Sweet, Sweet Caramel: 25 Dreamy Recipes

These caramels come together quickly, requiring just seven common ingredients. The soft chews, however, are far from standard — a dash of sea salt makes them all grown-up.

Recipe: Sea Salt Caramels

Boston's Oleana pastry chef Maura Kilpatrick's killer parfaits are the perfect contrast of cold, crunchy, and creamy. They're fabulous for entertaining, because you can make the caramel cream, granita, and caramel ahead of time and assemble them just before serving. The crunch can also be served over vanilla ice cream.

Recipe: Caramel-Tangerine Parfaits

Friends will love this exquisitely gooey sauce, which elevates everything from pancakes and waffles to ice cream.

Recipe: Maple Caramel Sauce

A drizzle of sweet caramel is the perfect complement for salted cashews, which appear in both ground and chopped form in these full-flavored cookies.

Recipe: Cashew-Caramel Cookies

Bake this warm caramel souffle for a memorable dessert. The recipe comes from chef Pierre Schaedelin of Benoit in New York City.

Recipe: Caramel Soufflé

Ripe bananas, rich in sweetness, are puréed into custard to form the base of this ice cream that will melt the hearts of even the pickiest dessert aficionado.

Recipe: Banana-Caramel Ice Cream

These salted caramel bars are the perfect treat for anytime of the year.

Recipe: Salted Caramel Treats

Salt contrasts deliciously with the whipped cream and caramel blended filling of this holiday tart. A dollop of extra whipped cream on top makes the confection complete.

Recipe: Salted-Caramel Tart

This quick caramel sauce has a touch of salt for a slightly more sophisticated flavor.

Recipe: Salted Caramel Sauce

Caramel sandwiched between crunchy cookie and smooth chocolate — it's no wonder that reader Annie Abdai has been making these bars for more than 40 years.

Recipe: Chocolate Caramel Candy Bars

A salty and sweet cake perfect for all occasions.

Recipe: Salted-Caramel Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Blood oranges pair well with a simple caramel sauce and a sprinkling of earthy, nutty cocoa nibs.

Recipe: Blood Oranges with Caramel Sauce and Cocoa Nibs

Use this rum- and vanilla-spiked caramel sauce for Emeril Lagasse's Grilled Banana Splits with Hot Fudge and Rum Caramel Sauce (pictured).

Recipe: Rum Caramel Sauce

Pastry chef Bob Truitt’s ultra-rich caramel sauce can be made in just 20 minutes. It's delicious drizzled on ice cream desserts, like these Butter-Pecan Blondie Sundaes.

Recipe: Creamy Caramel Sauce

This recipe for delicious caramel cake is courtesy of Dr. Maya Angelou and can be found in her cookbook, "Hallelujah."

Recipe: Caramel Cake

These bite-size sandwich cookies are perfect for a party or a lunchbox treat.

Recipe: Chocolate-Caramel Sandwich Cookies

A sweet departure from the traditional strawberry shortcake, this decadent version features shortcakes with bananas blanketed in homemade caramel, whipped cream and chopped walnuts.

Recipe: Banana-Caramel Shortcakes

Deliciously sticky, sweet and salty, this grab-and-go treat features a thin butter crust topped with a thick, creamy homemade caramel full of chopped toasted almonds.

Recipe: Caramel-Salted Almond Sticks

All that's needed to elevate store-bought ice cream or frozen yogurt? A garnish of tender Comice pear slices — and a gloriously easy caramel sauce infused with pear juice.

Recipe: Vanilla Ice Cream with Caramel-Pear Sauce