Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

3/4 cup heavy cream

3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon gray sea salt, crushed or kosher salt

Salted Caramel Variations, recipes follow

Preparation

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar and water over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, without stirring. If necessary, use a wet pastry brush to wash down any crystals on the side of the pan. Boil until the syrup is a deep amber color, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the sugar from the heat and carefully whisk in the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble. Stir in the unsalted butter, and salt. Transfer the caramel to a dish and cool. *Cook’s Note: The salted caramel sauce will keep in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Reheat before serving

Uses for Salted Caramel Sauce: Salted Caramel Dip with Harvest Apples: Package the sauce with seasonal apples for making caramel apples or simply dip the apple slices into the caramel sauce. Carmelitas: Attach a recipe for a classic carmelitas recipe to the jarred caramel sauce suggesting using the sauce in the recipe. Salted Caramel Milkshake: Add the salted caramel sauce to basic vanilla milkshake recipe, recipe follows.