Homemade Caramel Sauce for Preserving

Welcome back! Today, we're making a delightful caramel sauce that's perfect for dipping apple slices, drizzling over ice cream, or adding to your sweet treats. This caramel sauce will be preserved and made shelf-stable, so you can enjoy it or gift it later. Let’s get started!

Ingredients
12 quarter-pint jars, rings, and lids
5 cans of sweetened condensed milk (14 oz each)
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons vanilla extract or vanilla flavoring

Instructions
Prepare Your Jars: Begin by sterilizing your 12 quarter-pint jars, rings, and lids. Clean them thoroughly and set them aside to dry.

Mix the Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the 5 cans of sweetened condensed milk, 1 teaspoon of sea salt,

and 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract. Stir the mixture until it is well combined.

Fill the Jars: Using a funnel, carefully fill each jar with the caramel mixture. Be sure to leave some headspace—fill the jars just below the first groove to ensure proper sealing. It's essential to avoid getting any of the sticky mixture on the rims of the jars.

Clean the Rims: After filling the jars, wipe the rims carefully with a damp cloth to remove any residue. Even if you use a funnel, always clean the rims to ensure a good seal.

Seal the Jars: Place the sterilized lids on the jars and screw the rings on tightly. Your caramel is now ready to be preserved.

Water Bath Process: Place the filled jars into your crockpot. You can stack the jars if necessary, but ensure that there is at least 1-2 inches of water covering the top of the jars. Set the crockpot to "low" and let the jars cook for 8 to 12 hours. Low and slow is the key here—if you cook them too quickly or at a higher temperature, the caramel may turn thick and clumpy.

Check the Caramel: After 8-12 hours, carefully remove the jars from the crockpot. You may notice some jars are darker than others. The darker caramel will be thicker and have a more intense flavor, while the lighter caramel will be smoother and milder.

Store Your Caramel: Once cooled, your caramel sauce is shelf-stable and ready to be stored or gifted. This caramel sauce pairs beautifully with apple slices or any dessert that could use a sweet, creamy drizzle.

Tips:
If you have extra jars, feel free to use them! This recipe may yield more than 12 jars depending on how full you fill them. Always keep extra jars on hand just in case.
Remember to adjust the cooking time based on your crockpot's heat levels. Each crockpot can vary in how quickly it cooks, so monitor the jars and adjust accordingly.
If you're making these for holiday gifts, consider pairing the caramel sauce with homemade jellies for a festive and delicious gift basket!
We hope you enjoyed making this caramel sauce with us!
God bless you all!

Created by : Britton Farms Homestead