12 Caramel Desserts So Gooey They Should Come With a Warning

There is a moment when sugar melts in a pan and turns from clear to deep amber, and the whole kitchen smells like a candy shop. That moment is the secret behind every recipe here. These caramel desserts range from silky flan to crunchy popcorn and gooey brownies, and each slide comes with a simple recipe you can make at home. If you love cozy fall baking, do not miss these easy apple desserts for fall too..

Why Caramel Desserts Make Everyone Weak in the Knees

Caramel is just sugar cooked until it turns golden, yet it tastes like pure comfort. That is why caramel desserts show up at birthdays, holidays and late night snack runs. Flan is the perfect place to start. A creamy vanilla custard bakes on top of a layer of caramel, and when you flip it out, the sauce pours down the sides like a waterfall. Have you ever tried flipping a flan? It is easier than it looks.

You will need: 1 cup sugar for caramel, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 can evaporated milk, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Melt the sugar in a pan until amber and pour it into a round baking dish. 2. Blend the milks, eggs and vanilla. 3. Pour over the caramel. 4. Bake in a water bath at 350F for 50 to 60 minutes. 5. Chill overnight, then run a knife around the edge and flip onto a plate.

Salted Caramel Brownies, the Best of Both Desserts

Fudgy chocolate brownies get a thick ribbon of caramel swirled through the batter and a pinch of flaky salt on top. The salt is the magic part. It makes the chocolate taste deeper and the caramel taste less sweet. Quick poll: A: edge piece, B: middle piece, C: whatever is left by the time you get to the pan.

You will need: 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup thick caramel sauce, flaky sea salt.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F and line an 8 inch pan. 2. Melt butter and stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla. 3. Fold in cocoa, flour and salt. 4. Spread in the pan, spoon on caramel and swirl with a knife. 5. Bake 25 minutes and sprinkle with flaky salt.

Crunchy Caramel Popcorn for Movie Night

This is the snack that turns an ordinary movie night into an event. Popcorn gets coated in a buttery brown sugar syrup, then a slow bake makes every piece shatter when you bite it. It keeps for days in a sealed jar, and it makes a sweet gift too. Who in your house would finish the whole bowl before the movie even starts?

You will need: 12 cups popped popcorn, 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup corn syrup, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 250F. 2. Boil butter, sugar, syrup and salt for 4 minutes. 3. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. 4. Pour over the popcorn and toss well. 5. Bake on sheet pans for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, then cool.

Caramel Cheesecake, Queen of Party Desserts

Creamy, tall and topped with a thick layer of caramel, this cheesecake looks like it came from a fancy bakery. The trick is baking it low and slow so the top stays smooth. Of all the caramel desserts on this list, this is the one guests ask you to bring again. Do you like a graham cracker crust or a cookie crust?

You will need: Crust: 1 1/2 cups graham crumbs, 1/3 cup melted butter. Filling: 24 oz cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 1 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Topping: 3/4 cup caramel sauce.

How to make it: 1. Press the crust into a springform pan and bake 10 minutes at 325F. 2. Beat cream cheese and sugar, then add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. 3. Pour over the crust. 4. Bake 60 minutes, then cool in the oven with the door open. 5. Chill and spread with caramel.

Old Fashioned Caramel Apples

Nothing says fall fair like a crisp apple dipped in soft caramel and rolled in chopped nuts. Making them at home is a fun project with kids, and you can set up a topping bar with nuts, sprinkles and mini chocolate chips. Tart green apples work best because they balance the sweet coating. What would you roll yours in?

You will need: 6 crisp apples, 6 sticks, 1 bag soft caramels (about 11 oz), 2 tablespoons milk, 1 cup chopped peanuts or pecans.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the apples well, then push in the sticks. 2. Melt caramels with milk over low heat, stirring until smooth. 3. Dip each apple and let the extra drip off. 4. Roll in the nuts. 5. Set on buttered parchment and chill 15 minutes until firm.

Creme Brulee With a Crackly Top

Tapping through that glassy sugar crust with a spoon is one of the most satisfying sounds in the dessert world. Underneath is a silky vanilla custard. It sounds fancy, but it only needs five ingredients. You can bake the custards a day ahead and torch the tops right before serving. Have you ever used a kitchen torch? This is your excuse to try.

You will need: 2 cups heavy cream, 5 egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar plus extra for the tops, 1 teaspoon vanilla, pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325F. 2. Warm the cream. 3. Whisk yolks, sugar, vanilla and salt, then slowly add the cream. 4. Pour into ramekins and bake in a water bath 35 to 40 minutes. 5. Chill, sprinkle with sugar and torch until golden.

