20+ Best Caramel Desserts - The Carefree Kitchen

Caramel fans rejoice – we’ve pulled together over 20 recipes for the Best Caramel Desserts to celebrate this sweet, salty, gooey, delicious flavor. From caramel sauce and homemade caramel candies to salted caramel pie, cookies and more, we’ve got a little something for any occasion.

These recipes are easy enough for beginners but none of them skimp on flavor. Let us know what you think in the comments below!

collection on the best caramel dessert recipes.

The Best Caramel Desserts

Time and again, salted caramel is voted one of the top-rated flavors in the dessert world. Accordingly, with caramel apple season approaching, we thought it would be a good time to pull together all of our favorite Caramel Dessert recipes into one spot.

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Whether you are looking for an easy caramel sauce, a recipe for homemade caramel apples, ideas for recipes using caramel topping or fun homemade caramel candies, we’ve got you covered. Our easy-to-follow instructions will guide you through how to make caramel at home so that you’ll become a pro in no time.

Caramel Sauces and Dips

Using just a few ingredients, these gooey and buttery homemade caramel sauces and dip recipes are absolute keepers. You can use them for some many different desserts with caramel sauce, pairing them with ice cream, fruit, cakes, cookies and more.

Homemade Caramel Sauce

This easy Homemade Caramel Sauce is ooey-gooey, silky smooth and salty sweet. Without a doubt, it’s perfect for drizzling over vanilla ice cream, serving as a dip for apples or even eating by the spoonful.

Caramel Dip for Apples

Caramel and apples are truly a match made in heaven, and this Caramel Dip Sauce for Apples is here to prove it. The sweet, creamy salted caramel pairs perfectly with tart, crisp, refreshing apple slices.

A white ramekin full of caramel with sliced apples around it. Easy caramel dessert. Caramel treat recipes.

Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip

Made with just 3 ingredients, this Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip can be served with crisp apples, other fruits, pretzels and more.

A serving bowl full of cream cheese dip with a swirl of caramel. Best caramel desserts. Caramel desserts recipes.

Caramel Topping for Pineapple Cake

Taking a hint from pineapple upside-down cake, we decided to cover this cake in an ooey-gooey caramel sauce, which is downright heavenly.

old fashioned pineapple cake on a white plate with a slice of fresh pineapple

Caramel Candy Recipes

These caramel candy recipes are great for holiday parties, fall celebrations, gift giving and cookie plates. Best of all, they couldn’t be easier to make.

Homemade Caramel Candy

This recipe for Homemade Caramel Candy is an easy step-by-step guide to making sweet, silky smooth and delicious caramel.

Homemade caramel candies cut into squares and topped with sea salt all lined up on a tray with parchment paper.

Black Licorice Caramels

These homemade Black Licorice Caramels are buttery, soft, and so easy to make. The combination of caramel and licorice flavors with a little hint of salt makes them impossible to resist.

Homemade Caramel Popcorn

This Homemade Caramel Popcorn is sweet, salty, buttery, crisp, and addictive. It blows away any store-bought caramel corn and is so simple to make.

Caramel popcorn inside plastic cups on a table. how to make caramel popcorn. Easy caramel popcorn recipe.

Coconut Caramel Popcorn

Another delicious caramel popcorn recipe is this Coconut Caramel Popcorn full of toasted coconut, coconut-flavored caramel and a chocolate drizzle.

A plastic cup filled with caramel popcorn, topped with coconut and chocolate sauce. Best easy caramel desserts.

Nilla Wafer Caramel Candy

You will love these easy Nilla Wafer Caramel Candies, with a little dollop of homemade caramel or some easy to melt caramels, and a drizzle of sweet milk chocolate. They take only a few minutes to assemble and are a favorite every time.

A couple of chocolate and caramel drizzled nilla wafers staked on top of each other with a full plate of them in the background.

Chocolate Covered Caramels

This Chocolate Covered Caramel recipe provides easy-to-follow instructions so that even beginners can make these delicious candies in their very own kitchen. These soft and chewy caramels are dipped in melted chocolate then topped with flakey sea salt for a perfect treat no matter what the occasion.

Caramel dessert recipes. Easy caramel treats.

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods

These Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods are crunchy, sweet, salty, pretty to look at and super simple to make at home. Whether you need an easy holiday gift or a simple snack, this recipe is a keeper.

