One of the easiest ways to blow your budget is to buy ingredients for a super spectacular dessert you've always wanted to try. Don't get me wrong--there are definitely those occasions and a place for marscapone cheese, real vanilla beans, and creme fraiche. But for the many other moments when hospitality or the occasion calls for a budget friendly dessert, there is one place I love to go:
Caramel Sauce.
With ingredients most of us regularly have in stock: sugar, butter, heavy whipping cream...you can be well on your way to many special desserts that often take nothing more than other ingredients you already have in your home! And, seriously...this is so delicious, you may be surprised that you made it yourself. Let me whet your appetite:
Caramel apple pie, caramel cheesecake, caramel apple. turtle brownies, caramel bread pudding...
You'll be amazed how quickly you can whip something together!
One-Stop Caramel Sauce
1 cup sugar 6 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
In a 2 quart or larger pan, heat sugar over medium heat until melted completely. Stir constantly with whisk until sugar is amber colored and melted. Immediately add the butter and whisk until smooth. Once butter is melted, remove pan from heat; wait 5 seconds or so, and slowly whisk in heavy whipping cream until fully incorporated and smooth.
If using for an apple pie, you can pour caramel in alternate layers over apple slices. If using as a gooey sauce over brownies, wait until sauce is cooled and thicker.
That's all there is to it! Now sit back and enjoy feeling like a culinary magician!
