Festive Rum Caramel Sauce

If you love caramel, wait until you taste this rum caramel sauce! Thick, creamy caramel with a hit of smooth rum, you’ll want to drizzle it all over all of your favourite holiday desserts!

Start by warming up the cream – this makes it easier to combine with the caramel later. Heat it on the stove in a small pan until just starting to steam, or in the microwave for 30-40 seconds.

Place the sugar, corn syrup and water in a medium-sized, heavy-based saucepan. Use one a bit larger than you think you’ll need, as the caramel will bubble up a lot when you add the cream.

Stir gently to combine, and start heating it over medium-high heat. Give it a little stir every now and then as it comes to a boil, to help the sugar dissolve.

When it comes to a boil, stop stirring. Brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water. You want to remove any sugar crystals you can see.

If you have a candy thermometer you can clip it on now, but if you don't, don’t worry, we can do this all by eye (and nose!).

To start with, the syrup will boil with thin bubbles that pop quickly. When it starts to turn golden, the bubbles will become thicker and pop more slowly.

If you’re using a candy thermometer, the caramel will be around 170°C (340°F). If you’re not using a thermometer, you want to cook it until it’s an even, amber colour and smells delightful.

Once the caramel is ready, turn the heat off. Gradually pour in the warmed cream in while you stir gently with a long-handled spoon or spatula. Return to the heat and boil again for a 2-3 minutes.

Be careful as the caramel may splatter. Add in the butter and salt and stir until combined and smooth.

Then all that’s left to do is add the rum! You can start with half the amount, taste it and then add more if you want, or slosh it all in like I do.

Allow the sauce to cool a little before pouring it into a heatproof jar or container. The sauce will continue to thicken more as it cools down.

For the full printable recipe plus more tips and tricks, check out the link below. I hope you enjoy this festive rum caramel sauce as much as we do!