41 Caramel Desserts for Gooey, Brittle, Buttery-Sweet Satisfaction
Transforming sugar from a pile of white granules into a golden elixir is a thrill, but once you’ve got it, what’s your next move? These caramel desserts put that liquid gold front and center, whether it’s dressing a cake or gilding a dish of ice cream, layering into a pie or sweetening your cookies. Below you’ll find a few of our favorite caramel dessert recipes—including lots that use store-bought caramel or dulce de leche so you can jump right in with your spoon. Keep that flaky salt handy and scroll down for the sweets.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks1/41Caramel Apple Drip Cake With Candied Walnuts
Many of the best caramel desserts work in any season, but this is one of our essential cakes for fall baking. Grated apples keep every cinnamon-scented slice supple and moist, while a caramel glaze and candied walnuts contribute toasty, luscious flavors.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/41Profiteroles With Maple Caramel Sauce
Inspired by the version served at L’Express in Montreal, these little puffs are filled with store-bought vanilla ice cream for ease. Focus your efforts on the simple maple caramel that’s drizzled on top. You can make the sauce ahead and rewarm it in the microwave.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson3/41Monkey Bread
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton4/413-Ingredient Caramel Apple Tart
Store-bought caramel sauce and frozen puff pastry are the secrets to a showstopping fall dessert that you can make in under an hour.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop styling by Alexandra Massillon, Food styling by Kaitlin Wayne5/41Dulce de Leche
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich6/41Caramel Nut Tart
Swap out this Thanksgiving’s pecan pie for this chocolate-drizzled pecan and walnut tart.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton8/41No-Churn Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Want to make salted caramel ice cream without an ice cream maker? This three-ingredient recipe couldn’t be easier.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne9/41Banoffee Pie
You don’t have to turn on your oven to make this British dessert; it’s a stovetop-only situation.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen12/41Giant Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Bill Clark13/41Creole Cream Cheesecake With Caramel-Apple Topping
Pumpkin cheesecake gets its moment every fall, but we think caramel apple cheesecake deserves more love.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone15/41One-Bowl Milk Chocolate Cake With Chocolate-Caramel Frosting
It’s great to have a few one-bowl cakes in your repertoire. This easy-to-make, portable cake with chocolate-caramel frosting is ideal for a picnic or backyard barbecue.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi17/413-Ingredient Microwave Caramel Sauce
This easy recipe gives you caramel sauce any time you want it. Use it to drizzle over ice cream, pancakes, or into your morning mug of coffee.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen19/41Giant Chocolate Candy Bar with Peanuts and Nougat
Photo by Angie Mosier21/41Salted Caramel Apple Pie
This recipe from baking expert Cheryl Day is a great way to highlight freshly picked apples. We like to use a combination of different types for layered flavor.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi22/41Chocolate Microwave Mug Cake with Caramel Sauce and Peanuts
When you’re craving a gooey dessert but don’t want to get out the stand mixer, this individual-size chocolate cake is here for you.
Photo by Louise Hagger25/41Tamarind Millionaire’s Shortbread
Tangy tamarind brightens the caramel in this spin on the classic layered shortbread bar.
Photo by Sarah Kieffer30/41White Chocolate Brownies With Toasted Sesame Caramel
We’ve been baking these white chocolate brownies from cookbook author Sarah Kieffer on repeat ever since we first tried them.
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Photo by Mark Weinberg33/41Caramel-Earl Grey Custard Pie in Gingersnap Crumb Crust
If you prefer, you can make this cake with chai instead of Earl Grey. But we wouldn’t recommend skipping the salted caramel sauce on top.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers35/41Caramel Apple Snacking Cake
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Jessie YuChen37/41Salted Caramel Apple Cookies
These soft, chewy cookies have all the best flavors of both classic snickerdoodles and caramel apples.
Alex Lau39/41Easiest Caramel Apple Clafoutis
Grab your cast-iron skillet to make this unfussy French dessert. Choose tart apples here for the most balanced dish.
