Whiskey Caramel Sauce

This Whiskey Caramel Sauce is rich, buttery, and infused with whiskey for a boozy, comforting treat! Add it to baked goods, stir it into coffee, use it to top ice cream, and more! A lovely addition to a St. Patrick's Day treat, and it makes a fantastic gift!

Course Dessert

Cuisine caramel, Food Gifts

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings Tablespoons (2 cups)

Calories 58kcal

Author Amee

Equipment

pint jars

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature
½ cup heavy (whipping) cream
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (see note)
2 Tablespoons whiskey (see note)
pinch salt (see note)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Pour sugar into a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk, and keep whisking, as sugar melts. It will clump and you'll think you're doing it all wrong. You're not. :)
1 cup sugar
Once sugar is melted, stop whisking and let sugar cook until it is deep amber in color. *Carefully* add butter (mixture will bubble!) and whisk to incorporate.
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature
Remove mixture from the heat. Add cream (carefully!) and whisk until smooth. Add vanilla bean paste (see note), whiskey (see note), and salt (see note) and stir to incorporate. Sauce will thicken as it cools.
½ cup heavy (whipping) cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, 2 Tablespoons whiskey, pinch salt
The caramel sauce is best refrigerated since it contains dairy. Storing the caramel in a heatproof container (such as a small glass jar or bowl) will make it easier to reheat as needed.
Sealed well, the caramel sauce will keep for up to three weeks in the refrigerator, or up to three months in the freezer.
Enjoy!

Notes

Note on vanilla bean paste - I love the little black flecks of vanilla bean throughout the caramel. If you prefer, you can substitute with an equal measure of vanilla extract.

Note on whiskey - You can use whatever whiskey you prefer, but there's really no need to use the good stuff. I used an Irish whiskey. For a milder whiskey flavor, you can reduce the amount of whiskey to one tablespoon.

Note on salt - The pinch of salt is to balance and enhance the flavor of the caramel. If you want it to be a salted caramel, increase the amount of salt to 1.5 teaspoons of a flaky sea salt.

Nutrition