How To Turn Coca-Cola Into A Sticky, Sweet, Caramel-Inspired Sauce

Coca-Cola is known the world over for its iconic packaging and singular bubbly brown sugar and caramel-flavor profile that have made it the world's most popular soft drink. Over time this fizzy favorite, that hardly needs any introduction, has made its way into sweet treats like Coca-Cola sheet cake and savory uses like making extra tender and flavorful pulled pork. It has even been used in creative dessert applications like ice cream and frosting. Another way to savor Coca-Cola that might not seem intuitive at first blush is to boil it down into a caramel sauce.

The same caramel notes that make up the still secret formula can be distilled down into a rich sauce that will please the most ardent Coke enthusiasts. The hardest part of making this sauce is that it does require a bit of babysitting at the stovetop, but the results can be lovingly draped over everything from ice cream to chocolate cake or even swirled into your morning cappuccino.

At its most basic, caramel is just sugar that has been cooked until it gently browns, and Coca-Cola has the sugar part covered in spades. The most straightforward way to transform Coca-Cola into an eponymous caramel is to bring it to a boil on the stovetop and then let it simmer for about 30 minutes as the soda water evaporates. As in any caramel-making process, the key here is to watch it carefully as once the water starts to cook off, it can easily burn.

Once you have a thick syrup, reduce the heat and whisk in some heavy whipping cream. After the cream has fully been incorporated and you give it a chance to simmer together for a few minutes, turn off the heat and whisk in a bit of butter to finish. You'll be drooling over the thick, rich consistency, and it will be hard not to dive right in, but let the caramel cool and then you'll be off to the races with a rich sauce that gives Coca-Cola in the best possible way.