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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Published: Jul 6, 2020 by Misty · This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.

    Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce

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    Full jar of Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce with spoon and text overlay
    Bowl of ice cream with caramel sauce and text overlay

    This Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce is sweet, nutty, and perfectly indulgent! Easy to make with only 6 ingredients, it makes the perfect topping for ice cream, cheesecake, brownies, and more!

    Two jars of caramel sauce, blue towel, and spoons
    Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce is an easy dessert topping for any occasion!
    Skip to:
    • 🍨 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  For a crowd
    • 🙋 Questions and Answers
    • 📖 More Desserts
    • 👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks
    • 👋 Connect with us!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Guys. This sauce might be one of the best things I’ve ever eaten! So good that I sometimes find myself eating it straight out of the jar. It’s thick, creamy, and just the right level of sweet. If you are a caramel fan, you’ve got to try it!

    The original recipe, Praline Ice Cream Sauce, was borrowed from the blog Skip to My Lou any years ago. Her ingredients and amounts are great, but I found that some of the cooking times were too long for my microwave. I adjusted the instructions and added my favorite tips for success so that it turns out perfectly every time!

    🍨 Ingredients

    Ingredients for caramel sauce on counter
    This recipe is a basic caramel sauce made with 6 ingredients.

    Pecans: Give them a quick chop before cooking.
    Butter: Salted butter adds a bit of extra flavor, or use unsalted and add a pinch of salt.
    Brown sugar: I prefer light brown sugar in this recipe, but dark would work as well (the flavor and color will be more rich).
    Flour: Just a bit of all-purpose flour to thicken the sauce.
    Corn syrup: Light corn syrup is a must and can’t be substituted with dark corn syrup.
    Evaporated milk: The perfect ingredient to add richness and creaminess to the caramel sauce.

    🔪 Instructions

    1. Microwave the pecans and some of the butter until the pecans are toasted and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes on high). 
    2. In a separate bowl, mix together the rest of the butter, sugar, flour, and corn syrup and microwave until thick, golden, and smooth. The time this takes is highly dependent on your microwave. In mine it took about 6-8 minutes stirring once every minute, but it may take less for you. Remove the sauce once the sugar is dissolved and the sauce is smooth.
    3. Last, add the evaporated milk and nuts to the caramel mixture and stir well. It’s ready to serve!
    6 steps to make caramel sauce in microwave
    Microwave the pecans, then the caramel sauce. Mix in the toasted pecans and evaporated milk at the end.

    Although the whole process is done in the microwave, the sauce should be stirred several times throughout the cooking to prevent burning or overflowing from the bowl. But be careful, the bowls will be very hot!

    👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  For a crowd

    This is really fun to serve as part of an ice cream sundae bar or as a topping for cheesecake or brownies at a party. If you double the recipe, I suggest making it in two separate batches (making too much in one bowl increases the cooking time and chances of overflowing). Make it ahead and store in the fridge or freezer.

    Close up of jar of Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce
    The sauce will last in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or the freezer for 2-3 months.

    🙋 Questions and Answers

    What do I serve with Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce?

    This sauce is excellent on ice cream, cheesecake, brownies, blondies, pound cake, chocolate cake, or bread pudding. If you have other serving ideas, we’d love to hear in the comments!

    How long does Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce last?

    You can store caramel sauce in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. Reheat it in the microwave for 30-90 seconds, stirring every 30-45 seconds.

    Can I freeze Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce?

    Yes, this is a great way to make it ahead or save leftovers. Freeze it in a glass jar or airtight container, leaving a bit of empty space to allow the sauce to expand. Freeze for 2-3 months. Before serving, thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave until warm, stirring every 30-45 seconds.

    Can I give caramel sauce as a gift?

    Yes, this makes a great gift for Christmas or the holiday season. I suggest packaging in jars with a simple ribbon or tag tied around the lid. You can make the sauce ahead and store it in the fridge or freezer.

    Why is my caramel sauce grainy?

    If the sauce turned out grainy, it is because the sugar was not fully dissolved. Make sure to microwave it on high and whisk frequently until all of the sugar crystals have dissolved.

    Ice Cream with Caramel Pecan Sauce
    My favorite way to serve Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce is over a bowl of vanilla ice cream!

    📖 More Desserts

    • Maple Pecan Pie without Corn Syrup - Smooth filling that isn't too sweet and is SO flavorful!
    • The Best Triple Berry Sauce/Filling/Topping - The easiest and most delicious berry sauce made with frozen berries. Use it on ice cream, in cobbler, on top of cheesecake, and so much more! 
    • The Perfect Chocolate Bundt Cake - The title doesn’t lie… this really is a perfect, moist, and deliciously chocolatey bundt cake! Great for serving to a crowd or making and freezing ahead. 
    • Raspberry Crumble Bars - What can beat buttery crust, raspberry filling, and sweet crumble topping? A delicious and simple treat for anytime of year!
    • Candy Bar Cookies - Tender shortbread, sweet caramel pecan topping, and chocolate ganache. What's not to like?

    👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks

    • The most important tip for success with this recipe is to watch everything carefully. Nuts burn easily and caramel boils over easily, so don’t walk away from the microwave. 
    • Use an extra large bowl for the caramel to avoid it spilling in your microwave. The less mess the better!
    • To avoid a grainy sauce, continue microwaving and whisking it frequently until all the sugar is dissolved. This will take a different amount of time depending on your microwave. Check the sauce on the back of a spoon - it’s ready when it is smooth with no (or very few) small grains of sugar left.

