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    Home » Desserts » 21 of the Best Caramel Dessert Recipes

    21 of the Best Caramel Dessert Recipes

    Published: August 15, 2022 · Jill Baird · Leave a Comment

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    Caramel fans rejoice - we’ve pulled together our 20 Best Caramel Desserts Recipes 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.  

    Jump to:
    • 20 Easy Caramel Dessert Recipes
    • Caramel Sauces and Dips
    • Caramel Candy Recipes
    • Caramel Baking Recipes
    • Caramel Drink Recipe
    • More of The Best Dessert Recipes To Try

    20 Easy Caramel Dessert Recipes

    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.

    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 Sauce dripping from a spoon into a mason jar.

    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 occasions, pairing them with ice cream, fruit, cakes, cookies and more.

    1. 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.

    Pinterest pin for caramel sauce with a mason jar overflowing with caramel sauce.

    2. 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.

    3. 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.

    4. 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.

    Pinterest pin for old fashioned pineapple cake that shows a slice of cake covered with a soft caramel dessert topping.

    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.

    5. Homemade Caramels

    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.

    6. 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.

    Pinterest pin for Caramel Popcorn that has a small clear cup full with caramel popcorn.

    7. 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.

    8. Nilla Wafer Caramel Candy

    You will love these easy Nilla Wafer Caramel Candies, with a little dollop of homemade caramel 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.

    9. 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.

    10. 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.  

    Pinterest pin for Chocolate and Caramel pretzel rods, showing a stack of them finished with different types of chocolate and sprinkles for decoration.

    11. 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.

    12. 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. 

    Pinterest pin for caramel apples, showing the finished and decorated caramel apples as well as a bowl of caramel with a hand dipping an apple into it.

    13. Snowman Caramel Apples

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

    A cake stand filled with caramel apples that have been dipped in white chocolate and decorated to look like snowmen.

    Caramel Baking Recipes

    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 caramel breakfast treats.

    14. 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.

    Pinterest pin for Caramel dessert Pecan Pie that shows a slice of pie on a white plate topped with whipped cream and pecans.

    15. 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.

    Pinterest pin for Caramel Pecan Monkey Bread that shows the ring of monkey bread glazed with caramel on a serving platter.

    16. 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.

    A cinnamon roll covered in caramel sauce on a small plate.

    17. 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.

    Pinterest pin for Apple Crisp that shows a small plate full of the crisp covered in caramel dessert sauce and ice cream, as well as a photo below of the crisp in a baking dish.

    18. Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

    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.

    19. 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.

    20. 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.

    Pinterest pin for Coconut Macaroons that shows rows of chocolate-dipped macaroons drizzled with caramel sauce.

    Caramel Drink Recipe

    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.

    21. Caramel Apple Punch

    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. Compared to many cocktails, it's also super easy to make.

    Pinterest pin for Caramel Apple Punch that shows a large pitcher of punch with ice cubes, sliced apples, oranges and cranberries.

    More of The Best Dessert Recipes To Try

    • Key Lime Pound Cake
    • Strawberry and Cream Pie
    • Key Lime Pie
    • Pumpkin Fluff Dip
    • Chocolate Pudding
    • Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
    • Lemon Bars
    • Carrot Cake Cupcakes
    • Cream Puffs
    • More Cake Recipes
    • More Easy Dessert Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps other readers and me too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    With fall weather approaching, we decided to pull together our 20 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.

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