December 16, 2024

Homemade Soft Caramels

Homemade Soft Caramels are soft, chewy and indulgent! Melt in your mouth soft and buttery caramels that are made with only 5-ingredients.

Homemade soft caramels

When I made Homemade Soft Caramels for the first time, my mind was honestly blown. I could not believe that such soft and buttery delicious candy could be made right within my own kitchen. They make the very best holiday gifts or can be served at a holiday party. These caramels melt in your mouth and I haven't met anyone who doesn't like them yet. They're truly amazing! These are an indulgent treat and definitely not my typical Nutritionist Reviews style-recipe, but doesn't everyone deserve a little holiday treat? I think so!


**Keep reading for a Taylor thermometer giveaway!


homemade soft caramel

The first time that I made homemade soft caramels a few years ago, I was kind of nervous to try to make my Homemade Chocolate Peanut Caramels. I had never made chewy caramels before but it is quite easy. I was scared to have to use a food thermometer to make them (a 100% essential part of making the caramels), but really and truly, it is easy. I'm not great at following recipe directions which shouldn't be surprising as I've made a career out of making homemade and unique recipes but this one really requires following the steps to get it just right.


Homemade Soft Caramels

Homemade Soft Caramels Ingredients

  • Unsalted butter
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Light corn syrup
  • Sea salt (optional)

pot of homemade caramel

How to Make Soft Caramels

Making soft caramels is fairly easy but does require following the directions carefully and paying close attention to the temperature of the ingredients along the way. I highly recommend using a Taylor thermometer for this recipe because it is my tried and true favorite brand of kitchen thermometers that are easy to use, digital for a quick reading and are super accurate.


For this recipe, I used a Taylor Digital Deep Fry Candy Thermometer which is essential when making homemade candy since temperature is super important throughout the recipe! The head of the thermometer is tilted which makes it easy to see when you're waiting for the candy to hit a certain temperature. I love that it clips right to your pot so that it doesn't fall over as well. What I like for this recipe is using the app to let me know when the temperature is right on the caramel while I'm busy helping my kids with different things.


soft caramels
Another amazing thermometer to consider using is the Taylor Bluetooth App Wireless Digital Thermometer which you can buy at Target. This thermometer is SO cool that you can wirelessly track temperatures of food without even opening the hood of the grill when grilling. The ceramic probe cap is flame resistant to over 900 degrees F and is waterproof for cleaning. It would make an amazing gift!


Sea Salt Caramels

How to Store Soft Caramels

I recommend doubling the recipe because it is almost zero extra work and, since it does take some time to make, you might as well! Wrap them up in little parchment papers to store them and give as gifts. Arrange them on a cute holiday plate and serve at a party. Or, of course, eat them yourself -- like I did.

Homemade Soft Caramels

Homemade soft caramels
Yield: 30 caramels 

Homemade Soft Caramels

Homemade Soft Caramels are soft, chewy and indulgent! Melt in your mouth soft and buttery caramels that are made with only 4-ingredients.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 30 minutes plus cooling time

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • Sprinkle of sea salt on the top

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Take a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan and spray it with nonstick spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit inside of the pan and go up 1 inch on each side. Place the parchment in the pan and spray with nonstick spray. 
  2. Cut butter into small pieces and add in heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until butter has melted.
  3. In a medium sized saucepan, mix together the water, corn syrup and sugar carefully so you don't splatter the sugar up the sides.
  4. Heat over medium heat until the sugar comes to a boil. Cover with a lid for 1 minute to add moisture to the pan to remove sugar from the sides.
  5. Use a Taylor thermometer in the pot and cook sugar until it reaches exactly 320 degrees (about 5-10 minutes). The sugar will be light amber colored.
  6. Right when the sugar is 320 degrees, pour 1/6 of the butter and cream mixture into the pan and stir it with your candy thermometer. Continue until all of the butter and cream is mixed into the sugar. It will be bubbling a lot.
  7. The temperature will drop with the addition of the cream/butter. Continue cooking until the temperature reaches exactly 245 degrees.
  8. Right when the caramel is 245 degrees, pour it into your loaf pan. 
  9. Let the caramel fully cool for 3 1/2 hours. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
  10. Take the parchment paper out of the pan with the caramel in it. Use your sharpest knife to cut the caramels. I like cutting it into 6 x 5 pieces so I ended up with 30 pieces. You can certainly cut it into smaller pieces as well.
  11. Wrap caramels individually in parchment paper to enjoy later if you like or enjoy right away.
Enjoy!

Tips:
*If you like a firmer caramel, let your caramel sit for longer in the pan to cool until it turns firmer how you prefer it.

**Follow directions for this recipe very carefully to ensure that it turns out correctly.

***If you want to try another caramel flavor, try my Chocolate Peanut Caramels.


More Holiday Dessert Recipes

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Sea Salt Soft Caramels

This post is sponsored by Taylor. All opinions are my own.

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