Drizzled, dipped or layered, when it comes to caramel, we can't get enough! Indulge in a few of our favorite caramel desserts like caramel apple cheesecake or frosted turtle brownies. Trust us, they taste just as good as they look.
42 of Our Most Gooey Caramel Desserts
Updated on Sep. 29, 2024
1/42
Caramel-Pecan Pumpkin Pull-Aparts
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We love sticky buns made with my husband's angel biscuit dough, caramel and pecans. For a twist, try apple butter or applesauce instead of the pumpkin. —Carolyn Kumpe, El Dorado, California
2/42
Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 1 quart
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks who favor the flavor of pumpkin really need to try this spiced ice cream. But be prepared to make more! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
3/42
Caramel Corn
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 5-1/2 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
My guests say they can't stop eating my caramel corn! For our basketball party I fix enough to fill a big red tin with our team's logo. The delectable syrup coats the popcorn well but isn't sticky. —Sharon Landeen, Tucson, Arizona
4/42
Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm originally from Paraguay, and dulce de leche reminds me of where I came from. If you can't find it at your grocery store, try caramel ice cream topping instead. It tastes different, but this decadent dessert will still be amazing. —Sonia Lipham, Ranburne, Alabama
5/42
Turtle Brownies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Homemade brownies are a sweet addition to the appetizer table on game day. Your guests might forget the score, but I guarantee they'll remember these treats! —Sherry Miller, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Or try this classic turtle candy recipe!
6/42
Caramel Heavenlies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Before I cut these bars into triangles, I trim the edges so all the cookies look the same. My husband and daughter love this part because they get to eat the scraps. —Dawn Burns, Lake St. Louis, Missouri
7/42
Apple Pie a la Mode
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I was planning a dinner party and wanted a dessert that wowed. My caramel apple ice cream pie certainly does the trick. Now it's a family favorite. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
8/42
Salted Cashew & Caramel Chews
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Nothing says "welcome home" like warm, gooey, chewy cookies right out of the oven with a cold glass of milk—mmm, heaven. You don't need a plate. Just grab and go. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
9/42
Salted Caramel Cappuccino Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
After spending years living in Seattle, I’ve become a coffee junkie! I had to relocate across the country for a time, so I created this cheesecake with the flavors of salted caramel, coffee and espresso. It lifted me up on days when I felt blue about leaving one of the world’s amazing coffee destinations. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington
10/42
Caramel Bars
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
After over 20 years of making this shortbread, I’ve finally found the perfect pairing—salted caramel and dark chocolate. So I layered them with my favorite shortbread crust. —Lisa Glenn, Sarasota, Florida
11/42
Contest-Winning Caramel Apple Crisp
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my kids and I make apple crisp, we use all sorts of apples to boost the flavor and texture. Add melted caramels, and you’ve got something scrumptious. —Michelle Brooks, Clarkston, Michigan
12/42
Turtle Tart with Caramel Sauce
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Between the creamy chocolate filling, crunchy nut crust and gooey caramel sauce, this tart has a whole lot to love. Plus, you can make it two to three days in advance. One of my daughters even asks for this instead of cake on her birthday. —Leah Davis, Morrow, Ohio
13/42
Salted Peanut Rolls
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A Christmas gift of homemade candy is always a hit with sweet tooths. I dip these peanut rolls in chocolate, but they're yummy plain, too. —Elizabeth Hokanson, Arborg, Manitoba
14/42
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This apple cheesecake won the grand prize in an apple recipe contest. With caramel both on the bottom and over the top, every bite is sinfully delicious. —Lisa Morman, Minot, North Dakota
15/42
Caramel Pecan Shortbread
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandchildren look for Grandma's "candy bar cookies" every Christmas. I recommend doubling the recipe for these sweet treats because they go so fast. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois
16/42
Simple Turtle Cheesecake
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For an almost instant dessert, I spread homemade ganache and caramel sauce over premade cheesecake. It always makes busy holidays feel slightly less hectic. —Laura McDowell, Lake Villa, Illinois
17/42
Apple Dumplings
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This warm and comforting apple dumplings recipe is incredible by itself or served with ice cream. You can decorate each dumpling by cutting 1-inch leaves and a 1/2-inch stem from the leftover dough. —Robin Lendon, Cincinnati, Ohio
18/42
Caramel Pretzel Bites
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this recipe wanting to make my own version of a popular candy store pretzel log dipped in caramel, chocolate and nuts. These bites are smothered with homemade caramel. —Michilene Klaver, Grand Rapids, Michigan
20/42
Blond Brownies a la Mode
Total Time
50 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Ever since I tried the maple blondie at Applebee's, I've been determined to figure out the recipe. I tried several variations until I came up with this one, and it's become one of our family favorites. —Pat Parker, Chester, South Carolina
21/42
Caramel Peanut Fantasy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Packed with peanuts and gooey with caramel, this do-ahead treat is one sweet dream of a dessert to serve company. With an easy cookie crust and scrumptious candy bar layers, it goes together quickly—and will disappear just as fast! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
22/42
Caramel Pear Pudding
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Don't expect this old-fashioned dessert to last long. The delicate pears and irresistible caramel topping make it a winner whenever I serve it. It's nice to have a tempting fall cake that puts the season's best pears to excellent use.