Banoffee Pie in a Glass

Banoffee is bananas plus toffee, layered with whipped cream and crushed cookies. Serving it in glasses means no slicing, no mess and a pretty view of every layer. It is a no bake dessert, so it is perfect when the oven is full. Would you add a sprinkle of cocoa or a drizzle of chocolate on top?

You will need: 1 cup crushed graham crackers or digestive biscuits, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1 cup dulce de leche, 2 bananas sliced, 1 1/2 cups whipped cream, cocoa for dusting.

How to make it: 1. Mix the crumbs with butter. 2. Spoon a layer into each glass. 3. Add a layer of dulce de leche. 4. Top with banana slices and whipped cream. 5. Repeat if your glasses are tall, then dust with cocoa and chill 30 minutes.

The Easiest Caramel Desserts Start With a Sundae

Sometimes the best caramel desserts are the simplest. A few scoops of good vanilla ice cream, a warm pour of homemade caramel sauce and a handful of toasted nuts is all you need. Set out bowls and toppings and let everyone build their own. Poll time: A: extra caramel, B: hot fudge too, C: whipped cream and a cherry, D: all of the above.

You will need: Vanilla ice cream, 1/2 cup warm caramel sauce, 1/4 cup toasted chopped nuts, whipped cream, a pinch of flaky salt.

How to make it: 1. Warm the caramel sauce for 20 seconds. 2. Scoop ice cream into chilled bowls. 3. Pour the warm caramel over the top. 4. Add nuts and whipped cream. 5. Finish with a tiny pinch of salt and serve right away.

Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart

A crisp chocolate shell is filled with soft caramel, then covered with a silky layer of dark chocolate ganache. It is rich, so cut thin slices. This is a great make ahead dessert for dinner parties because it actually tastes better after a night in the fridge. Would you serve it with berries or plain whipped cream?

You will need: 1 chocolate tart crust, 1 cup sugar, 6 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 4 oz dark chocolate, 1/2 cup cream for ganache.

How to make it: 1. Cook sugar until amber, whisk in butter, then cream and salt. 2. Pour into the baked crust and chill 30 minutes. 3. Heat the second 1/2 cup cream and pour over the chopped chocolate. 4. Stir smooth and spread over the caramel. 5. Chill 2 hours before slicing.

Glazed Caramel Cake for Birthdays

A soft brown sugar cake gets covered in a glossy caramel glaze that drips down the sides. It looks impressive on a cake stand, and berries on top add a pop of color. This is a classic Southern style cake that grandmas have been baking for generations. Whose birthday would you bake this for?

You will need: Cake: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup butter, 4 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Glaze: 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup milk, 2 cups powdered sugar.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F and grease a round pan. 2. Beat butter and sugar, add eggs, then flour, baking powder and buttermilk. 3. Bake 40 minutes and cool. 4. Boil butter, brown sugar and milk 2 minutes, then whisk in powdered sugar. 5. Pour over the cake.

Sticky Toffee Pudding, a British Classic

This soft date cake is soaked in warm toffee sauce and served with a scoop of ice cream that melts into every corner. The dates melt into the batter, so even people who say they hate dates love it. It is the coziest dessert on a cold night. Have you ever tried it, or will this be your first time?

You will need: Cake: 1 cup chopped dates, 1 cup boiling water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1 1/4 cups flour. Sauce: 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup cream.

How to make it: 1. Soak the dates in boiling water and baking soda for 10 minutes. 2. Beat butter and sugar, add eggs, then flour and the date mixture. 3. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. 4. Simmer the sauce ingredients 3 minutes. 5. Pour sauce over the warm cake and serve.

Homemade Caramel Sauce for All Your Desserts

Once you make your own caramel sauce, the jar from the store will never taste the same. It takes ten minutes and four ingredients. Keep it in the fridge and warm a spoonful over ice cream, apple pie or pancakes. It is the base for half of the caramel desserts on this list. Which recipe are you making first?

You will need: 1 cup sugar, 6 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon salt.

How to make it: 1. Melt the sugar in a heavy pan over medium heat, stirring gently. 2. When it turns deep amber, add the butter and whisk. 3. Slowly pour in the cream, it will bubble up. 4. Boil 1 minute and stir in the salt. 5. Cool and store in a jar for up to two weeks.