Get the banana-caramel cream pie recipe.
Caramel And Banana Hand Pies
Bananas and dulce de leche get wrapped up in flaky pie pastry for a fun take on homemade pop tarts. Get this caramel and banana hand pies recipe.
Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
Pour this luxurious sauce over ice cream, or turn it into four irresistible dessert ideas. Get this homemade salted caramel sauce recipe.
Salted Caramel Popcorn Bark
This is a great treat for lovers of salty sweets. (And triangles of caramel-coated popcorn are the perfect snack for movie night.) Get this salted caramel popcorn bark recipe.
Salted Caramel Ice Cream
No need for an ice cream maker: Turns out all that’s required to make incredible homemade ice cream is three ingredients and a freezer. Get this salted caramel ice cream recipe.
Rustic Caramel-Apple Pie
Incredibly simple to make, these individual-sized tarts are a great way to use up extra apples. Get this rustic caramel-apple pie recipe.
Caramilk Chocolate Shortbread Bites
Hint: there’s a decadent surprise inside. Get this Caramilk shortbread bites recipe.
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