Midwestern HomeLife

  • Recipes
  • Holiday Recipe eBooks
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Recipe eBooks
  • 🥞FREE Brunch eBook!
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Recipe eBooks
    • 🥞FREE Brunch eBook!
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • How to Make Cinnamon Icing
    • baked bbq salmon on a white plate with broccoli.
      Baked BBQ Salmon
    • spoonful of no cook bbq sauce over a mason jar of bbq sauce.
      No-Cook BBQ Sauce (Sweet & Tangy)
    • blackened salmon Caesar salad in a white bowl.
      Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad
    • blackened baked salmon filet and green beans on a white plate.
      Blackened Baked Salmon
    • microwave steamed green beans in a white bowl.
      How to Steam Green Beans in the Microwave
    • spoonful of caesar salad dressing in foreground with jar of dressing, lettuce, parmesan, and croutons in background.
      Caesar Salad Dressing (No Raw Eggs)
    • ciabatta croutons in a mason jar.
      Ciabatta Croutons (Garlic & Parmesan)
    • blackened Cajun seasoning ingredients on a white plate.
      Blackened Cajun Seasoning
    • air fryer whole chicken on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Whole Chicken
    • cooked bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet.
      How to Cook Bacon in the Oven (with Parchment Paper)
    • spoon lifting up a spoonful of hummus dressing over a white bowl.
      Hummus Dressing Recipe
    Home » Recipes » Cakes & Breads

    Easy Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce (without Cream)

    Published: Aug 21, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    saucepan with boiling caramel sauce and caramel sauce being drizzled into a mason jar
    spoon drizzling caramel sauce into a mason jar on a wooden board
    caramel sauce being drizzled into a mason jar
    caramel sauce being drizzled into a mason jar

    Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce is a quick and easy recipe you can make in about 10 minutes with 6 ingredients. And no candy thermometer!

    Luxuriously smooth and creamy, it's a delicious caramel sauce topping for Banoffee Ice Cream Cake, Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake, and No-Bake Banana Pudding Pie, dipping sauce for apples and pretzels, and makes a fabulous gift. 

    caramel sauce being drizzled into a mason jar.

    Want to Save This Recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get more FREE recipes and tips from my Midwestern kitchen to yours!

    Save Recipe

    By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Midwestern HomeLife

    Jump to:
    • Why You're Going to Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Caramel without Cream
    • Success Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Delicious Recipes
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    The first time I made brown sugar caramel sauce was for this Pumpkin Bundt Cake recipe. I was amazed by the smooth, luscious texture and rich caramel flavor from such a fast and easy caramel sauce recipe.

    This simple caramel sauce without cream comes together with six simple ingredients you might already have, and you can make it in about 10 minutes. The best part, it's completely fuss-free and foolproof -- no candy thermometer necessary! 

    This caramel sauce has a thin, liquid consistency when it's hot. As the caramel cools, it thickens to the perfect consistency for drizzling over No-Bake Cheesecake, Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust, or a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream. When cooled to room temperature, it's a delicious and easy caramel dip for apples, pretzels, cookies, or cinnamon chips. 

    Why You're Going to Love This Recipe

    • Delicious caramel dessert topping or dipping sauce
    • Foolproof homemade caramel sauce recipe without a candy thermometer
    • Lusciously smooth and creamy caramel without heavy cream
    • Easy caramel recipe that makes great homemade gifts

    Ingredients

    brown sugar caramel sauce ingredients.

    Dark brown sugar. Brown sugar gives it the most amazing flavor of deep caramel-slash-butterscotch in a short amount of time. I like dark brown sugar for the richer flavor, but light brown sugar also works. I don't recommend white sugar in this recipe. It will not have the same amber color or deep, rich flavor. 

    Unsalted butter. I always use unsalted butter to better control the salt levels. If you use salted butter, you may wish to use less salt.  

    Light corn syrup. Corn syrup is a type of invert sugar, that helps keep caramel sauce from crystallizing. It's not the same thing as high fructose corn syrup.  

    Evaporated milk. Caramel sauce with milk is perfectly creamy with rich flavor -- no heavy whipping cream necessary. 

    Salt. A little bit of salt is necessary to enhance the flavors in this brown sugar caramel. To make your own homemade salted caramel sauce, feel free to add another ½ teaspoon of salt. You can use sea salt or regular table salt. 

    Cinnamon, optional. This is totally optional, but ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon is a great way to add flavor to this basic caramel recipe. I added cinnamon to the caramel sauce in the photos in this post -- it's delicious!

    How to Make Caramel without Cream

    caramel sauce ingredients in a saucepan.

    Step 1: Place the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, evaporated milk, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. 

    saucepan with bubbly caramel sauce.

    Step 2: Whisk and stir while the butter melts, the sugar dissolves, and the caramel mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir for about 2 minutes, or until the mixture reaches 225 on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.  

    Easy Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce Cover Image.

    Step 3: Pour the hot caramel sauce into a heat-proof glass jar or bowl to cool. 

    pumpkin cake with yellow cake mix on a white plate with caramel sauce being drizzled on top.

    Step 4: Serve warm drizzled over your favorite desserts, or at room temperature as a dipping sauce.

    Cool the caramel sauce completely before storing it in the refrigerator. Otherwise, it can become grainy. 

