Slow Cooker Caramel

Mar 25, 2023Updated Aug 21, 2025

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This Slow Cooker Caramel is made with just two ingredients, is perfectly sweet, and tastes amazing. With this easy recipe, you’ll have a homemade caramel dip ready in no time. Grab your apples, pretzels, marshmallows, and ice cream and get ready for a caramel dipping good time!

This isn’t the only dessert-like dip worth making. Have a go at trying my super yummy Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Dip or Candy Bar Fondue.

caramel dip on a spoon coming from slow cooker.

This is as close as you’ll get to a homemade caramel sauce without the extra ingredients most caramel recipes call for like sweetened condensed milk, salted butter, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and light brown sugar (or granulated sugar).

Whether you’re looking for a delicious sauce for dipping apple slices or the perfect recipe to use as an ice cream topping, this caramel sauce recipe is it! It’s so easy, your kids can help make it. If you have leftover caramel, make my slow cooker caramel cake.

Key Ingredients

Caramel Bits: Not to be confused with morsels similar to chocolate chips, caramel bits are actual bits of caramel that when chewed, are slightly soft and do not stick to your teeth. Some people actually prefer these over actual caramel candy. These are perfect for melting down into a sauce for mixing and dipping.
Heavy Cream: Using heavy cream will make the dip thick and creamy.

caramel bits and heavy cream in a slow cooker.

spatula stirring caramel in a slow cooker.

How to Make Slow Cooker Caramel Sauce

Combine caramel and cream in the slow cooker and let it melt low and slow.
Stir occasionally until smooth and glossy, then it’s ready to use.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Caramel Sauce

When serving, set your slow cooker to the WARM setting, and stir occasionally.
This dip is best served warm with sliced apples, marshmallows, or pretzels. As pictured below, pour some into a serving bowl and place dipping foods around it on a round serving tray.
You can also serve this caramel dip with other fruit such as strawberries or bananas.
If you’re setting up a dip bar or ice cream bar, don’t forget to provide whipped cream for an extra special topping. And it also goes well with bread pudding.
If you want to give Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and the like, skip the store bought caramel dip and package up some of this in small mason jars. Simply put, you can’t go wrong with this easy caramel sauce!

platter with caramel, marshmallows, apples and pretzels.

Tips & Substitutes

Heavy Cream Swap: Half & half can be used in place of the heavy cream.

Nutty: Stir in chopped peanuts for a texture contrast.

Stir: Stir often if keeping warm for a party, you don’t want it to scorch.

Storing Caramel Sauce

This creamy caramel dip is not considered shelf stable, so you will need to store it in an airtight container for up to 7 days in the refrigerator.

How to Reheat:

Reheat on the stove top on low in a heavy-bottom pan or in a microwave-safe dish and warm for 20-30 second intervals. Don’t worry, it won’t lose its flavor.