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    Home » caramel

    Easy salted caramels at home

    Published: Sep 19, 2021 · Modified: Jan 29, 2023 by Hannah · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    These easy salted caramels are meant to be cut and wrapped.  They are perfectly soft and melt in your mouth candy to make at home to impress anyone you are willing to share them with (and it might not be that many people). A fantastic homemade holiday gift idea, once you make them you'll be having requests for years!

    easy salted caramels at home

    If you are looking for caramel that doesn't require a candy thermometer, I recommend checking out this slow cooker dulce de leche.  You can also learn a little bit more about caramel on my candy science page.

    Caramel

    Caramel means different things to different people. When you talk to a chef, they are thinking caramelized sugar.  If you were to talk to a confectioner, they are thinking cooking milk and sugar.  The time it takes you to cook the caramel and the temperature you cook caramel to will determine the finished taste and texture.

    Ingredients for easy salted caramels

    • Sweeteners
      • white sugar gives the caramel a clean and light taste.  If you are looking for a deeper flavor you can take brown sugar and fully replace the white sugar or partially replace it.  If you replace any of the white sugar, it will also cause the easy salted caramels to have a darker color.
      • corn syrup adds body to the easy salted caramels and prevents the caramel from crystalizing.
    • Milk Sources
      • Evaporated Milk
        • the primary dairy source in these easy salted caramels, it is easy to work with an available in most places.
      • Heavy cream
        • our second dairy source, it provides an excellent flavor profile but causes cooking time to be increased slightly because it contains a lot of water.
    • Salt
      • Salt brings out caramel flavor and balances out the sweetness in this silky smooth caramel.
    • Butter
      • Butter is important to caramel a lot of different reasons! First, for flavor. Secondly, mouthfeel, and third, the cooking process.  It's important in the cooking process of caramel because it helps prevent the boil over in the pot and saves you from cleaning up a really messy stove! Butter will also make cutting and handling the caramel easier.  However, too much butter will result in an oily exterior and greasy mouthfeel so striking the right balance is key.

    Equipment for easy salted caramels

    • heavy duty thick bottomed pot. You'll need at least an 8 quart pot.
    • candy thermometer
    • high heat spatula or wooden spoon
    • parchment paper
    • 9x13" sheet pan with edges

    Cooking Process

    This caramel takes about 45 minutes to cook over medium high heat. If you start to notice the caramel getting ready to boil over, you can turn your heat back until it settles down.  Eventually, enough water will boil out that you will not need to do this, and if you want to avoid it all together I recommend a very large pot!

    Corn syrup is added once the rest of the ingredients are cooked to 230F. The caramel is then cooked to 239F.

    Cutting and Wrapping

    Caramel needs to set for a minimum of 12 hours before you cut it but 24 hours is ideal. The time helps set the sugar structure and solidifies the caramel. When you go to cut your caramels, how big you'd like your caramel pieces is a personal preference. Using a ruler will help you make nice even pieces, and a gram scale can make sure each piece is the same. I find using a gram scaled to weigh out each piece is too time consuming and only use a ruler.

    Wrapping materials for easy salted caramels:

    When you go to wrap these, you'll want to make sure whatever you wrap them in is cut to around 5" x 5". I love using precut wraps because then I don't have to cut anything.

    • cello candy wraps
    • wax paper
    • parchment paper

    Storage and shelf life

    Store wrapped caramel in an airtight container at room temperature. Caramel will last approximately 4 months before the texture changes and 6-9 months before any noticeable different in flavor changes.

    Salted Caramels

    Salted caramel that is perfectly chewy, silky, and flavorful. They melt in your mouth and will leave you wondering what took you so long to make homemade caramel in the first place.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 45 mins
    Resting Time 12 hrs
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 60 pieces

    Equipment

    • high heat spatula
    • candy thermometer
    • large, thick bottomed pot 8 quart or higher
    • 9 x 13" sheet pan
    • parchment paper

    Ingredients
      

    • 680 grams Evaporated Milk 2 , 12 ounce cans
    • 280 grams Heavy Cream fill up one of the 12 ounce cans
    • 700 grams Sugar
    • 5 grams Salt
    • 200 grams Butter
    • 570 grams Corn Syrup

    Instructions
     

    • Line a 9 x 13" pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides so you can easily lift the finished caramel out of the pan.
    • Combine all ingredients except for corn syrup in a heavy duty thick bottomed pot.
    • Over medium heat, stirring constantly, cook to 230F.
    • Slowly stream in corn syrup.
    • Return to a boil, continue cooking until 239F. Do not stop stirring.
    • Turn off heat. Pour into prepared pan. Let cool.
    • Cover when cool to touch and let sit overnight to set up.
    • Using a greased knife, cut into desired size. Wrap in 5 x 5 " squares of wax paper, parchment paper, or use precut candy wrappers.

    Video

    Keyword candy bar layer, caramel, easy caramel recipe, easy salted caramels, homemade caramel easy, homemade gift, salted caramel, sea salt, soft caramel candy
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Caramel Recipes

    • Caramel peanut candy (recipe and video)
    • Dulce de leche cinnamon sugar cookies
    • Gingerbread molasses caramel with browned butter nougat
    • Viral caramel stuffed chocolate chip cookies

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    Hi, I'm Hannah! Candy obsessed and making everyone else that way too. I've spent over a decade in the candy industry, inventing sweets and snacks for the grocery store shelves. Now I'm showing you exactly how to make those top rated candies right out of your home kitchen. I want others to realize you can make real candy at home, really easily!

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