—Sharon Mensing, Greenfield, Iowa
23/42
Caramel Candy
Total Time
40 min
Servings
64 pieces (2-1/2 pounds)
From the Recipe Creator:
I discovered this caramel recipe in a local newspaper years ago and have made these soft buttery caramels ever since. I make them for Christmas, picnics and charity auctions. They are so much better than store-bought caramels. Once people have a taste, they ask for the recipe. —Marcie Wolfe, Williamsburg, Virginia
24/42
Caramel Apple Float
Total Time
10 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Who doesn't love the flavors of caramel, apples, and vanilla ice cream together? If I'm feeling fancy, I drizzle caramel syrup around the inside of my glass before adding the apple cider and ginger ale. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
25/42
Rustic Nut Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My friends love crunching into the crust—so much like shortbread—and the wildly nutty topping of these chewy, gooey bars. —Barbara Driscoll, West Allis, Wisconsin
26/42
Caramel-Apple Skillet Buckle
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandma used to bake a version of this for me when I was a little girl. She would make it using fresh apples from her tree in the backyard. I've adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apples, pecans and caramel. —Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri
27/42
Cookout Caramel S'mores
Total Time
10 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Easy delectable treats make a playful finish to an informal meal. Toasting the marshmallows extends our after-dinner time together, giving us something fun to do as a family. —Martha Haseman, Hinckley, Illinois
28/42
Apple Dumpling Roll-Ups
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A family friend gave me a simple way to make apple dumplings without lots of steps. I love the sticky cinnamon topping. —Jenny Leighty, West Salem, Ohio
29/42
Caramel Whiskey Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Yogurt replaces part of the butter in this traditional cookie, but you would never know. I get a lot of requests for these and can’t make a cookie tray without them. —Priscilla Yee, Concord, California
30/42
Tres Leches Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tres leches means "three milks." This cake gets its name because it uses three kinds of milk—evaporated, condensed and cream. This tres leches cake's light and airy texture has made it a classic in Mexican kitchens for generations. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
31/42
Turtle Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
After receiving a request for a special turtle cheesecake and not finding a good recipe, I created my own. Everyone is thrilled with the results and this cheesecake remains a favorite at the coffee shop where I work. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
32/42
Gooey Caramel-Topped Gingersnaps
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Making these cookies is therapeutic for me. And they are always quite popular at fundraisers. If you’d like, you can make variations by using different nuts.
—Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
33/42
Caramelized Pineapple Sundaes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever we get a craving for a tropical escape, this super simple recipe whisks us away in no time. Vanilla's nice but drizzling the sauce over salted caramel ice cream and taking a bite is just pure paradise. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
34/42
Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Covered in chopped nuts and drizzled with chocolate, these cookies are delicious and pretty. Everybody looks forward to munching on them during the holidays. —Elizabeth Marino, San Juan Capistrano, California
35/42
Apple Crostata
Total Time
45 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Like an apple pie without the pan, this scrumptious tart has a crispy crust that cuts nicely and a yummy caramel topping. —Betty Fulks, Onia, Arkansas
36/42
Turtle Cookie Cups
Total Time
45 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
For a twist, use white chocolate chips in the cups and drizzle with white chocolate. — Heather King, Frostburg, Maryland
37/42
Gingerbread Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is my twist on Christmas gingerbread...cheesecake-style! I like to garnish it with small gingerbread men all the way around the sides and a dollop of whipping cream on each slice. —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, Ontario
38/42
Glazed Apple-Maple Blondies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My 6-year-old son and I conjured up this recipe to use the last of the apples we picked from the local apple orchard. Each bar goes beautifully with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
39/42
Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
16 servings (1-3/4 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
This apple bread pudding with caramel sauce has been in my life for a long time. It's a family fave and always on my buffet when I put together a brunch. It's also special enough for dinner dessert. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California
40/42
Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These bars make an excellent fall dessert. We like to warm individual servings in the microwave and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It quickly became a family favorite; maybe it'll become one of your family's, too. —Carol Stuber, Osawatomie, Kansas
41/42
Caramel Cheesecake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The gooey caramel on top really makes this cheesecake. It's definitely a family favorite. —Rena Fields, Sackets Harbor, New York
42/42
Fudgy Turtle Pie
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Turtle pie is a truly decadent dessert recipe everyone needs. We love to mix chocolate, caramel and crunchy candy bits in a pie that’s ooey-gooey fabulous. —Dolores Vaccaro, Pueblo, Colorado
