You thought chocolate was the best dessert flavor? You are wrong. What I’ve found out is that rich, buttery caramel acts like magic with just about everything.
I’m not even going to pretend to be sophisticated enough to describe what this power combo of sweet and salty tastes like. But, if you were going to make me, I’d say it tasted warm, rich, buttery, and just a little salty, but still sweet at the same time.
So if you’re ready to experiment, I’ve found 25 caramel recipes that are totally delicious.
1. Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Just hold it right there. Banana bread was already pretty much perfect, but then this recipe came along with chocolate chips and salted caramel and just changed the game.
I mean, come on! A layer of caramel gets tucked into the middle, with even more on top. And you know when it comes out of the oven, we’re going to drizzle it with extra.
In my world, there is no such thing as too much caramel.
2. Salted Caramel S’mores
So you thought s’mores were just chocolate and marshmallow? Oh, friend, let me introduce you to your new obsession. You need to know this up front: these are dangerously good.
The secret to getting that perfect caramel and chocolate filling without a huge mess? Just use chocolates that are already filled with caramel. They melt together into something that is pure magic.
3. Homemade Caramels
These are my go-to for the holidays. They make the most perfect little gifts, and you won’t believe how simple they are to pull together.
The goal here is different from a caramel sauce; you need this to get really thick so it can set up enough to be handled. The trick is keeping the caramel on a nice steady heat.
Be patient, it will take about 10 minutes before you need to add the milk. Trust me, it is so worth it.
4. Caramel Apple Pudding Cake
Have you ever made a self-saucing dessert? Get ready, because this is a whole mood. This amazing dessert is made with a sauce that you pour right over the batter before it goes in the oven.
As it bakes, the sauce soaks through the cake, packing it with flavor and moisture before settling at the bottom. These are served warm, and that being said, a scoop of ice cream on top is never a bad idea.
5. Homemade Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
I’m one of those people who has a regular coffee shop order. But when I saw their new hot chocolates, my usual drink went right out the window!
How do they make it so yummy? It starts with whole milk and real chocolate, plus lots of creamy salted caramel. And let’s not forget that freshly whipped cream on top. YUM.
6. Grilled Pineapple Sundaes
I am a huge fan of grilled fruit, and I love serving it with lots of sweet additions. For this one, you should totally add a slice of grilled pound cake to the mix!
If you want to make a version just for the adults, a rum-infused caramel sauce is an absolute game-changer.
7. Caramel Cheesecake Cookies
Just reading the name of this recipe makes my knees buckle. Caramel cheesecake cookies? Yes, please, I’ll take a dozen! These are so smart, using cream cheese and crushed graham crackers in the dough for that unbelievable cheesecake flavor.
But it’s that caramel filling that has me hooked. You could even use those homemade caramels for this!
8. Salted Caramel Turtle Brownies
Can we all agree that brownies are basically dessert perfection? They’re chocolatey, fudgy, and oh-so-rich. Now picture all that goodness with a layer of caramel and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Are you drooling yet? These also get a lovely crunch from some chopped pecans, but you can totally leave them out if you need them to be nut-free.
9. Chocolate Caramel Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats give me such a hit of nostalgia, and I still love making them. But every now and then, I like to kick things up a notch. That’s where these chocolate caramel treats come in.
They’re still sticky and sweet, maybe just a little less sticky than the marshmallow kind. And if you toss in some Mars bars, you get that fantastic nougat flavor, too.
10. Quick and Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe
If you’ve never tried making your own caramel sauce, this is the one to start with. It’s quick and easy, just like the name says, and it all comes together in about 10 minutes.
I highly suggest mixing your sugar and water before pouring it into the pot. Try not to get any sugar on the sides where it can burn while the caramel boils.
11. Caramel Apple Cinnamon Scones
Scones have such an incredible texture. Those firm, crisp edges with a fluffy and light middle are just the best. I’ll eat them sweet or savory, any time of day.
What I love about this recipe is the big chunks of apple you get throughout, which keeps every bite sweet, tart, and so moist. The cinnamon spice with the caramel is just a perfect combination.
12. Homemade Caramel Apples
This might just be the best fall treat in the entire world. If you’re like me, you’ve got a ton of freshly picked apples just waiting to be used.
And what could be better than coating them in sticky, sweet caramel? This recipe is a little different from a standard caramel sauce because you need the caramel to be nice and thick so it can stick to the apple. If it’s too thin, it will just run right off.
