This apple bourbon caramel sauce has develop into a staple in Chef Cayt’s kitchen, and it’s an all-time favourite recipe along with her family and friends. It’s develop into so well-liked that she even makes large batches to promote, and across the vacation season, orders come flooding in months prematurely. With this recipe, you possibly can whip up this crowd-pleasing sauce in your individual kitchen utilizing only a few fundamental elements and a splash of apple bourbon. You’ll not consider how many individuals will love this, and it’s positive to raise any dessert that makes use of caramel!
For extra caramel sauce recipes, attempt our Sea Salt Caramel Sauce or our Fireball Cinnamon Caramel Sauce.
Why Our Recipe
- With distinctive flavors of apple and bourbon, this caramel sauce is in contrast to another you’ve tried.
- With clear steps and easy elements, our recipe walks you thru the method of constructing caramel in order that anybody could make this sauce.
Our apple bourbon caramel sauce is so scrumptious, and it solely requires just a few elements, most of that are most likely already in your pantry or fridge. The particular ingredient is apple bourbon, which provides it that flavorful punch that makes it to die for!
Ingredient Notes
- Salted butter: You may also use unsalted butter, simply be sure to add an additional pinch of salt to the recipe.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This helps make the caramel creamy and candy.
- Gentle corn syrup: For this recipe, be sure to get mild corn syrup moderately than a darker selection.
- Apple bourbon: That is what makes the flavour of this caramel sauce so distinctive and thrilling, so do what you possibly can to seek out apple bourbon! If you happen to can’t get any although, you possibly can substitute plain bourbon. And in order for you an alcohol-free model, you possibly can omit the bourbon altogether, and also you’ll nonetheless get a yummy caramel sauce.
Caramel Levels
When making caramel, it’s useful to be accustomed to the assorted phases it goes by because it cooks. The method of sugar remodeling into caramel happens over a number of distinct phases which can be identifiable by temperature, and every leads to its personal consistency.
The method begins with the “thread stage” (230–235°F), the place the sugar syrup kinds skinny threads when dropped into chilly water. That’s adopted by the “mushy ball” stage (235–240°F), so named as a result of the syrup kinds a malleable ball in chilly water, however flattens as soon as eliminated. The “agency ball” stage (245–250°F) is when the syrup holds its form when shaped right into a ball however nonetheless stays pliable. As the warmth rises, you attain the “laborious ball” stage (250–265°F), which provides you a agency ball that holds its form. The “mushy crack” stage (270–290°F) and “laborious crack” stage (300–310°F) create a agency, brittle syrup. If continued previous these factors, the syrup will flip right into a darkish, richly-flavored caramel at round 320-350°F, ideally suited for sauces and confections.
Understanding these phases is essential to find out the ultimate consistency of your caramel. For this recipe, purpose for a temperature between 200–205°F. That will provide you with a easy and velvety sauce with out reaching the mushy ball stage.
Sweet Thermometers
Sweet thermometers are probably the most correct method to get your caramel to the specified consistency, however it’s positively potential to make caramel with out one.
When your caramel begins to simmer, pay shut consideration to its look and texture. For this recipe, we’re aiming for a easy and velvety sauce. The caramel ought to develop into thicker, and small bubbles ought to persistently break the floor.
To examine the consistency of the caramel, you possibly can fastidiously take a small spoonful of caramel and let it cool for a second. As soon as it’s cool sufficient that it received’t burn you, use your fingers and pinch the sauce between your thumb and index finger. Pull your fingers aside, and as you do, the sauce ought to kind a thread that stretches however doesn’t instantly break. When you’ve hit that time, you’ll know that you simply’ve gotten to the appropriate consistency.
From there, take away the saucepan from warmth and permit it to chill for a couple of minutes earlier than you stir within the vanilla extract, apple bourbon, and salt. Then you’ll stir till all of the elements are effectively mixed. Let the sauce quiet down, then switch it to jars for storage.
Troubleshooting Grainy Caramel
Grainy caramel is commonly a results of sugar crystallization throughout the caramelization course of. To stop this, stir the combination persistently whilst you warmth up the caramel.
Graininess also can happen due to condensation, which might occur in the event you cowl the caramel when it’s nonetheless too heat. If that occurs, reheat the combination till it boils once more, and that can assist get rid of the grainy texture.
Serving Recommendations
This sauce can go on absolutely anything that like to make use of caramel sauce for. We love dipping apples in it, making apple nachos, drizzling it over ice cream, or utilizing in nearly any dessert you need! Be happy to get artistic and incorporate this superb sauce nonetheless you need.
Storage and Reheating Directions
Retailer leftover sauce in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 1 month.
Reheat sauce in a saucepan over low warmth or in a microwave-safe container within the microwave on brief intervals till it reaches the specified consistency.