29 Caramel Dessert Recipes That Are Deliciously Sweet and Salty

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake — Photo: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Whether you pronounce it "car-mul" or "car-a-mel," we can all agree on the fact that this sweet-and-salty sauce is irresistible. Caramel is a key component of some of our favorite fall desserts, but this versatile sauce can be used all year around. In the fall months, caramel pairs beautifully with seasonal ingredients like pumpkin, pecans, and cinnamon apples. In the winter, we're serving caramel alongside the warm holiday flavors and by way of Southern candies. You can even incorporate caramel into refreshing summer desserts, like our Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel.

These decadent caramel recipes combine salty and sweet to add new dimensions to your favorite desserts. The ingredient brings richness and warmth to moist cakes, delightfully sticky bread puddings, fruity or nutty pies, and smooth, creamy tarts. Here are our best caramel dessert recipes that are made to delight.

01 of 30

Caramel Apple Blondie Pie

Recipe: Caramel Apple Blondie Pie

Buttery rich layers of tender cake and caramelized apples add up to one sweet combo. The secret to the crisp, flaky crust? Baking in a cast-iron skillet on a lower oven rack.

02 of 30

Cornbread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel

Recipe: Cornbread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel

This cornbread pudding can be served in individually-portioned ramekins for an easy, yet impressive dinner party dessert.

03 of 30

Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake

Recipe: Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake

Two of our favorite classics come together in this dessert: caramel cake and pound cake.

04 of 30

Tenntucky Blackberry Cobbler Sundaes

TennTucky Blackberry Cobbler Recipe — Photo: Jennifer Davick / Food Styling Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Tenntucky Blackberry Cobbler Sundaes

Imagine your favorite blackberry cobbler, bites spooned into a glass, layered with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and pecans. Yep, that sounds like a very sweet dream.

05 of 30

Salted Caramel Popcorn Bars

Recipe: Salted Caramel Popcorn Bars

This is a great recipe to make with the kids—you can even add in some of their favorite candies or snacks (think salted peanuts, pretzels, or even whole mini marshmallows).

06 of 30

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

Recipe: Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

A traditional coffee cake base is topped with fresh crisp apples, gooey caramel, and the signature streusel topping for an autumnal version of the classic dish.

07 of 30

Salted Caramel Banana Pudding

Recipe: Salted Caramel Banana Pudding

Jarred dulce de leche is our favorite shortcut to achieve smooth, thick caramel.

08 of 30

Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

Recipe: Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

In our humble opinion, no pecan pie is complete without a drizzle of caramel.

09 of 30

Caramel Pecan Tart

Recipe: Caramel Pecan Tart

A silky base of caramel lies just beneath a crunchy topping of pecans. This tart might look impressive, but it's quite easy. So easy, in fact, it might become your new go-to dessert for holiday gatherings, potlucks, and more.

10 of 30

Caramel Apple Cake

Recipe: Caramel Apple Cake

With the golden apple slices arranged in a stunning flower atop the cake, this dish is a guaranteed show-stopper.

11 of 30

Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

This pumpkin spice cake is anything but ordinary. It's cooked in a Bundt pan and features a layer of pumpkin-spiced sponge, a smooth, gelatinous layer of flan, and a drizzle of cajeta, a Mexican caramel sauce.

12 of 30

Bourbon Caramel Cookies

Recipe: Bourbon Caramel Cookies

With a molten caramel topping, these cookies are best served as a nightcap. The flaky salt works well with the sweet caramel and boozy kick.

13 of 30

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe: Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

If you're looking for a stand-out cake for your fall tablescape, this hyper-seasonal layer cake is sure to stun.

14 of 30

Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

Recipe: Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

These pralines are robed in a luxurious coating of caramel, complementing the nutty flavor of the pecans and the bite of bourbon.

15 of 30

Delight Your Senses With These Luscious Caramel Desserts

16 of 30

Caramelized Banana Pudding

Recipe: Caramelized Banana Pudding

All Southerners know the beauty of a good banana pudding, and this dressed-up version of the simple dish features layers of caramelized bananas and meringue topping alongside the signature vanilla wafers.

17 of 30

Blackberry Jam Cake

Recipe: Blackberry Jam Cake

This berry-filled cake with extra creamy cream-cheese frosting is certainly our jam. Caramel is incorporated into the frosting.

18 of 30

Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake

Recipe: Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake

Happy birthday to you! We love combining slightly-bitter dark chocolate and rich caramel for a truly indulgent cake. This cake is meant for celebrating.

19 of 30

Classic Peanut Brittle

Recipe: Classic Peanut Brittle

Caramel is the vehicle for salty peanuts in this gift-worthy nut brittle.

20 of 30

Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel

Recipe: Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel

This summertime take on bread pudding incorporates fresh peaches to make a lighter version of the classic holiday dish.

21 of 30

Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

Recipe: Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

We've combined two stunning desserts, cheesecake and crème brulee, to create a silky-smooth cheesecake with a golden, crystallized, crackling top.

22 of 30

Skillet Caramel Apple Pie

Recipe: Skillet Caramel Apple Pie

We've discovered yet another use for your favorite cast iron skillet, and it's pretty sweet. This double-crust Skillet Caramel Apple Pie will be a new rustic dessert favorite.

23 of 30

Sea Salt-Caramel Cake

Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sea Salt-Caramel Cake

This tall layer cake is the perfect recipe to whip out for special occasions when you really want to impress. Garnish with flaky sea salt to draw out that sweet-salty combination and prevent the rich caramel from becoming overly sweet.

24 of 30

Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce

Recipe: Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce

Cut up a loaf of that super-moist Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread, soak it in a pudding mixture, and pour on the Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce for an unbeatable fall dessert.

25 of 30

Caramel Cake Pancakes

Recipe: Caramel Cake Pancakes

A last-minute holiday brunch idea to keep in your back pocket. Your kids will go crazy for these special pancakes.

26 of 30

Salted Caramel Popcorn

Recipe: Salted Caramel Popcorn

Do you like your popcorn salty or sweet? Luckily you can have the best of both worlds with this Salted Caramel Popcorn.

27 of 30

Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce

Recipe: Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce

What really makes this pie special are the heirloom Arkansas black apples, but if you aren't lucky enough to find those at your local market, granny smiths will do just fine.

28 of 30

The Jam Cake

Recipe: The Jam Cake

The origins of jam cake lie deep in Appalachia where store-bought sugar was once scarce. Cakes were often sweetened with homemade jams, filled with wild berries and mountain fruits. The payoff for the genius swap? Rich, dense cake layers with a depth of flavor sugar alone can't deliver.

29 of 30