Homemade Caramel Sauce

This recipe takes me back.  When I was growing up, it was a special day when Grandma would make chocolate waffles.  We would eat them with vanilla ice cream drizzled with this caramel sauce.

Please note that this makes a very thin sauce.  If you want it thicker, double the cornstarch.

Here's the recipe:

1/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 cup cold water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Melt butter in heavy sauce pan.  Add brown sugar, then cornstarch and water mixture.  Bring slowly to a boil, stirring often.  Remove from heat and add vanilla before serving.  Serve warm.

I let mine cool a bit and then put it in a plastic container and stored in the refrigerator.  The butter will separate upon refrigerating.  Simply warm it up in the microwave before serving.

Serve this over chocolate waffles and/or some homemade vanilla ice cream!

Looking for other ice cream toppings?  Check out this recipe for Super Simple Hot Fudge Sauce.