Create a DIY version of that luxurious Starbucks caramel sauce you love so much! It takes about 10 minutes and 5 simple ingredients! This homemade caramel sauce is the real deal. It packs intense sweetness and tantalizing hints of saltiness.
In a few simple steps, with just five ingredients (no corn syrup or caramel flavoring here), we'll show you how to make a homemade version of this easy recipe that gives you all the warmth and deliciousness of Starbucks at home at a fraction of the cost.
With its smooth and creamy texture, beautiful amber hue, and perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors - prepare yourself for a luxurious treat! It's wonderful for dessert recipes!
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Why We Love This Recipe
With minimal effort and a few ingredients, you can craft batches of sweet gooeyness for any occasion, whether drizzling over ice cream or baking into delectable treats! In addition:
- The recipe is SIMPLE and EASY to follow. You'll be surprised by how easy it is to make a delicious homemade version of this beloved coffeehouse treat.
- It's LESS EXPENSIVE than store-bought. It's cheaper than caramel sauce you buy at the store or coffee shop and tastes better! No chemicals or preservatives.
- It's SWEET, CREAMY, and oh-so-delicious.
While it might be tempting just to run out and buy a bottle of store-bought caramel sauce, why not make your own and have that famous Starbucks taste at home?
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Starbucks copycat recipe at home, you will need the following ingredients:
- Sugar - white granulated sugar creates the perfect caramel.
- Water - water is required to help dilute the sugar and cook it to the ideal consistency.
- Unsalted butter (cut into cubes) - Butter gives the recipe a rich taste. We prefer unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt in the final product.
- Heavy cream - of course, you need thick, rich cream to make caramel. It's often sold as whipping cream or heavy whipping cream.
- Vanilla - pure vanilla extract is optional, but it elevates the flavor and brings all the other ingredients together.
- Sea salt - salt balances the sweetness for your tastebuds. You can add more to your liking.
Find the full instructions in the printable recipe card below.
Step-By-Step Instructions
STEP 1 - The first step in making your own caramel sauce is to combine the sugar and water in a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon or heat-resistant rubber spatula so it's thoroughly combined.
Cook for 3-4 minutes until the sugar dissolves and turns clear. It will also start to bubble. Once this happens, don't stir again.
STEP 2 - Allow the liquid to bubble. Swirl the pan occasionally and brush down the sides to prevent crystallization of the sugar. The sugar will begin to clump but continue swirling until the mixture thickens and turns a deep amber color. This will take somewhere between 8-12 minutes.
STEP 3 - Add the butter slices and mix until completely melted. NOTE: the caramel will bubble up, so be careful and continue to stir.
STEP 4 - Remove the pan from the heat and slowly add heavy cream while stirring continuously. Be sure to keep stirring until all the cream has been incorporated into the mixture. Finally, stir in the vanilla and sea salt until it fully dissolves. This should take about one minute or so in total.
Finally, allow your caramel sauce to cool before serving it with coffee or ice cream. Pour your room-temperature homemade caramel sauce into an airtight glass container or jar for storage.
PRO TIP: When ready to use your caramel sauce, remove it from the refrigerator and warm it up in the microwave or stovetop before serving it with your favorite beverage or dessert!
Erin
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- No candy thermometer required. This homemade caramel sauce doesn't need a candy thermometer. You'll use your eyes to determine when it's done and when to add the next ingredients.
- Avoid using a non-stick pan. The recipe cooks best in a regular pan, not a non-stick one.
- Don't stir! Resist the urge to stir the sugar and water as you heat them. This will cause grains to form, and your end result won't be smooth and creamy. You can gently swirl the pan over the heat, but don't let the mixture go high up the sides as that also causes crystallization of the sauce, making it grainy.
- Be patient. It takes 8-12 minutes for your caramel to thicken and come to that beautiful amber color—it's hard to say precisely when that will happen. You don't want to step away and for it to burn. This recipe is easy, but you need to stay with it to capture the perfect window.
- Halving the recipe. You can cut the recipe in half if you only need a smaller amount of caramel sauce.
Storing and Freezing
If you make your Starbucks copycat caramel sauce in advance, cover it and store it for up to a month in the fridge. Just warm it for a few seconds in the microwave before using it.
Freezing - place your cooled caramel sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then warm it up before using.
Uses for Caramel Sauce
Obviously, you can use it to make your favorite coffee drink, but it's the perfect topping for so many things!
- Drizzle over brownies or chocolate bars.
- Layer it to make Chocolate Caramel Trifles or Apple Cheesecake trifles.
- Make Chocolate Caramel Fondue.
- Top your Apple Cake.
- Dip fruit in it.
- Give it away for a lovely edible homemade gift!
Recipe FAQs
Caramel sauce includes dairy (heavy cream), so it's thicker and richer. Caramel syrup is simply sugar and water, so it has a thinner consistency and less intense flavor.
