This creamy caramel filling is luxury on its own with a melt-in-the-mouth velvet texture. This simple and easy recipe takes no more than 15 minutes to make and will have you using it as a cake filling, tart filling, pie filling, macaron, cookies, or cupcakes. Made with condensed milk and golden syrup this is absolute heaven.
Table of Content
Well, I have a caramel sauce recipe already on the blog for you. In fact, my caramel sauce is really delicious and one that gets licked off the bowl to the very end. And, yet, when it comes to filling in cakes, tarts, or desserts I use this one made with condensed milk.
Why make this recipe?
- If you love caramel then you will love this better than any other caramel sauce you have ever eaten.
- It is really creamy and melts in the mouth. It does not have the sharp burnt sugar taste or flavor.
- I recently used it to make my salted caramel tart and had everyone rave so much about it.
- You can also use it as a filling for macarons, cream puffs, profiteroles, chocolate bon bons.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Golden syrup - This gives this caramel that beautiful golden color but it is also an invert sugar which means it helps prevent crystallization. You can also use dark corn syrup
- Brown sugar - You can use white sugar but I prefer the brown to get a darker caramel color. You can use both light or dark sugar.
- Butter - everything tastes better with butter could not be more right with this recipe. Add a nice richness to the caramel.
- Sweetened condensed milk - This is a great way to add a lot of cream without spending too much time stirring the mixture for hours. Makes the caramel creamy. You can use homemade condensed milk for this recipe as well.
- Vanilla - condensed milk does have vanilla added to it and yet, I do like to add a bit more extract just to enhance the flavor.
Step by step instructions
- Place brown sugar, golden syrup, and butter in a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat. Stir until all the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.
Pro tip - Stir often and the heat to medium otherwise the sugar around the edges will burn and give the caramel a burnt taste.
- Reduce the heat and continue to cook until the mixture becomes darker in color. This takes about 2 to 3 minutes.
Pro tip - once all the moisture has evaporated the sugar will start to caramelize further. This will give the caramel a deeper color. - Next, reduce the heat to low. Add the condensed milk and let come to a boil on low heat again.
Pro tip- when you add the condensed milk the mixture may appear curdled or separated but just combine and it will all become smooth.
- Cook on low for about another minute or two stirring constantly. The mixture will get thicker. Add the vanilla extract and take it off the heat.
Pro tip - we want a smooth creamy texture that coats the back of a spoon. - Set aside to cool slightly before you pour into a mason jar or fill a tart.
Pro tip - The mixture will continue to thicken as it cools. You can pour warm caramel into a tart to help it smooth out easily. - Enjoy!
More similar recipes
- Homemade Caramel Sauce
- Perfect Homemade Butterscotch Sauce
- Homemade Chocolate Syrup
- How to Make Homemade Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk Recipe from Scratch
Frequently asked questions
This caramel made with condensed milk will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It will get thicker over time.
Freshly made caramel will be pouring consistency. As long as it coats the back of a wooden spoon thickly, it is ready. Also, take note that the caramel will thicken as it cools.
If the caramel is cooled and still not thick you can put it back in a saucepan and on the stove. Continue to cook until it thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
The caramel filling will continue to thicken as it cools. However, if you find that it is too thick, don't worry. Add a tablespoon or two of hot cream and stir well. The heat will melt the caramel and the liquid will thin it to the right consistency.
Both my caramel filling and sauce can be used interchangeably. Having said that, this recipe is creamier and more luxurious which makes it perfect for filling in cakes, tarts, and desserts. The caramel sauce on the other hand is stronger in robust which makes it perfect for drizzles and drips on cakes, ice creams, or desserts.
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Printable Recipe
Caramel Filing for Cakes Tarts and Desserts
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Conversions Used
1 lb = 453 grams, 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 stick = 113g, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp= 5 ml,
Ingredients
- ½ cup (110 g) Light Brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) Golden syrup
- ¼ cup (60 g) Butter
- 14 oz (396 g) Can of Sweetened Condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place brown sugar, golden syrup, and butter in a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat. Stir until all the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Pro tip - Stir often and the heat to medium otherwise the sugar around the edges will burn and give the caramel a burnt taste.
- Reduce the heat and continue to cook until the mixture becomes darker in color. This takes about 2 to 3 minutes. Pro tip - once all the moisture has evaporated the sugar will start to caramelize further. This will give the caramel a deeper color.
- Next, reduce the heat to low. Add the condensed milk and let come to a boil on low heat again. Pro tip- when you add the condensed milk the mixture may appear curdled or separated but just combine and it will all become smooth.
- Cook on low for about another minute or two stirring constantly. The mixture will get thicker. Add the vanilla extract and take it off the heat. Pro tip - we want a smooth creamy texture that coats the back of a spoon.
- Set aside to cool slightly before you pour into a mason jar or fill a tart. Pro tip - The mixture will continue to thicken as it cools. You can pour warm caramel into a tart to help it smooth out easily.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Notes & Tips
Storage
- All food containing milk products need to be kept in the fridge.
- This filling will stay well in the fridge for a week.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
wilma owens
This is so GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Angie
Can I use dark brown sugar and regular syrup for the same taste and consistency?
Veena Azmanov
You can use dark brown sugar but not sure I understand what is regular syrup. You can use corn syrup or glucose instead of golden syrup but not regular sugar syrup. Hope that makes sense. Thanks
Marilyn
Will this caramel stay soft after drizzling it on a cake?
Veena Azmanov
If it is the right consistency? Yes!
Nk
Hi Veena, how do I make golden syrup at home. It is not available here in the stores.
Veena Azmanov
You can buy golden syrup at most pastry or cake decorating stores. Alternatively, you can make this caramel sauce recipe.
Sweety
Wow...so finger licking good.Had a query.... won't it be too sweet with the addition of condensed milk since the one we have in India is sweetened?
Veena Azmanov
All condensed milk is sweet. And, this is caramel it is supposed to be sweet. Usually, you would take that into account when you are making desserts.
Shani
This is now my favourite recipe too… got to stop myself from eating it all before I can get it on this cake. Seriously yummy!!!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Shani. I hear you. I love it by the spoon too.
Cindy
Good day,
Can I use this recipe to make it Salted Caramel. Was thinking of using a salted Caramel filling for a vanilla cake.
Veena Azmanov
Yes, of course, Cindy. Just add a sprinkle of rock salt or sea salt to the recipe.