• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
One Sweet Mama
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact Me
  • Candy Science
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Shop
    • Contact Me
    • Candy Science
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » caramel

    Small batch caramel

    Published: Mar 31, 2023 by Hannah · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Creamy, soft, small batch caramel is the perfect treat to make when you want to really impress people but you don't want to spend a lot of time standing over a boiling pot of milk and sugar. This small batch caramel recipe makes around 30 chewy homemade caramels. Enough for you to enjoy and share!

    small batch caramel wrapped in candy wrappers and laying on table

    Caramels are most popular around the holidays, but I love it all year round. Homemade caramel is a fantastic gift to give a loved one, friend, or service provider.

    If you are looking for a caramel for retail sales, this heavy cream caramel guide goes over lots of technical information as well as retail packaging.

    What is small batch caramel

    Small batch caramel uses a smaller volume of ingredients than a standard batch of caramels. It also takes less time to cook because there is less moisture to cook out of the caramels due to the smaller amount of ingredients. This is a quick caramel recipe that cooks in 25 minutes.

    Looking for other small batch candy? Try out these dark chocolate meltaways.

    Ingredients for small batch caramels

    This easy small batch caramel takes around 25 minutes to cook, making it the perfect caramel recipe for non candy makers to start with. Basic ingredients make up this caramel recipe, so your grocery trip shouldn’t be too extensive.

    • Sweetened condensed milk - A small batch of caramel without cream? Yup! Homemade caramels with sweetened condensed milk as the dairy source makes a quick caramel recipe because it cuts down on the moisture content vs a caramel recipe that uses evaporated milk, heavy cream, or fresh milk.
    • unsalted butter
    • brown sugar
    • white sugar
    • corn syrup
    • table salt
    • baking soda
    • vanilla extract

    See recipe card for quantities.

    How to make a small batch of caramel

    This quick soft caramel recipe is a one pot caramel. All of the ingredients except for vanilla go into a pot to cook at the same time. They truly are easy homemade caramels.

    Prep your pan by lining it with parchment paper

    Combine all ingredients except vanilla in the pot

    Cook until 242F, turn of heat, add vanilla, and pour into prepared pan

    Cool completely, cut and wrap

    Hint: Precut cello candy wrappers make wrapping a breeze! You can find precut cello candy wrappers on Amazon and at craft stores that have a candy making section.

    Equipment for quick easy caramels

    The most important piece of equipment to have for this recipe is the correct pan size. This will ensure your caramels will spread just enough during the cooling phase to keep the height of the caramel. If you pour the caramel into a larger pan after cooking, it is so hot that it will spread out to fill the size of the pan, leaving you a thin sheet of caramel.

    • 8 x 6 sheet pan this size is the standard size that comes in toaster ovens.
    • heavy duty, thick bottomed pot
    • candy thermometer
    • high heat spatula or wooden spoon
    • parchment paper
    • knife for cutting
    • cello candy wrappers for wrapped caramels, parchment paper and wax paper may also be used. Cut it into 5" x 5" squares

    Storage and shelf life of small batch caramel

    Store the cut and wrapped caramel in an airtight container at room temperature. Shelf life is six months before flavor and texture changes.

    Top tip

    Cool the caramel completely before cutting. Ideally, this is 12-24 hours to let the sugar structure set back up. If you are in a pinch for time, you can cut and wrap after 4 hours. If you are cutting after 4 hours, make sure you use an oiled, sharp knife as the caramel will be stickier.

    Video instructions small batch caramel

    If the above video does not play, you can check it out on my YouTube page.

    Small batch caramel

    This small batch caramel recipe makes a quick and easy soft caramel that cuts into 25-30 pieces.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Resting Time 12 hours hrs
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 25 pieces

    Equipment

    • 8" x 6" sheet pan standard toaster oven size
    • candy thermometer
    • heavy duty thick bottomed pot
    • high heat spatula or wooden spoon
    • parchment paper
    • cello candy wrappers optional

    Ingredients
      

    • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk this is 1 can or 370 grams
    • 1 cup packed brown sugar 200 grams
    • ½ cup white sugar 100 grams
    • 1 cup corn syrup 342 grams
    • ½ teaspoon salt 4 grams
    • ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ cup water 130 grams
    • 1 stick butter 113 grams
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 16 grams

    Instructions
     

    • Prep your 8" x 6" pan by lining it with parchment paper
    • Combine all ingredients except vanilla in a heavy duty, thick bottomed pot.
    • Heat over medium heat until boiling. Increase heat to medium high.
    • Cook until 242F. Turn off heat. Add in vanilla.
    • Pour on prepared pan. Cool completely.
    • Cut caramels into ¾" width by 2" length.
    • Wrap in cello candy wrappers, parchment paper, or wax paper. Store in an airtight container.