Yes, because the caramel sauce contains butter and cream (dairy), you will need to keep it in the fridge. You can reheat it as necessary.
Starbucks Copycat Recipes That Use Caramel Sauce
With these simple instructions, you can enjoy that same sweet Starbucks flavor right at home with your own homemade caramel sauce!
Here are some of our homemade favorites of popular drink options!
Starbucks Caramel Latte
4 ounces espresso or strong brewed coffee (or premium instant coffee)
2½ tablespoons caramel syrup (divided)
1 teaspoon sugar (optional). You can use brown sugar, coconut sugar, or regular sugar. Feel free to omit or swap with extra caramel if you'd like to.
4 ounces of milk warmed and frothed. Use whole milk, low-fat milk, or nondairy milk (like soy milk or oat milk)
2 tablespoons whipped cream. optional
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pour the hot espresso into a coffee mug.
- Add some of the caramel sauce (adjust according to your desired sweetness level) and sugar if using.
- Add the milk.
- Top with a dollop of whipped cream if you like
- Drizzle additional caramel on top of the milk or whipped cream (if using).
- Heat the milk, caramel, sugar, and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the mixture until combined, and the milk starts to steam. Optionally, you can use a milk frother to froth the mixture.
Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe:
2 oz espresso
1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
2 tablespoons caramel sauce
8 oz milk and ice cubes.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Blend it all together and add the ice.
- Then add caramel and vanilla sauce to your desired level of sweetness.
Starbucks Own Caramel Macchiato Recipe
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon caramel sauce
1.5 ounces of hot espresso
2 tablespoons vanilla syrup
2 tablespoons whipped cream
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat milk to about 150 degrees (between 140 and 160 degrees F.). Do not boil it.
- Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of a coffee mug.
- Add vanilla syrup to the mug.
- Add the hot milk to the mug.
- Pour the espresso into the mug, and give it a quick stir.
- Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Caramel Frappuccino
The Caramel Frappuccino uses both caramel syrup and caramel sauce. It's a sweet drink that totally satisfies.
For the drink:
3 tablespoons caramel sauce and a drizzle for the top
1 ½ teaspoons instant coffee
½ cup whole milk
1 cup ice
3 tablespoons homemade Frappuccino base syrup
For the topping:
½ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon vanilla simple syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add instant coffee, milk, Frappuccino base syrup, and ice to your blender. Mix until smooth.
- Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of extra caramel sauce.
Desserts That Use Caramel Sauce
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Printable Recipe
Homemade Caramel Sauce (Starbucks Copycat)
Equipment
- heavy-bottomed pot
- wooden spoon or silicone spatula
- glass jar for storage
Ingredients
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into cubes)
- ½ cup heavy cream (It’s often sold as whipping cream)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and water in a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon or heat-resistant rubber spatula, so it's thoroughly combined. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the sugar dissolves and turns clear. It will also start to bubble. Once this happens, don't stir again.
- Allow the liquid to bubble. Swirl the pan occasionally and brush down the sides to prevent crystallization of the sugar. The sugar will begin to clump but continue swirling until the mixture thickens and turns a deep amber color. This will take somewhere between 8-12 minutes.
- Add the butter slices and mix until completely melted. NOTE: the caramel will bubble up, so be careful and continue to stir.
- Remove the pan from the heat and slowly add heavy cream while stirring continuously. Be sure to keep stirring until all the cream has been incorporated into the mixture. Finally, stir in the vanilla and sea salt until it fully dissolves. This should take about one minute or so in total.
Notes
- No candy thermometer required. This homemade caramel sauce doesn't need a candy thermometer. You'll use your eyes to determine when it's done and when to add the next ingredients.
- Avoid using a non-stick pan. The recipe cooks best in a regular pan, not a non-stick one.
- Don't stir! Resist the urge to stir the sugar and water as you heat them. This will cause grains to form, and your end result won't be smooth and creamy. You can gently swirl the pan over the heat, but don't let the mixture go high up the sides as that also causes crystallization of the sauce, making it grainy.
- Be patient. It takes 8-12 minutes for your caramel to thicken and come to that beautiful amber color—it's hard to say precisely when that will happen. You don't want to step away and for it to burn. This recipe is easy, but you need to stay with it to capture the perfect window.
Joanna says
Hi! I just tried the recipe and I let the sugar/water bubble for more than 12 minutes and it never turned amber. I proceeded with the recipe anyway but it is very pale. Any suggestions?
April says
Yum! I swear there's nothing better than homemade caramel. This was a lot easier to make than I would have thought!
Erin Henry says
So easy and so good! Thanks for giving it a try, April. You'll be hooked!
Allyson Zea says
This was so good, thanks!
Rebecca Hubbell says
Used this recipe to make our caramel macchiatos! So good!
Erin Henry says
Yum! Homemade Starbucks Drinks are so delicious, economical, and easy to make at home.