Salted Caramel Sauce

    As my husband and I attempt to implement healthier and cheaper lifestyles, there are a few things I just don't buy from the store. One of these things is caramel or chocolate sauce. When they are in my home we find excuse after excuse to get treats to top them with or end up drinking way too many mochas and caramel macchiatos. There is one downside to this plan. I am a baker and a person who loves to make things herself just to see if I can do it. Often times this means I successfully recreate something usually store bought and it's usually better. On top of that, when I make it at home, I know there are less chemicals and preservatives so I feel WAY less guilty about eating it! Caramel sauce is one of these things. 

    Caramel sauce is also shockingly easy to make. Most of the time needed to make it is just spent waiting for your sugar to melt. For me that is an agonizingly long time because my stove is a little pokey. Once the sugar melts though, your caramel sauce will be done in a jiffy! All you have to do is turn down the heat a bit so you don't get burnt by bubbling sugar, vigorously (but carefully) stir in your butter, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt bit by bit, then let it cool. Voila! You have caramel sauce. I like to keep this in a sealed container at room temperature for up to a month. However, it never lasts that long. In the refrigerator it can get too hard and the sugar can even crystalize, making it so that your caramel is no longer smooth. 

    I like to use this caramel sauce for dipping apples, caramel macchiatos or lattes, drizzling on top of ice cream, or topping my favorite baked good. Pretty much anything you would use normal caramel sauce for! I especially like the slightly salted flavor because it helps balance out all the sweetness I am usually pairing this sauce with. Be careful with this sauce though, it is extremely delicious and addictive. Once you make it once you will realize how easy it is and you won't be able to stop! Thats if your family will even let you stop! Regularly my husband asks me when I am going to make this again and almost every time I fold and whip up a batch. 

    What did you think of this recipe? Use the comment section below!