    Video

    Keyword basic caramel, brown sugar caramel, candy making, candy making for beginners, caramel with sweetened condensed milk, caramel without heavy cream, easy caramel recipe, quick caramel, small batch caramel, soft caramel candy
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    FAQs

    How to store homemade caramels

    Store wrapped homemade caramels in an airtight container at normal room temperature. Avoid excessive heat. Caramels are fairly heat stable and sturdy, so they are a good pantry item.

    What is caramel made of?

    Caramel is made by heating sugar and milk to produce a reaction called Maillard browning. It is different than caramelization, which is heating just sugar to the point where it melts, causing a breakdown of sucrose molecules into different flavor compounds. 

    Why do caramels use corn syrup?

    Corn syrup keeps caramels from crystallizing. Corn syrup acts as an "interfering agent" in this and many other candy recipes. It contains long chains of glucose molecules that tend to keep the sucrose molecules in the candy syrup from crystallizing. Lots of sucrose crystals would results in grainy caramels with an unpleasant texture.

    What's the difference between toffee and caramel and butter crunch?

    The difference is in the ingredients. Toffee and caramel candy are both made with milk, but the main difference between the two is the final cook temperature. Buttercrunch is made with sugar and butter and no milk. You can learn more about this in my scientifically speaking toffee, brittle, butter crunch.

    How to pronounce caramel

    You can pronounce it anyway you like, most people will know what you are talking about! There is absolutely no right way to say caramel. Everyone has their own way of saying it depending on where they're from.

    Related caramel recipe

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • A close-up of a layered no-bake peanut butter chocolate dessert with a slice removed, revealing distinct layers of crushed Oreo crust, peanut butter filling, rich chocolate pudding, and whipped topping. The surface is topped with Skippy PB Minis, peanut butter chips, and chopped peanuts.
      Skippy Peanut Butter Bars Dessert
    • A slice of cinnamon roll bundt cake on a white plate, topped with powdered sugar, with the rest of the cake and a mint green hand mixer blurred in the background.
      Cinnamon Roll Bundt Cake
    • A batch of dark chocolate-covered blueberry buttercream candies on a parchment-lined wooden board. One candy is cut in half, revealing a smooth, vibrant purple-blueberry filling. A textured gray cloth is draped underneath, and fresh blueberries in a glass bowl sit in the foreground, adding a natural touch.
      Blueberry Buttercream Chocolates
    • salted caramel cupcake with salted caramel drizzle
      Salted Caramel Cupcakes

    More Caramel Recipes

    • Caramel wrapped pretzel rods
    • lavender honey caramels
      Lavender Honey Caramel Recipe
    • eggnog caramels
      Eggnog Caramels to make you ho ho happy
    • Best equipment for candy making at home

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marsi Yount

      July 29, 2023 at 11:02 pm

      Wondering if you need to stir the caramel mixture while you’re cooking? Recipe doesn’t say

      Reply
      • Hannah

        July 30, 2023 at 2:52 pm

        hi! yes, stir the whole time it is cooking.

        Reply
    2. Stephanie

      November 18, 2023 at 11:45 pm

      If making the recipe times either 2 or 3 size of pan would you recommend using for the correct high amount for the caramel?

      Reply
      • Hannah

        November 25, 2023 at 1:06 pm

        for 2X the recipe I would use a 9 x 13 and for 3 times I'd consider a 12 x 17 although the height of the caramels might be a little short.

        Reply

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    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!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • caramel marshmallows
      One Sweet Mama's caramel marshmallows
    • how to make peanut butter nougat
      How to make nougat - peanut butter nougat
    • dulce de leche after different hours in slow cooker
      Can you make dulce de leche in slow cooker?
    • easy salted caramels at home
      Easy salted caramels at home

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2023 One Sweet Mama