Description
This rich and velvety Apple Cider Caramel Sauce combines the tartness of apple cider with the deep sweetness of caramel, enhanced by a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. Perfectly balanced and creamy, this sauce is ideal for drizzling over desserts like ice cream, pancakes, or apple pie to add a warm, autumnal touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 5 tablespoons salted butter
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Boil: Add the apple cider to a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil. Allow the cider to reduce by cooking down to about 1/3 cup, concentrating the flavors and sweetness.
- Add: Lower the heat, then add the packed brown sugar, salted butter, heavy cream, and cinnamon powder to the reduced cider. Increase the heat back to medium-high to combine the ingredients thoroughly.
- Simmer: Let the mixture cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The caramel sauce will thicken and darken in color as it develops rich, deep flavors.
- Stir: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt to enhance the flavor complexity and balance the sweetness.
- Let Cool: Set the caramel sauce aside to cool to room temperature. As it cools, the sauce will thicken further, achieving a luscious, pourable consistency ideal for topping various desserts.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, simmer for a few minutes longer, but be careful not to burn it.
- Use salted butter as specified to balance the sweetness, but you can add extra salt to taste if needed.
- Store leftover caramel sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Reheat gently before serving.
- This sauce pairs exceptionally well with vanilla ice cream, pancakes, waffles, and baked apples.
- If you want a smoother texture, strain the sauce before cooling to remove any undissolved sugar granules or spice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
