Salted Caramel Bourbon Sauce
What better way to elevate your dessert experience than by adding this decadent Salted Caramel Bourbon Sauce to everything (and we mean everything) that you make!
This sauce is smooth, silky and it’s as versatile as it is delicious. Not only does it make the perfect topper for many of our sweet pies (like Caramel Pecan, Chocolate Chess, and Traditional Apple), it’s also right at home on a dessert charcuterie board or an ice cream sundae. You can even stir it into your coffee for a delicious morning treat!
Just what makes this Salted Caramel Bourbon Sauce so great?
- This sauce comes together in just 10 minutes or less
- With only five ingredients, you might not even need to make a trip to the store
- Bourbon adds a touch of elegance and sophistication
- A pinch of kosher salt brings depth of flavor
That’s right! This sauce is made with just five simple ingredients.
- Unsalted butter – this is the base of the sauce and what makes it so thick and decadent! Opt for unsalted butter here, and we’ll add the salt in a bit later.
- Brown sugar – Brown sugar gives the sauce its rich, complex caramel flavor
- Heavy cream – Heavy cream makes the sauce creamy and provides the smooth base flavor
- Kosher salt – A little bit of salt compliments and counterbalances the sweetness of the sauce
- Good bourbon – Good bourbon really kicks this into the stratosphere
You’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t cook with alcohol you wouldn’t be willing to drink, and we’ve found that to be totally true! Though the actual alcohol is cooked off in the heat, the flavor of bourbon permeates this sauce and makes it smokey and sophisticated.
So, you might be asking, what is it that makes good bourbon good? Bourbon is a uniquely American type of whiskey made from at least 51% corn and distilled at a lower proof than many other alcohols, so the flavors really come through. It’s aged in special barrels that have been charred by an open flame, drawing the natural sugars to the surface to create a flavor that’s woody and complex.
Good bourbon can be determined by many different factors, but in general, aim for one that’s been aged between 6 and 12 years. You can also research different bourbons to see which ones have a flavor profile you prefer. (Some bourbons have a sweeter flavor with notes of caramel and vanilla, while others have a nuttier, spicier flavor.)
One great thing about this sauce is that it will taste slightly different, depending on the kind of bourbon you use, so make sure pick one you absolutely love!
Alright, now that your mouth is watering, it’s time to make this sauce!
Instructions:
1. Combine the butter, brown sugar, cream, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil
2. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute.
3. Remove from heat and stir in bourbon.
4. Drizzle warm glaze over each slice of pie.
Pairs well with: Caramel Pecan Pie, Chocolate Chess, Traditional Apple, and Salted Caramel Turtle Pie)
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Did you like this recipe? If so, how did it go? Leave a comment here and tell us what you think – we can’t wait to hear!
For more great recipes and ideas, check out Amanda’s cookbook, Southern Baked: Celebrating Life with Pie, and the rest of the blog!