Rolo Pretzel Bites

Rolo Pretzel Bites are the perfect sweet and salty holiday treat or snack for any occasion. They use just 3 ingredients, take less than 10 minutes to make and are always a major hit.

A tray with homemade candies lined up made from pretzels, rolos and decorated with chocolate candies on top.

Homemade Caramel Apple

This recipe will give you step-by-step instructions on how to make gourmet Caramel Apples at home with just a few ingredients.

Snowman Caramel Apples

Give these cute snowmen a try for a festive winter version of our Homemade Caramel Apples.

Baked Caramel Treats

Our favorite baked caramel dessert recipes feature caramel as one of the main flavors. We’ve included dessert favorites, such as pies, crisps and cookies, and a couple of breakfast caramel treats.

Caramel Pecan Pie

This homemade Caramel Pecan Pie is sweet, nutty, rich, and easy to make at home. The caramel pecan filling is sweetened with brown sugar and maple syrup and chock full of crunchy toasted pecans.

Caramel Pecan Monkey Bread

This simple Caramel Pecan Monkey Bread smothered in sticky brown sugar pecan caramel is ooey gooey, and absolutely delicious. It’s also easy to throw together for a holiday or any weekend morning.

best homemade monkey bread, monkey bread pillsbury, canned biscuit monkey bread,

Easy Caramel Cinnamon Rolls

These Easy Caramel Cinnamon Rolls are a breakfast favorite. First, we make our favorite homemade cinnamon roll dough and then smother it in delicious caramel sauce hot out of the oven.

caramel apple cinnamon rolls, caramel apple sweet rolls recipe.

Caramel Apple Crisp with Crunchy Oat Topping

This Caramel Apple Crisp With Oat Topping has fresh apples and caramel sauce with a crunchy and chewy oat crumble topping.

apple crisp with oat topping, how to make apple crisp topping.

You will love these easy Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars made from caramel sauce, peanut butter spread, chocolate chips and a wonderful oatmeal cookie bar topping.

Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars cut into squares and lined up on a baking sheet.

Coconut Caramel Magic Bars

A total classic, these oatmeal cookie bars have a layer of coconut filling, caramel drizzle and another layer of oatmeal cookie topping. They are an incredible cookie bar, perfect for any party or family gathering!

A stack of magic bars separated by small pieces of parchment paper.

Coconut Macaroons

These Coconut Macaroons are soft and chewy, perfectly moist and super simple to throw together. Also, they taste especially amazing dipped in chocolate and drizzled with caramel.

Even More Recipes with Caramel

Salted Caramel Rice Krispies

These Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are an easy dessert with big flavor. Rice Krispies are coated in a rich homemade caramel sauce and melted marshmallows for a sweet and salty version of the classic.

Caramel Apple Punch

Last but not least, we have a fun retro drink recipe made with caramel. Want to make this an adult beverage? Simple – just spike with your favorite vodka, rum or bourbon. This Caramel Apple Punch is the perfect fall drink to serve at holiday get-togethers. It’s made with apple cider, ginger ale, caramel sauce, and fall spices.

More Recipes With Caramel To Try

Caramel Apples: A classic fall treat that can be enjoyed year-round. Dip apples into melted caramel and let them cool before enjoying.
Caramel Cheesecake: Combine the creaminess of cheesecake with the sweetness of caramel for a decadent dessert. Try our no bake cheesecake with a dollop of creamy homemade caramel sauce.
Caramel Brownies: Take your homemade brownies to the next level by swirling caramel into the batter before baking.
Peanut Butter Caramel Cornflake Cookies: These don’t have caramel in them, per se, but they have an incredible caramely, peanut buttery texture that is simply to die for. A unique twist on a cornflake cookie, these cookies have a crunchy texture from the cornflakes and a gooey chew from the caramel.
Caramel Bread Pudding: A comforting dessert that’s perfect for chilly nights. The caramel sauce adds an extra layer of sweetness to the bread pudding.
Caramel Rice Pudding: Another comforting dessert that’s perfect for fall. The creamy rice pudding is made even more delicious with the addition of caramel.

More of The Best Dessert Recipes

With fall weather approaching, we decided to pull together over 20 of the Best Caramel Dessert Recipes to share with our fellow caramel lovers. Included, you’ll find caramel dessert recipes, caramel sauces, dips, candies, cookies, and so much more.