    Success Tips

    • A little corn syrup keeps the caramel mixture from crystallizing. 
    • Cool the caramel sauce completely before refrigerating.
    • Feel free to adjust the flavors of your caramel sauce with cinnamon or more salt. 

    FAQs

    How should I store homemade caramel sauce? 

    Store leftover caramel sauce in a covered mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. Let it come to room temperature or reheat before use. 

    Can I reheat this caramel sauce without cream recipe? 

    Yes! Reheat caramel sauce in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, or in a saucepan over medium-low heat until warm. 

    Can I freeze caramel sauce without cream? 

    Yes. Freeze caramel sauce in a freezer-safe container (not glass). Thaw in the refrigerator. 

    Can I use caramel sauce without cream for a filling or frosting?

    No. Because it has a soft consistency, this caramel sauce without cream will not work well as a cake or cupcake filling or frosting. 

    How do you fix grainy caramel sauce?

    Grainy caramel sauce happens when the sugar crystallizes. This can be a result of undissolved sugar crystals, temperature fluctuations, or a host of other factors. But don't worry if your creamy caramel sauce becomes gritty. It's so easy to fix! 

    Place the caramel sauce and a tablespoon or two of water in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk and bring the mixture to a boil until it's smooth again. You can also reheat it until bubbly in the microwave. Cool the caramel completely at room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator. 

    How does brown sugar affect the flavor of caramel sauce? 

    Brown sugar contains molasses, which gives the caramel sauce a deep amber color and complex flavor with hints of toffee and butterscotch sauce. Using brown sugar in your caramel sauce will result in a richer, more robust taste.

    fork cutting into a piece of pumpkin cake with yellow cake mix topped with caramel sauce.

    More Delicious Recipes

    • piece of chocolate caramel poke cake on white plate
      Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake
    • pumpkin cake with yellow cake mix on a white plate with caramel sauce being drizzled on top
      Easy Pumpkin Cake with Yellow Cake Mix
    • Million Dollar Bars
    • caramel apple dip in a white bowl on a round platter with pretzels, apples, and graham crackers
      Caramel Apple Dip

    💌Let's Stay in Touch

    Follow Midwestern HomeLife on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive all of the latest recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    caramel sauce being drizzled into a mason jar

    Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce without Cream

    Cara Lanz
    Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce is a quick and easy recipe you can make in about 10 minutes with 6 ingredients. And no candy thermometer! Delicious dessert topping or dipping sauce, and makes a fabulous gift. 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16
    Calories 139 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
    • 3 tablespoons corn syrup
    • 6 tablespoons butter
    • ½ cup evaporated milk
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Place the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, evaporated milk, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
      Whisk and stir while the caramel mixture melts together and comes to a boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes.
    • Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. If you're using cinnamon, add it now.
    • Place the caramel sauce in a heat-proof jar or bowl to cool.
      Serve warm over cake, ice cream, pie, cheesecake, or stir into coffee or oatmeal.
    • Cool completely at room temperature.
      Store covered in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until warm.

    Notes

    This recipe yields 2 cups. 
    If you're a cook-by-thermometer person, boil the caramel until it reaches 225 degrees. 
    A little corn syrup keeps the caramel mixture from crystallizing. 
    Cool the caramel sauce completely before refrigerating.
    Feel free to adjust the flavors of your caramel sauce with cinnamon or more salt. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 139kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 123mgPotassium: 53mgSugar: 24gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Recipe inspired by this caramel sauce recipe by Ree Drummond on Food Network. 

    « Easy Pumpkin Cake with Yellow Cake Mix
    Easy Mint Chocolate Cake (Grasshopper Cake) »
    • Facebook
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love sharing easy, delicious everyday recipes from the heartland.

    Whether you're looking for a fast and easy dinner recipe, something yummy for a potluck or holiday gathering, or just a little inspiration, I hope you'll find something you love here.

    Dig in!

    More about me →

    Easy Brunch Recipes ebook cover.

    FREE eBook

    Easy Brunch Recipes with sweet and savory favorites!

    Let's go!

    Spring Baking Recipes

    • two Strawberry Brownies ona white plate in front of a platter of strawberry brownies
      Strawberry Brownies

    • side view of white plate with piece of pineapple cream cheese pie topped with toasted coconut and a blackberry
      No Bake Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie

    • side view of piece of strawberry pie topped with whipped cream and a strawberry
      No Bake Strawberry Pie with Jello

    • lemon bar with graham cracker crust on white plate with cutting board with bars in background
      Easy Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust

    • two carrot cake mix bars on a a white counter top.
      Carrot Cake Mix Cookie Bars

    • slices of lemon blackberry bread on a white plate
      Lemon Blackberry Bread

    Most Popular Recipes

    • piece of chocolate caramel poke cake on white plate
      Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake

    • Million Dollar Bars

    • ground beef vegetable soup recipe in a white bowl
      Easy Ground Beef Vegetable Soup

    • pot roast with onion soup mix, potatoes, and carrots on a white platter
      Lipton Onion Soup Pot Roast Recipe

    • taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet
      One Pot Taco Spaghetti

    • oven baked teriyaki chicken thighs on a white plate
      Oven Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs (Boneless or Bone-in)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • About
    featured on logos

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 MIDWESTERNHOMELIFE Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.