Apple Cider Caramel
Fall... but in a Sauce
This apple cider caramel is one of my favorite fall treats! It’s sweet, spiced, buttery, and tastes like a crisp afternoon at the orchard. I like to drizzle it over baked apples, swirl it into coffee, or sneak a spoonful straight from the jar. It’s cozy in a bottle, and the kind of recipe that makes your whole kitchen smell like cinnamon and good memories.
The process is calming and simple, with just a little stirring and a bit of simmering. The apple cider reduces down with warm cloves and a cinnamon stick, giving it that deep, cider-y flavor. Everything else comes together in a caramel base that feels fancy but is honestly very doable.
Ingredients:
– 1½ cups apple cider (I used the martinelli brand)
– ¾ stick of butter (6 tbsp)
– 1 cup sugar
– ⅓ cup heavy cream (room temperature)
– 1 cinnamon stick
– 3 whole cloves
– ¼ tsp salt
– ½ tsp lemon juice
– 1 tsp water
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
In a small pot, simmer the apple cider with the cinnamon stick and cloves until slightly reduced.
In another pan, stir together the sugar, water, and lemon juice over medium-low heat until the sugar is fully melted.
Add the butter and salt to the sugar mixture and stir until smooth.
Turn off the heat and let it cool for just a minute, then slowly add the cream while stirring.
Remove the spices from the cider and pour the cider into the caramel mixture.
Simmer everything together for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Let it cool, pour it into a jar, and store in the fridge.
This is perfect in lattes, on cinnamon rolls (or any sweets really, or even by the spoon full. Full video is up on can be found HERE if you want to cook along. I hope you love it as much as I do 🍎!