23 Salty-Sweet Caramel Desserts You're Going To Love
♪ It won't do to (just) dream of caramel ♪... make these recipes instead!
Perfect drizzled over ice cream, baked into pies, or turned into salty-sweet confections… you got it, we’re talking about the versatile perfection that is caramel. Whether you’re interested in making your own caramel sauce or parchment-wrapped caramels, or have some store-bought options kicking around your cabinets that you don’t know what to do with, we’ve got a recipe for you here. Check out our best caramel recipes for ideas—they go way beyond those hard candies in grandma’s pocket. 😂
What is caramel? At its simplest, caramel is sugar that has been heated until its molecules break down (“caramelization”). Our guide to caramel sauce delves a bit deeper into the different varieties (wet versus dry caramel, how toffee fits in to all this, etc.), but for the purpose of these recipes, we’re focusing on glossy caramel sauce and chewy caramel candies.
Should I make my own? We’re all for it, but be warned, it can get tricky. If you’re going to attempt one of our homemade caramel recipes, you’re going to need a candy thermometer, a heavy-bottomed pot (for even heat distribution), and some patience. We believe in you, but there are also TONS of delicious jarred caramels or pre-wrapped candies out there, and we’re not judging if you stick with those instead of making your own.
What should I put it on? Um, everything. Because caramel is so sweet, it pairs well with other strong flavors, like salty, tart, or bitter. You kind of can’t go wrong, but it does pair particularly well with chocolate, like in our salted caramel brownies; apples, like in our caramel apple upside-down cake or caramel apples; or with a sprinkle of salt (we’ve even paired it with super salty Vegemite to the same effect). It’s also a major player in all of our favorite candy bars, so we’ve got some spins on those here too, like our Snickers cheesecake, our Twix pie, or our Rolos-stuffed blondies.
Want more homemade sweets recipes? Check out our favorite fudges, our top truffles, and our best dessert bars too.
Caramel Apples
Not only are caramel apples easy to make (we use store-bought caramels, though you could make your own!), they're also super-fun to personalize with nuts, chocolate, or whatever you'd like. Follow our easy step-by-step instructions here, and you'll be biting into a gooey tart treat in no time.
Get the Caramel Apples recipe.
Caramel Popcorn
Making from-scratch caramel corn couldn't be easier, but don't be hesitated to rush it—baking at a low temperature for about an hour is key to popcorn with that irresistible sweet crunch.
Get the Caramel Popcorn recipe.
Millionaire Shortbread
When you really want to ball out on dessert, this is THE cookie to make. With a buttery shortbread crust, caramel middle, and thick chocolate top, it doesn't get much richer than this.
Get the Millionaire Shortbread recipe.
Caramel Apple Pie
A classic apple pie is always at the top of our fall baking list, but this year we're deciding to step it up. Caramel sauce brings out the sweetness of apples and makes them taste even MORE like fall.
Get the Caramel Apple Pie recipe.
Salted Caramels
Sea salt and caramel are a total match made in heaven, whether it's in a luscious sauce or, in this case, perfectly chewy, wrappable candies. If it seems silly to top them with salt, trust us—it pulls the flavors together (and adds a little crunch!).
Get the Salted Caramels recipe.
Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino
You can use store-bought caramel and whipped cream for this recipe: For crazy mornings or that true Starbucks taste, we even recommend it. But, if you want to take this over the top (or are using higher-end home brewed coffee, maybe?), try making your own homemade caramel and whipped cream.
Caramel Sauce
Making homemade caramel can seem daunting. After all, boiling hot sugar and the worry of scorching can seem scary at first. But we promise you it's truly so straightforward, especially when you follow our tips (and check out our step-by-step photos too).
Get the Caramel Sauce recipe.
Rolo Stuffed Blondies
These blondies positively ooze with chocolate and caramel. Decadent doesn't even begin to describe them. 😍
Get the Rolo Stuffed Blondies recipe.
Salted Caramel Brownies
We think this recipe is pretty fudgin' awesome, but if you want to use a boxed brownie mix instead, feel free. Here it's all about the creamy caramel sauce. Maldon sea salt—or any coarse, flaky salt—is crucial for getting that light hit of salt without making the whole dessert taste salty.
Get the Salted Caramel Brownies recipe.
Snickers Cheesecake
Ever wished you could have a Snickers Bar... in cheesecake form? Today's your day! This outrageous cheesecake has a creamy milk chocolate center and is topped with plenty of caramel and roasted salted peanuts. Oh, and Snickers, obviously. 😍
Get the Snickers Cheesecake recipe.
Crème Brûlée Martini
These martinis taste just like a crème brûlée with WAY little effort. Be sure to keep the caramel circles in the freezer until you're ready to serve. The caramel will eventually melt into your drink, making it extra indulgent.
Get the Crème Brûlée Martini recipe.
Caramel Apple Tart
No one needs to know how ridiculously simple this four-ingredient dessert really is—all you need is puff pastry, cinnamon, caramel sauce, and apples to make this impressive and delicious stunner.
Get the Caramel Apple Tart recipe.
Samoa Pie
Dig into a slice of chocolate-caramel goodness, inspired by everyone's favorite Girl Scout cookie. Looking for something even colder? Try our frozen samoa pie next!
Get the Samoa Pie recipe.
Snickerdoodle Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
We’ll take any excuse to add caramel to a dessert, and these snickerdoodles are the perfect opportunity. They’re tiny (bite-size, really), with a Werther’s® Original® Soft Caramels smack in the middle of each. Good luck having just one!
Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
Move over, pineapple! This is our new favorite upside-down cake. This tastes like a spice cake crossed with a caramel apple and we are INTO IT.
Caramel Pecan Pretzel Bars
Shove over, brownies, these bars might just dethrone you as the best square dessert. The bold buttery flavor of the pretzels is the perfect savory complement to the sweet indulgence of caramel and the nutty goodness of a handful of pecans. (Bonus: The pretzels also provide the perfect crunch!)
Get the Caramel Pecan Pretzel Bars recipe.
Chocolate Caramel Crunch Pops
These ice cream bars have vanilla and chocolate ice cream with layers of Oreo crumbs and caramel and a coating of chocolate to hold it all together. The small size means you can get it ALL in one perfect bite.
Get the Chocolate Caramel Crunch Pops recipe.
Twix Pie
A giant Twix bar? Yes, please! It's got everything you love about the classic candy bar—shortbread, caramel, and chocolate—in a way more share-able package.
Get the Twix Pie recipe.
Salted Caramel Pound Cake
This is no ordinary pound cake. It's swirled with a sweet and decadent caramel batter and topped with a healthy drizzle of salted caramel after it's baked. We recommend using our perfect caramel sauce for this recipe (but store-bought works too!).
Get the Salted Caramel Pound Cake recipe.
