52 carmel topping recipes

Lamb shank and bean casserole inspired by French cassoulet: garlic-studded shanks braised in red wine and beef stock, layered with beans, caramelized onions, and topped with bacon and golden breadcrumbs.

Tuscan-style white bean and potato pie: garlic-pureed navy beans topped with caramelized onions, potatoes, and Parmesan, baked into a golden rustic torta. Vegetarian Italian main dish.

Classic French tarte Tatin with 5 pounds of Golden Delicious apples baked in caramel and topped with flaky puff pastry. A showstopping upside-down dessert worth the effort.

Old-fashioned oatmeal cake with broiled Lazy Daisy frosting of brown sugar, butter, evaporated milk, and chopped nuts. Vintage American sheet cake with a caramelized topping.

Bread machine rosemary whole wheat focaccia topped with caramelized red onion and parmesan. A nutty, herb-scented Italian flatbread made hands-free in your bread machine.

Chocolate turtle cake with a gooey caramel and pecan layer hidden between two devil's food cake layers, topped with a boiled cocoa frosting. Inspired by turtle candy.

Onion soup Provencal with 8 pounds of slowly caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, red wine, herbs, and barley miso for umami depth. Topped with croutons and Emmentaler cheese.

Soft date drop cookies made with sour cream, brown sugar, and chopped dates, topped with a whole walnut. A chewy old-fashioned cookie with caramel-like sweetness.

Cocoa cookies with semisweet chocolate chips, pecan-crusted tops, and a gooey caramel center pressed into each one. Soft, fudgy, and done in 35 minutes. Makes 4 dozen.

Rice pudding tart with red wine-poached pears fanned on top, finished under the broiler for a caramelized sugar crust. An elegant dessert that can be made ahead.

Toasted bagels topped with sweet roasted red bell peppers, caramelized red onions, and a smear of cream cheese. A quick open-faced breakfast or lunch ready in 40 minutes.

Bourbon pecan pie with cane syrup, dark brown sugar, and a pre-cooked filling for a deeper, less cloying caramel base. Toasted pecans bake into a glossy, crackly top.

Lazy Daisy oatmeal cake with rolled oats soaked in boiling water for a moist crumb, topped with a broiled brown sugar, coconut, and nut frosting that bubbles up caramel-golden. A beloved American classic.

Company apple pie is a three-pie batch showstopper with a sugar crust, lemony apple filling, caramel sauce stripes, cream cheese topping, and chopped walnuts. Built to feed a crowd.

Buttermilk orange cake studded with raisins and nuts, topped with a citrus-sugar glaze broiled into a caramelized, crackly crust. Served warm with whipped cream for an old-fashioned dessert.

Portobello caps breaded and pressed flat like paillards, piled onto a garlicky white bean and spinach stew with slow-caramelized red onions on top. A vegetarian main with real steakhouse presence.