24 Best Caramel Recipes That Are Sticky and Sweet
From caramel apple pie to salted caramel popcorn!
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A drizzle of caramel is the best way to add instant sweetness to just about any dessert! Whether you're making homemade pies for the holidays or looking for the best ice cream toppings, these caramel recipes are the perfect way to celebrate the sticky goodness of buttery caramel. Here, you’ll find recipes made with homemade caramel sauce, store-bought caramel, or even chewy caramel candies. If you’re a fan of dulce de leche, you'll love these caramel recipes, too. From cookies to cakes to candy-covered caramel bars (that double as a Christmas food gift), we'll show you just how easy it is to make treats with caramel!
Along with a simple recipe for caramel sauce, this list has tons of creative ways to use homemade (or store-bought) caramel in a few different classic pairings. For starters, there's apple-cinnamon recipes and chocolate desserts, like chocolate butterscotch caramel bars and Ree Drummond's popular brownie recipe that's stuffed with caramel. Then, there's caramel and apple desserts—another popular grouping. Try the caramel apple dip, the caramel apple cheesecake, or the sweet rolls with caramel apple filling. Of course, who can forget the sweet and salty combination of salted caramel desserts? Here, you'll find out just how to make your own salted caramel candies, plus a salted caramel popcorn that’s so addicting!
Pretzel Turtles
This is one of the easiest homemade candies you can make. The sweet and crunchy treats are made from four ingredients: pretzel twists, milk chocolate, pecans, and (of course) caramel candies.
Get Ree's Pretzel Turtles recipe.
Coffee Ice Cream Pie
The toasty flavor of caramel goes so perfectly with the richness of coffee ice cream. So, you'll want to add a generous drizzle of the stuff to this coffee ice cream pie. Some toffee candies on top make it all the more sweet.
Get the Coffee Ice Cream Pie recipe.
Sticky Buns
A homemade brown sugar caramel sauce is what gives these sticky buns their recognizable stickiness. It's like an ooey-gooey twist on cinnamon rolls with chopped pecans for an added crunch.
Get the Sticky Buns recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Cake
This warm, spiced fall cake is topped with a thick layer of caramel glaze. It's surprisingly easy to make thanks to a can of sweetened condensed milk.
Get the Pumpkin Spice Cake recipe.
Homemade Waffle Cup Sundae with Caramel Sauce
No ice cream sundae party is complete with the toppings! Here, you'll learn how to make caramel sauce from scratch. Stash it in a jar in the fridge for up to five days.
Get the Homemade Waffle Cup Sundae with Caramel Sauce recipe.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Jarred caramel sauce is an easy way to take this fall-inspired cheesecake to the next level. Oh, and whipped cream and chopped nuts couldn't hurt either!
Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.
Candy Covered Caramel Bars
Here's a great way to put leftover Halloween candy to good use! Each of the gooey caramel candy bars can be topped with a different chocolate candy.
Get Ree's Candy Covered Caramel Bars recipe.
Salted Caramels
This recipe shows you how to make both salted caramels and chocolate salted caramels. It's a fun project that doubles as an edible gift.
Get the Salted Caramels recipe.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
There's a layer of caramel and apples under the cinnamon cheesecake filling, followed by an additional pile of caramel apples for garnish over the top.
Get the Caramel Apple Cheesecake recipe.
Caramel Apple Cupcakes
This caramel-infused frosting is smooth, thick, and creamy. The only thing to make it better would be an extra drizzle of caramel sauce right over the top!
Get the Caramel Apple Cupcakes recipe.
Caramel Sauce
Don't be intimidated by making your own caramel sauce. It's surprisingly simple and it'll come in handy the next time you want an ice cream sundae.
Get the Caramel Sauce recipe.
Caramel Apple Dip
Homemade caramel and cream cheese come together to make this scrumptious after-school snack. It's ready in just 35 minutes!
Get Ree's Caramel Apple Dip recipe.
Caramel Apple Cookies
These delicious apple cookies get a sweet twist thanks to the caramel candy that's baked in the center—it gets ooey, gooey, and oh so good!
Get the Caramel Apple Cookies recipe.
Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes
We love the combination of chocolate and caramel, but add coffee to the mix and it's a whole other level of deliciousness. It's just like the popular coffeehouse drink!
Get the Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes recipe.
Caramel Apple Pie
This is not your average apple pie recipe—it’s so much better! The caramel sauce melts right over the top for a perfectly gooey slice of pie.
Get Ree's Caramel Apple Pie recipe.
Cookie-Coated Caramel Apples
Give classic caramel apples a crunchy twist with this version that's covered in chocolate cookie crumbs. Your kids will thank you!
Get Ree's Cookie-Coated Caramel Apples recipe.
Chocolate Butterscotch Caramel Bars
This decadent dessert has three delicious layers: a golden oatmeal crust, a sweet dulce de leche center, and a topping of nuts, chocolate, and butterscotch chips. They're perfectly sweet and salty.
Get Ree's Chocolate Butterscotch Caramel Bars recipe.
Caramel Apple Sweet Rolls
Just like Ree's classic cinnamon roll recipe, but with the sweet addition of caramel and apples—this popular recipe is sure to become a brunch-time favorite.
Get Ree's Caramel Apple Sweet Rolls recipe.
Caramel Apple Fudge
This might just be the easiest caramel fudge we ever did see! It comes together in just 10 minutes. And, the chopped dried apples add a nice chewy texture, too.
Get the Caramel Apple Fudge recipe.
Salted Pecan Caramel Popcorn
Once you know how to make homemade caramel corn, movie night will never be the same! It's salty, sweet, and surprisingly easy.
Get the Salted Pecan Caramel Popcorn recipe.
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