Caytlin’s Famous 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 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 personal kitchen utilizing just some primary components and a splash of apple bourbon. You’ll not imagine 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 couple of components, most of that are in all probability 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 can even 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 somewhat 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 if you’d like 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 aware of the assorted levels it goes by means of because it cooks. The method of sugar reworking into caramel happens over a number of distinct levels which might 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 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, perfect for sauces and confections.

Understanding 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 offers you a easy and velvety sauce with out reaching the mushy ball stage.

Sweet Thermometers

Sweet thermometers are probably the most correct approach to get your caramel to the specified consistency, however it’s positively attainable 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 constantly 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 just’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 components are nicely 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 constantly when you warmth up the caramel.

Graininess also can happen due to condensation, which may 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 may assist get rid of 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 artistic and incorporate this superb sauce nevertheless you need.