Having homemade caramel sauce at hand is like a blessing in disguise. This caramel whiskey sauce is rich, boozy, creamy, and delectable.
This caramel whiskey sauce has become one of my favorites and I love to drizzle it over a scoop of ice cream. I always keep an extra jar of this sauce in my pantry. Off-the-shelf caramel sauce contains thickening agents like Xanthan Gum and starch syrups to thicken it that dilutes the flavors. A homemade caramel sauce has a more nutty flavor and a strong aftertaste that makes you close your eyelids every time you lick it off the spoon.
In this article, I am going to explain how to prepare caramel whiskey sauce at home. This sauce is fairly easy to prepare and doesn’t require any complex methods or equipment. Maintaining temperature and time is the key to getting your caramel whiskey sauce right.
Time: 10 minutes
Yield: Approx 340ml
Ingredients:
- 260g Castor sugar
- 150ml Heavy cream
- 50g Butter salted
- 50ml Water
- 44ml Bourbon or Whiskey
- Pinch of salt.
Instructions:
- Place water and sugar into a thick-bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
- Heat the sugar and water for about 4-5 minutes until bubbles start forming. Swirl the pan occasionally off the heat.
- Keep cooking until the sugar syrup starts turning from white to pale yellow to amber. Keep an eye on this transition once the mixture starts to change color it’ll start burning instantly.
- Continue to cook and lift off the gas until the sugar has turned to amber-brown color or the thermometer inserted should read 176°c or 350 F.
- Add in the butter, continue to whisk until it’s completely mixed with the sugar. Turn off the heat and take it off the gas.
- Add heavy cream and salt. Make sure you are working in enough spacious areas as the mixture will start to splutter and steam the moment you add in the cream. Whisk until thoroughly mixed.
- Leave the sauce to cool down for a few minutes then proceed to add whiskey and give it a light stir.
- Pour the caramel whiskey sauce into a clean glass jar, and cover it with a lid once it’s completely cooled down.
- Refrigerate the caramel whiskey sauce for up to 2 weeks and reheat in a microwave for 30 seconds intervals before using.
Variations
- To make the salted caramel sauce, skip the whiskey. Add 1 tbsp kosher salt and follow the recipe as mentioned.
- Thicker caramel sauce. To make this sauce thicker you can add a tablespoon of corn syrup after adding the cream.
Important :
- To avoid a spillage make sure you use a large or wide thick bottom saucepan. After adding cream, the sauce is going to splutter and rise rapidly to the brim for a few seconds.
- Caramel is extremely hot. The sugar temperature can go up to 180°c or 350 F. A parental supervision is highly recommended if you are under 18.
- If you use a 4-way burner gas stove, place your saucepan on the father most burner, away from you with the saucepan handle facing towards the inside. To avoid accidental tips this is a safe practice.
- While adding heavy cream to the hot sugar, the sauce is going to splutter violently and rise. Stand back with your face away from the saucepan.
Notes:
- Give your undivided attention while making this recipe. Once the sugar has entered a caramelization stage it will go from lightly caramelized to dark burnt disaster in no time.
- A heavy thick-bottomed saucepan is highly recommended for this recipe as making caramel can get tricky once it starts to caramelize it can burn in an instant. A thick-bottomed saucepan will help it to caramelize at a controlled pace.
- Avoid mixing or stirring while making caramel, only whisk after adding in butter and cream. You can lift the pan off the stove and gently swirl it around occasionally.
- If you are making caramel for the first time, you might get startled when adding cream to caramel as it splutters and releases steam for a brief period. This is normal but be prepared for the rapid infusion.
Uses for caramel whiskey sauce
- Spread it over your favorite ice creams and shakes.
- Drizzle it over any baked goods and desserts.
- Snack on it right off the spoon.
- Add it in your coffee.
- Give it as a gift in jars to your foodie friends.
If you enjoyed this recipe check out our Chocolate Sauce recipe here. Made this recipe? Let us know in the comments below or tag us on Instagram here.
