If you have a little butter and a little sugar and a can of sweetened condensed milk on hand, you can make a respectable caramel sauce.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons white sugar (organic or brown sugar can sometimes cause graininess)
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
Milk or cream to thin, if needed
Method
Cook sugar and butter in small saucepan over moderate heat until sugar has melted
Add sweetened condensed milk and combine well with sugar/butter mixture
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with heat-proof spatula
Cook until you get the color and consistency you want. DO NOT BURN!
If too thick, CAREFULLY thin with heavy cream or milk while still in the saucepan and combine well. The mass will be VERY HOT and it may bubble up when you add the milk or cream!
If grainy, just press through a sieve
Recipe by Akitachow.com: A food site and a big dog at https://www.akitachow.com/caramel-in-a-pinch/