5K Shares

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

This is the best caramel recipe ever! The soft caramel is perfect for caramel popcorn, drizzling over ice cream, or apple dipping! You will love it!

Easy soft caramel recipe for perfect caramel popcorn, ice cream topping or dipping! Only takes four ingredients and a few minutes to make!

Okay folks, this is my go-to homemade caramel recipe. I almost want to keep it a secret. It is that easy and delicious. If you haven't figured this out about me yet I am a sucker for things that are awesome and easy. Does that make me lazy? Probably. Will I ever change? Doubt it.

If you are looking for other super easy and delicious treats try our easy homemade brownies or our chocolate crinkle cookies. Or you can find our entire dessert gallery here.

Anyway back to the topic at hand!

Homemade Caramel

Every fall we make this homemade caramel sauce and it is one of my kids favorite traditions! For good reason too because this stuff is to die for good.

You can use this homemade caramel in a multitude of ways. My two favorites are caramel popcorn and caramel ice cream sundaes. Not your thing? Cake? Brownies? Dip for apples? Yes, yes and yes.

Ingredients for Homemade Caramel

Brown Sugar
Butter
Karo Syrup
Sweetened Condensed Milk

butter, brown sugar, karo syrup and sweetened condensed milk in a pot on the stove

It really is so simple! Like most of the recipes I post on this blog, it is cost effective. I always have all these ingredients on hand (granted, the Karo syrup is only on hand for this very recipe, but still.)

All you do is melt the ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Once caramel is boiling cook for approximately two minutes stirring constantly.

It doesn't get any easier than that!

How to Make Caramel Popcorn

Pour caramel over popcorn immediately after removing it from the stove. This recipe will cover three or four bags of microwave popcorn thoroughly.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week.
This caramel is soft and so it will make soft, gooey caramel popcorn (my favorite kind). If you prefer a crunchier, harder caramel popcorn you can spread your caramel covered popcorn out on a greased baking sheet and bake at 250 for about an hour, turning every 15 minutes or so.

How to Make Caramel with Condensed Milk

You ready for the best and easiest caramel recipe?

If you make and love this recipe we would love for you to leave us a comment and let us know, we appreciate them so much!

homemade caramel next to a bowl and a spoon filled with caramel popcorn

Easy Caramel Recipe

This is the best caramel recipe ever! The soft caramel is perfect for caramel popcorn, drizzling over ice cream, or apple dipping!

4.95 from 20 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Calories: 218kcal

Author: Pretty Providence

Video

Ingredients

1 C Brown Sugar
½ cup butter
1 C light Karo syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

Melt all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
Once caramel is boiling, cook for approximately two minutes stirring constantly.
If using for caramel popcorn: Pour over popcorn immediately (this recipe will cover three bags of microwave popcorn thoroughly.)

Notes

How to Make Caramel Popcorn

Pour caramel over popcorn immediately after removing it from the stove. This recipe will cover three or four bags of microwave popcorn thoroughly.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week.
This caramel is soft and so it will make soft, gooey caramel popcorn (my favorite kind). If you prefer a crunchier, harder caramel popcorn you can spread your caramel covered popcorn out on a greased baking sheet and bake at 250 for about an hour, turning every 15 minutes or so.