Two ingredient recipes make life sweet and easy. Some days, you just want something sweet and simple. This easy peanut butter caramel sauce satisfies that craving.

When you want something sweet, you don’t always want to work hard making it or cleaning it up. You don’t want just to eat mindlessly either. You just want a sweet pick-me-up, and you want it now. That was the kind of day that inspired my two-ingredient peanut butter caramel sauce. It may be the easiest sauce I’ve ever made.

At the time, I was looking for something to add a little interest and flavor to my plate of sliced fresh apples. I was eating apples because I needed to add some vitamins and fiber to my diet, and apples are great for both. Remember the old adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away!” It might have been an advertising slogan at the time, but apples are a healthy choice for meals and snacks, according to Harvard University’s School of Public Health.

I was also in a hurry. It was the middle of the workday, and I had a lot to do. There was no time to bake or even sauté the apples. I actually debated just adding a dab of peanut butter to the plate, which would have been lovely. But I wanted something sweeter. I considered just drizzling a little caramel sauce on, but that would have been a little too sticky. Truth be told, this salted caramel peanut butter sauce came about when I was making that snack, and I couldn’t decide between them. And now I don’t have to, and neither do you!

Using high quality, prepared foods in recipes saves time and makes the process of culinary creation simpler, easier, and oh so delicious. Remember to embrace the magic.

This recipe relies on two prepared ingredients that speed the process without compromising the quality. I use pre-made peanut butter for this. Yes, I could put fresh roasted peanuts in a food processor and make my own. But not during my workday lunch break. I could also make homemade caramel, but who has time to cook down the sugar on a Tuesday afternoon?

For the peanut butter, I chose a natural style, creamy peanut butter. Mine was a store brand that I buy every time I shop, but there are some good name brand varieties out there too. I use a natural peanut butter that doesn’t separate, but that’s because it’s what I have on hand for sandwiches. For this recipe, use whatever kind of peanut butter you like, but stick with creamy if you have it.

For the caramel, there are lots of options that are ready to go. I happen to love salted caramel, so I keep a popular salted caramel sundae topping on hand most of the time. Again, use the caramel topping you like best. If you don’t like salted caramel, use regular caramel. If you don’t have salted caramel but like it, consider adding a dash of salt to the mix before cooking.

If you don’t have caramel sundae topping on hand, use what you do have on hand. Caramel dipping sauce (like they sell right next to the apples in the produce section of most supermarkets) also works well. A couple of individually wrapped caramel candies (the little cubes) will also work, but I would add a teaspoon of water or cream to make sure the sauce is thin enough.

The amount in the recipe is for one serving. It’s easy to upscale it for more. Just remember the ratio is 1:1. So if you’re making this for five servings, use five Tablespoons each of peanut butter and caramel topping. For eight servings, use eight of each.

This may be the easiest sweet treat you ever make. This marriage of peanut butter and caramel is class and versatile. This easy peanut butter caramel sauce is great drizzled over your favorite sliced fruit, ice cream, pastry, or even oatmeal!

Easy Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Sauce – Just two ingredients!

Course: Snacks, dessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minute

Cooking time

minutes

Finishing

minutes

When you want something sweet and simple, this easy peanut butter caramel sauce satisfies. Make just enough for one, or scale it up for the whole family.

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 Tablespoon caramel sundae topping (I use a salted caramel sauce)

Directions

Measure ingredients into a microwave-safe cup, bowl, or measuring cup. If you use unsalted caramel topping, add a dash of salt (optional).
Microwave on high power for 20-seconds. Stir. Continue to microwave in 10-second intervals and stirring until the sauce is smooth.
Drizzle over ice cream, sliced apples, or apple pie!

Notes

For a thinner sauce, you can stir in a teaspoon of warm water or cream toward the end of the cooking process.
Cook times above are for a 1200-watt microwave oven. For lower power ovens, you may need to add more time.