13. Caramel Blondies
Blondies are pretty much thick, chewy cookies. They’re perfectly tender, sweet, and a great substitute for brownies.
This recipe takes the humble blondie to the next level by using caramel-filled chocolates instead of regular chocolate chips, which bake right into the dough. The only thing missing is a little sprinkle of sea salt on top.
14. Salted Chocolate and Caramel Pretzel Bars
When you imagine the most perfect sweet treat, is it chocolatey? Does it have that salty-sweet thing going on? Creamy and crunchy? Well, how about all of the above?
As far as pretzel bars go, this recipe is a total winner. Just layer your pretzels with caramel and chocolate and then try to let them cool before you dive in.
15. Caramel Apple Crisp
If caramel apple pie is delicious, you just know that a caramel apple crisp is going to be amazing! I love a good pastry, but sometimes I’m not in the mood to make it.
Plus, the texture of an apple crisp with that crunchy oat topping is just everything. This recipe is a lot like an apple pie. All you have to do is add some caramel sauce to the apple filling and bake!
16. Apple Dumplings with Browned Butter Salted Caramel Sauce
I promise you, these look way harder than they actually are. If you grab some store-bought dough, they’re practically effortless. The only part you might be nervous about is the brown butter.
If you’ve never tried it, just remember to be patient and let it cook slowly. It will get there, I swear. Just keep a close eye on it and swirl the pan a lot.
17. Chocolate-Covered Caramels
These caramels are totally perfect on their own, but dipped in chocolate? Oh my good gravy.
The only tricky part here is that you have to let the caramels cool down completely before you can dip them. It could take an hour, which is an entire hour you’ll have to stop yourself from eating the whole batch!
18. Salted Caramel Chocolate Pots
No matter what some famous chefs might say, dessert does not have to be complicated. Actually, I think it’s even better when it’s simple. And it doesn’t get much simpler than these little layered desserts.
Step one: spoon some ready-made dulce de leche into your dishes. Step two: top it with a quick chocolate ganache. Step three: let it cool and dig in!
19. Homemade Chocolate Turtles
Four ingredients and no baking? How can you not give this one a try?
These salty-sweet bites come together by pouring a generous amount of caramel over pecan halves before dipping them in chocolate and adding a sprinkle of sea salt.
If you’re looking for a nut-free option, pretzels would be an amazing substitute.
20. Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Full disclosure: I always buy caramel chips, but they usually just become my go-to snack. They almost never make it into my baked goods.
But when I’m making a batch of these chewy, chocolatey caramel cookies, I somehow find the willpower. I love this recipe, but you could also use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Or, turn it into a cookie bar for something extra thick and decadent.
21. French Caramel Apple Cake
Here are the things I love about this cake: how it looks, how it tastes, the fruit, and the fact that you can’t mess it up. It looks incredible no matter what!
This caramel apple upside-down cake is so light and tender, and the sponge soaks up all the caramel and apple juice. It’s so moist, you don’t even need frosting.
I love the rustic vibe of the chopped apples, but you could also make a pretty pattern with apple slices. Just remember that thicker apple slices won’t get as soft.
22. Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
Be warned: these little guys can get messy! I’m not talking about making them, that part is as simple as baking your favorite brownie recipe in a mini-muffin pan.
The messy part happens when you dig in, but honestly, that’s half the fun.
23. Caramel Apple Cider Ginger Ale Floats
If you grew up loving ice cream floats, this one is for you. While these can be made with regular apple cider, I really recommend trying them with a boozy version.
The ginger ale adds a nice warmth to the drink, but you might not need it if you use a sparkling apple cider. And if you think you’ll miss that warmth, try adding a little jalapeño simple syrup instead. It will blow your mind!
24. Chocolate Caramel Trifle
The best part about a trifle is that it can be a little messy and still look totally sensational. The trick is to have a few different layers with contrasting colors.
This one has chocolate cake and chocolate pudding next to whipped cream and caramel sauce. Feel free to swap in brownies for the cake, and you can even buy brownie bites at the store to make things even faster.
25. Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Am I the only one who always reaches for caramel sauce to go with my apple pie? They are a match made in heaven! With this recipe, you bake the caramel right inside the apple filling.
While it cooks, it infuses into the fruit and thickens up beautifully. To make sure your pastry gets cooked all the way, try blind-baking it before adding the filling.
The extra moisture from the caramel might keep it from baking the same way as your usual recipe.