    👋 Connect with us!

    If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food! To get our new recipes straight to your email, subscribe to our newsletter.

    📋 Recipe

    Jar overflowing with Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce

    Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce

    This Microwave Caramel Pecan Sauce is sweet, nutty, and perfectly indulgent! Easy to make with only 6 ingredients, it makes the perfect topping for ice cream, cheesecake, brownies, and more!
    4.34 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 321kcal
    Author: Borrowed Bites

    Ingredients

    • 1¼ cups pecans chopped
    • 7 tablespoon butter divided (see instructions)
    • 1½ cups brown sugar
    • 3 tablespoon flour
    • ¾ cup light corn syrup
    • ⅔ cup evaporated milk
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • **Bowls will be hot when microwaving. Remove from microwave with hot pads.
    • In a medium microwave-safe glass bowl, microwave pecans and 3 tablespoon of butter on high for 2-4 minutes, stirring every minute. **Watch carefully to not burn - nuts should smell toasted and butter will be brown. Once cooked, set aside to cool slightly.
    • In a separate, large microwave-safe glass bowl, melt remaining 4 tablespoon butter. Add brown sugar, flour, and light corn syrup. Whisk until smooth.
    • Microwave caramel mixture on high, whisking well once every minute, until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce is smooth. This step is highly dependent on your microwave. In mine it took 6-8 minutes to become truly smooth, but it may take more or less for you. Remove the sauce once it is smooth. **Watch carefully - it will boil over if in a small bowl!
    • Add pecan mixture and evaporated milk into the smooth caramel mixture. Mix thoroughly to combine. Serve warm or store for later use (see notes for storing instructions).

    Notes

    Tips & Tricks
    • The most important tip for success with this recipe is to watch everything carefully. Nuts burn easily and caramel boils over easily, so don’t walk away from the microwave. 
    • Use an extra large bowl for the caramel to avoid it spilling in your microwave. The less mess the better!
    • To avoid a grainy sauce, continue microwaving and whisking it frequently until all the sugar is dissolved. Check the sauce on the back of a spoon - it’s ready when it is smooth with no (or very few) small grains of sugar left.
     
    Storing Instructions
    Store in a jar or airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. Reheat in the microwave for 30-90 seconds, stirring every 30-45 seconds. 
     
    Freezing Instructions
    Freeze in a glass jar or airtight container, leaving a bit of empty space to allow the sauce to expand. Freeze for 2-3 months. Before serving, thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave until warm, stirring every 30-45 seconds.

    Add Your Own Notes

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    Nutrition

    Serving: 3tablespoon | Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 244IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg

    All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating or pin it for later!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sammie Jo says

      December 02, 2021 at 11:32 am

      Would also be great over coconut macaroons.

      Reply
      • Misty says

        December 02, 2021 at 1:31 pm

        Oooh coconut and caramel are never a bad combo!

        Reply
    2. Jo says

      February 17, 2021 at 12:41 pm

      1 star
      I believe I would have rated this a 4 or 5 if I had been able to successfully finish, because it smelled good!. I would suggest a tweak to the recipe concerning how long to microwave the mixture after all ingredients are added. It looked done to me after 1-2 minutes in the microwave, but I gave it extra time (6 minutes total as stated in recipe) and it burned and melted my microwave safe bowl. Suggest using a glass bowl and 2-3 minutes total in microwave.

      Reply
      • Misty says

        February 17, 2021 at 2:07 pm

        Hi Jo! I'm so sorry to hear that! In my microwave the sauce is melted but still grainy after 1-2 minutes. However, I recognize that every microwave is different. I have clarified in the recipe card what to look for to avoid overcooking it. I have also made a note about the glass bowl. Thank you for your feedback and I hope you have the chance to try it again!

        Reply
        • Glenda says

          December 02, 2021 at 3:20 pm

          Can this be made on the stove? I'm not a big microwave person.

          Reply
          • Misty says

            December 02, 2021 at 9:53 pm

            Yes, you could make it on the stove instead. Start by toasting the pecans and butter in a large skillet or pot, then set them aside. Then make the sauce in a pot following the same basic instructions. Just be sure to cook it until the sugar granules are dissolved. Hope this helps!

            Reply
    3. Phyllis Miller says

      September 20, 2020 at 8:41 pm

      5 stars
      I was blessed to eat this today at my daughter in law and Granddaughters house, the creators of the recipe and I had to go back for seconds. It is fantastic - flavor and texture - amazing. Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Misty says

        September 21, 2020 at 2:41 pm

        We're so happy you liked it!

        Reply
    4. Maddie says

      July 16, 2020 at 10:50 am

      5 stars
      Um, wow! I made this for ice cream sundaes and everyone loved it 😍. Watch carefully that it doesn’t over flow.

      Reply
      • Misty says

        July 16, 2020 at 10:51 am

        So happy you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Delani Denton says

      July 06, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so amazing! I have a soft spot for caramel pecan.

      Reply
      • Misty says

        July 07, 2020 at 7:39 am

        Yes, the flavors go so well together. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply

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    Hi! We are Danielle and Misty: a mom and daughter with a serious passion for seeking out the best recipes to serve again and again to those we love. With a mix of everyday favorites and indulgent weekend fare there is something here for you and yours as you develop your own family traditions.

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