Caytlin’s Well-known Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce

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 in style 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 primary components 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.

Our apple bourbon caramel sauce is so scrumptious, and it solely requires a number of components, most of that are in all probability already in your pantry or fridge. The particular ingredient is apple bourbon, which supplies it that flavorful punch that makes it to die for!

Ingredient Notes

• Salted butter: You too can 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 gentle corn syrup quite 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! In case you 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 acquainted with the varied levels it goes by means of because it cooks. The method of sugar remodeling into caramel happens over a number of distinct levels which can be 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 kinds skinny threads when dropped into chilly water. That’s adopted by the “smooth 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 fashioned right into a ball however nonetheless stays pliable. As the warmth rises, you attain the “exhausting ball” stage (250–265°F), which supplies you a agency ball that holds its form. The “smooth 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.

Figuring out these levels is essential to find out the ultimate consistency of your caramel. For this recipe, goal for a temperature between 200–205°F. That gives you a clean and velvety sauce with out reaching the smooth ball stage.

Sweet Thermometers

Sweet thermometers are probably the most correct strategy to get your caramel to the specified consistency, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly doable 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 clean and velvety sauce. The caramel ought to develop into thicker, and small bubbles ought to persistently break the floor.

To verify 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 type 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 components are effectively mixed. Let the sauce quiet down, then switch it to jars for storage.

Troubleshooting Grainy Caramel

Grainy caramel is usually a results of sugar crystallization in the course of 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 in case 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 eradicate the grainy texture.

Serving Ideas

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 nevertheless you need.