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Caramel Filling

This caramel filling is thick, buttery, and perfect for just about any dessert! It sets firmly enough to fill cakes, cupcakes, macarons, and even cookies!

I used this recipe to make my Twix Cake and it works like a charm!! It really is the perfect consistency for layer cakes like this.

It’s thick enough to keep its shape, but soft enough to easily cut through.

image of a twix cake that's been cut open to show its fluffy vanilla cake layers, thick caramel filling and shortbread crust

This recipe is based on Jodie Avery’s thick caramel sauce recipe! It’s a half batch of the original recipe, which I find is the perfect amount to fill a layer cake.

How to Make This Thick Caramel Filling

Let’s walk through each step of this recipe so that it turns out as amazing as possible! I’ve also included a video tutorial of the process below.

This recipe can be made up to a month in advance and stored in the fridge.

Start by adding the unsalted butter, light brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk into the saucepan.

Heat over a medium-high heat. Stir constantly until the mixture starts to bubble.

Slowly stir in 1 Tbsp of heavy cream. Next, place a digital thermometer in the pan.

Then continue to stir until the mixture reaches 238 F / 114 C (soft ball stage). Remove from heat and add the vanilla and salt.

Pour into a separate container to let it cool. Cover the bowl once it has reached room temperature. It should thicken up quite a bit as it cools.

How Much Caramel Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe makes about 2 1/4 cups of caramel filling, which is the perfect amount to fill an 8-inch layer cake or about 3 dozen cupcakes. This recipe can also be doubled or cut in half if needed.

image of a slice of a Twix cake on a plate, showing its shortbread crust, vanilla cake layers, thick caramel filling, and chocolate buttercream

Substitutions & Swaps in this Caramel Filling Recipe

Some swaps and substitutions that can be made in this recipe include:

  • Unsalted Butter – If you only have salted butter on hand, you can use it in place of the unsalted butter. Just be sure to omit the salt that this frosting recipe calls for. Or you can also use vegan butter in its place!
  • Heavy Cream – You can use whole milk or alternative milk (soy, almond, oat) instead of heavy cream or whipping cream if needed.
image of ingredients in a pot to make thick caramel filling

Tips for Making the Best Caramel Filling

  • Use a digital thermometer to make sure the mixture reaches 238 F / 114 C, otherwise it won’t have a thick consistency once it reaches room temperature.
  • Constantly stir the caramel as it cooks to prevent the mixture at the bottom of the pan from burning.
  • Pour the caramel into a separate container once it’s made so that it can cool to room temperature more quickly. If you leave the caramel in the hot pan as it cools, it can overcook the caramel and make it difficult to use.
image of thick caramel filling being added into a cake to make a Twix flavored cake

Making This Caramel Filling in Advance and Storage Tips

You can make this recipe up to a month is advance! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

It can also be stored at room temperature for 2 days in an airtight container.

To make the chilled filling easier to use, heat it in the microwave in 15 second intervals (stirring between), then pipe or scoop it into your dessert. It will set as it cools back down to room temperature.

image of a Twix cake that's been cut open to show its fluffy vanilla cake layers, thick caramel filling and shortbread crust

Let Me Know What You Think

I’d love to hear what you think about this recipe! Please leave a rating below and comment below.

Tag me @chelsweets and use #chelsweets on social media so I can see your amazing creations!

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Yield: 2 1/4 cups

Caramel Filling

image of thick caramel cake filling that's been cooled and has thickened and is ready to be added to a cake

This caramel filling is thick, buttery, and perfect for just about any dessert! It sets firmly enough to fill cakes, cupcakes, macarons, and cookies!

Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 43 minutes

Ingredients

Thick Caramel Filling

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar (200g)
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup (120ml)
  • 7 oz or 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk (198g)
  • 1 Tbsp heavy cream or whipping cream, room temperature (15ml)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (4ml)
  • 1 tsp salt (6g)

Instructions

Caramel Filling (Recipe based on Jodie Avery's Thick Caramel Sauce Recipe)

  1. Add 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, 1 cup of light brown sugar, 1/2 cup of corn syrup, and 7 oz. of sweetened condensed milk into a large saucepan.
  2. Heat over a medium-high heat. Stir constantly until the mixture starts to bubble.
  3. Slowly stir in 1 Tbsp of heavy cream. Place a digital thermometer in the pan at this point. Continue to stir until the caramel reaches 238 F / 114 C (soft ball stage).
  4. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp of vanilla and 1 tsp of salt. Pour into a separate container to let the caramel cool. Cover the bowl once the caramel has reached room temperature. This can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, or a month in the fridge.

Notes

Yield

This recipe makes about 2 1/4 cups of caramel filling, which is the perfect amount to fill an 8-inch layer cake or about 3 dozen cupcakes. This recipe can also be doubled or cut in half if needed.

My Tips for Making the Best Caramel Filling

  • Use a digital thermometer to make sure the mixture reaches 238 F / 114 C, otherwise it won't have a thick consistency once it reaches room temperature.
  • Constantly stir the caramel as it cooks to prevent the mixture at the bottom of the pan from burning.
  • Pour the caramel into a separate container once it's made so that it can cool to room temperature more quickly. If you leave the caramel in the hot pan as it cools, it can overcook the caramel and make it difficult to use.
  • To make the caramel filling easier to use, heat it in the microwave in 15 second intervals (stirring between), then pipe or scoop it into your dessert It will set as it cools back down to room temperature.

Making This Caramel Filling in Advance & Storage Tips

  • The caramel can be stored at room temperature for 2 days or made up to a month is advance if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Nutrition Information

Yield

2

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 1108Total Fat 55gSaturated Fat 34gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 18gCholesterol 151mgSodium 1266mgCarbohydrates 161gFiber 0gSugar 160gProtein 2g

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Jane

Thursday 20th of October 2022

Sorry...another question...I have "lily white" corn syrup...it's almost colourless...is that ok to use ? Thank you..again

Jane

Monday 24th of October 2022

Me again So I just made it, and it seems super thick and a lot darker ...what remained on the thermometer was pretty hard...I need to put it between cake layers (grandson's b day) and I'm afraid it'll be rock hard... It's in a large glass(pyrex) container cooling...was planning to put it in the fridge till Thursday, when I'll assemble and carve...then the cake will go back in fridge for a bit... Is there a way to soften it up if need be, or should I start over? (I'm afraid it could have possibly gone over 238F while stirring at the same time...but not by much...watched it carefully also missed putting in the tablespoon of cream till it had been boiling a bit ...all the rest was as per the recipe ) Maybe I need to stop before 238F ? Thank you

Jane

Monday 24th of October 2022

@Chelsweets, Thank you!

Chelsweets

Sunday 23rd of October 2022

Hi Jane,

No worries! Lily White corn syrup should work great in this recipe :) Happy baking!

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Krystal

Wednesday 12th of October 2022

I'm pretty impressed I used glucose syurp as its all I had and I'm amazed at how quick it was to make as I have a birthday cake to fill carmel with so pretty happy.

Chelsweets

Friday 14th of October 2022

Hi Krystal,

So happy to hear that!! Thank you for sharing :) Happy baking!

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