If you're making caramel sauce, but think it's too runny, you can thicken it. The most efficient way to thicken a sweet sauce is to boil it on the stove to make it thicker. Alternatively, you can thicken the caramel sauce by changing the amount of milk or sugar in the recipe, or replacing the milk with cream.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Thicken the Caramel Sauce on the Stove
Step 1. Heat the sauce on the stove
If you've just finished making your caramel sauce and think it's too runny, bring the caramel sauce to a boil and cook it on the stove. Cook the sauce for 10 minutes to thicken the sauce. As the liquid in the caramel sauce evaporates, the sauce will thicken.
Watch for the sauce to start to thicken. Stir the caramel constantly. Otherwise, you will end up with a caramel sauce that is too thick
Step 2. Allow the caramel sauce to cool
If the freshly made caramel sauce is too runny, let the sauce cool first. When it cools down, the sauce will thicken. If you're not sure if your freshly cooked caramel sauce is the right consistency, let the sauce cool down first.
It's easier to heat and thicken the caramel sauce than it is to add liquid to thin it
Step 3. Bring to a boil and reheat the sauce stored in the refrigerator
If you bought caramel sauce that was too runny at the store – or got it as a gift – you can thicken the sauce over the stove. The same concept applies to homemade caramel sauce. Pour the sauce over the saucepan, then heat over medium heat (about number 4) over your stove until the sauce begins to boil and thickens.
If you're worried about burning the bottom of the cold caramel sauce, use low heat (number 2 or 3) until the sauce starts to heat up
Method 2 of 3: Substituting Caramel Sauce Recipe
Step 1. Reduce the amount of milk
If you want to make a thick caramel sauce, reduce the amount of milk in the recipe. Reduce milk by about 1/3 or of what is recommended in the recipe. This will result in a thicker caramel sauce so you won't have to spend time simmering it.
For example, if a recipe calls for you to use 360 ml of milk, try to use only 250 ml of milk
Step 2. Add sugar to the sauce
Most caramel sauces are made from caramelized sugar, milk, and a pinch of salt. If you increase the amount of sugar in the recipe, the resulting sauce will be thicker. Try to increase the amount of sugar about 1/3 of the recommended amount. By using the amount of milk according to the recipe, you will also get a thick caramel sauce.
Be careful, as the sugar will add to the sauce's characteristic caramel sweetness. If you want a lighter sauce, avoid adding sugar
Step 3. Replace milk with cream
If you want to make a thick caramel sauce without changing the ingredients in the recipe, you can use heavy whipped cream instead of milk. The whipped cream will taste just like milk, and result in a thicker sauce.
Substituting milk for cream will result in a thick, rich caramel sauce
Method 3 of 3: Adding Thickener to Caramel Sauce
Step 1. Thicken the sauce with the starch
To thicken 240 ml of caramel sauce, put 15 ml of cold water in a measuring cup and mix it with 1 tablespoon of starch. Pour the flour mixture into the pot of caramel sauce and stir constantly.
Heat the sauce over low heat until it starts to thicken in texture. After that, remove the sauce from the stove and let it cool
Step 2. Add flour to the sauce
If you want to thicken your caramel sauce with flour, start by adding 60 ml of cold water to a measuring cup for every 240 ml of caramel sauce you want to thicken. Mix 30 ml of starch in cold water. After that, dip the mixture into the caramel sauce that is too runny.
Stir the sauce continuously until it reaches a thicker consistency
Step 3. Add tapioca to the caramel sauce
If you want to thicken the caramel sauce without changing the color, use tapioca flour (not sago). Just add a little tapioca to the sauce to thicken it up. Start by adding about 5 ml of flour, then stir in the sauce until dissolved. If the sauce is still too runny, add the same amount of tapioca.
Keep in mind that adding ingredients other than sugar and milk (as well as a pinch of salt) to the caramel sauce can change the taste slightly
Warning
- As always, be careful when working around hot stoves. Do not allow small children to approach while you are cooking and be careful not to get hurt.
- Avoid using starch to thicken the caramel sauce. Even if starch is a flour-based thickening powder, it doesn't work well with milk and can make the texture of the sauce turn sticky.
