This apple bourbon caramel sauce has turn into a staple in Chef Cayt’s kitchen, and it’s an all-time favourite recipe together with her family and friends. It’s turn into so well-liked that she even makes large batches to promote, and across the vacation season, orders come flooding in months upfront. With this recipe, you possibly can whip up this crowd-pleasing sauce in your individual kitchen utilizing just some primary substances 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 substances, our recipe walks you thru the method of creating caramel in order that anybody could make this sauce.
Our apple bourbon caramel sauce is so scrumptious, and it solely requires a number of substances, 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 as well use unsalted butter, simply be sure you add an additional pinch of salt to the recipe.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This helps make the caramel creamy and candy.
- Mild corn syrup: For this recipe, be sure you get mild corn syrup fairly 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! Should you can’t get any although, you possibly can substitute plain bourbon. And if you would like an alcohol-free model, you possibly can omit the bourbon altogether, and also you’ll nonetheless get a yummy caramel sauce.
Caramel Phases
When making caramel, it’s useful to be conversant in the assorted levels it goes via because it cooks. The method of sugar remodeling into caramel happens over a number of distinct levels which are identifiable by temperature, and every ends in its personal consistency.
The method begins with the “thread stage” (230–235°F), the place the sugar syrup types 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 types 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 “exhausting ball” stage (250–265°F), which provides you a agency ball that holds its form. The “mushy crack” stage (270–290°F) and “exhausting 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, supreme for sauces and confections.
Realizing these levels is essential to find out the ultimate consistency of your caramel. For this recipe, intention for a temperature between 200–205°F. That provides you with a easy and velvety sauce with out reaching the mushy ball stage.
Sweet Thermometers
Sweet thermometers are probably the most correct solution to get your caramel to the specified consistency, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly 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 turn into thicker, and small bubbles ought to persistently break the floor.
To test the consistency of the caramel, you possibly can rigorously take a small spoonful of caramel and let it cool for a second. As soon as it’s cool sufficient that it gained’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 precise 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 substances are nicely mixed. Let the sauce settle down, then switch it to jars for storage.
Troubleshooting Grainy Caramel
Grainy caramel is usually a results of sugar crystallization throughout the caramelization course of. To stop this, stir the combination persistently whilst you warmth up the caramel.
Graininess may also happen due to condensation, which might occur for those who cowl the caramel when it’s nonetheless too heat. If that occurs, reheat the combination till it boils once more, and that may assist eradicate the grainy texture.
Serving Solutions
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 at liberty to get inventive 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 quick intervals till it reaches the specified consistency.