Name: Salted Caramel Filling
Total time: 2 h 20 min
Yield: Makes about 1 cup
Ingredients: 1 cup (7 ounces/198 grams) sugar; 1/4 cup water; 2 tablespoons light corn syrup; 6 tablespoons heavy cream; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon salt

Why This Recipe Works

Just ½ teaspoon of salt amplifies the caramel flavors in this sauce, which is great between layers of applesauce cake or drizzled over ice cream. Bring this sauce to room temperature before serving.

Before You Begin

To prevent unwanted crystallization, do not stir the caramel until step 2.

Instructions

Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup in medium saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat and cook, without stirring, until mixture is amber-colored around edge of saucepan, 4 to 6 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook, swirling saucepan occasionally, until evenly dark amber, 2 to 5 minutes longer.

Off heat, carefully stir in cream, butter, vanilla, and salt (mixture will bubble and steam). Return saucepan to medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until smooth. Carefully transfer caramel to bowl and let cool completely, about 2 hours. (Once cooled, caramel filling will be very thick.)