Best Homemade Caramel Recipe is perfect for making caramel apples and all your favorite fall treats and desserts. It’s incredibly easy and ready in about 30 min. It truly is THE BEST homemade caramel recipe around.
There are certain things that really sum up the season for me. One of them is caramel. It’s like the season wouldn’t happen unless caramel was involved in some way.
It’s so rich, so decadent. In our stores, it’s very hard to find those adorable little individually wrapped caramel pieces, which is why I have been craving some for so long.
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All last season I wanted to make my own caramel. I never got around to doing it. I even have a recipe for microwave caramel– I still didn’t get around to doing it.
So this year I had some plans. I dug through grandma’s old cookbook and found the recipe that I have been using for so many years. I am so excited to share it with you.
Easy Caramel
Really- it’s the very best recipe for caramel I have ever had. It’s 100% worth the time it takes to make it from scratch. I love that it takes ingredients that I almost always have on hand.
Some caramel recipes call for heavy cream, this one does not. I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have that on hand.
recipe for caramels
But with this one I don’t need to plan ahead to make it or make a special trip to the store for it. I just need my short side stock pot and my favorite heavy rubber spatula and I’m good to go.
recipes caramel
Trust me- you will not be disappointed!
candy caramels
Here are some commonly asked questions
Do I have to use a candy thermometer?
Unfortunately, yes. That is the only way to know you have reached the right temperature for this caramel to set up correctly.
*Note – do not use the clip on the side of the candy thermometer to attach it to the pot. I have found that when it is resting against the side of the pot, it makes that area of the pot heat higher than the rest resulting in not only an inaccurate temperature reading but also burnt food in that area.
VERY IMPORTANT
*Note – do not use the clip on the side of the candy thermometer to attach it to the pot. I have found that when it is resting against the side of the pot, it makes that area of the pot heat higher than the rest resulting in not only an inaccurate temperature reading but also burnt food in that area. I get the best results when holding in the center of the pot for about 30 seconds – just enough to get a reading.
homemade caramel candy
How many can this serve?
Well, that will depend on how large or small you cut the pieces. But I was able to get 36- 1″ squares from this batch.
Can homemade caramel be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze homemade caramel Just be sure to freeze either in a single layer or place a piece of parchment in between the layers before freezing. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then leave at room temperature once thawed.
best caramel recipe
Can this recipe be doubled?
Because the cooking time would change with the volume of the ingredients, I don’t recommend doubling this recipe. Since it is so quick to make, I usually just do several batches back to back.
Why is my homemade caramel grainy?
This happens when the sugar crystallizes. This can happen when the melted sugar splashes up onto the cooler sides of the pot. By doing this the moisture evaporates and it turns back into a sugar crystal.
caramels
HOW DO YOU MAKE Soft Caramel Candy?
- Line a 13×9 pan with foil and then spray it with cooking spray or an oil mister. Set aside.
- In a 2-qt heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Cook & stir until the candy thermometer reads 248 degrees (firm ball stage). This should take about 25-30 minutes depending on the BTU’s of your stove. Don’t turn the heat higher to rush the process.
- Remove from heat and carefully stir in the vanilla extract.
- Carefully pour the caramel into the prepared pan. Move quickly as it will firm up fast.
- Let cool completely before pulling out of the pan by any overhanging foil. Cut into squares and wrap individually with parchment paper.
making caramel
What is the best way to store leftover caramel?
Most importantly, this recipe is best when stored at room temperature, unless you happen to keep your house quite warm.
Also, the caramel squares will want to melt into each other if they are stacked in an airtight container after they are cut.
I typically just cover the pan I poured them into and leave it on the counter OR I wrap each caramel square in a little square piece of parchment and keep them in a candy dish.
If you would like to consolidate them into a single airtight container, I recommend placing a piece of parchment paper between the layers as you stack them.
caramels recipe
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST HOMEMADE CARAMEL
- Stick with real butter – please don’t use margarine for this recipe.
- Don’t get distracted – this recipe moves pretty quickly so you need to be 100% focused on cooking the caramel
- Make sure you are using sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk.
- Don’t use a sugar substitute – you will need real brown sugar for this caramel.
homemade caramels with sweetened condensed milk
To make Homemade Caramel Candy you will need…
- brown sugar
- sweetened condensed milk
- butter
- light corn syrup
- vanilla extract
soft caramel recipe
Should I use light or dark brown sugar?
Since I make my own brown sugar, I use light brown sugar for almost all of my recipes. But light or dark brown sugar will work in this recipe.
Want to know how to make your own brown sugar – visit my Homemade Brown Sugar post here.
caramels recipe
Products I love when making homemade caramel candy…
This homemade caramel candy recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made caramel before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this homemade caramel candy recipe.
- light brown sugar
- sweetened condensed milk
- light corn syrup
- vanilla extract
- heavy rubber spatula
- 9×13 cake pan
- short side stock pot
- candy thermometer
- foil
- parchment paper
If you love this Easy Homemade Caramel recipe, you’re going to love these other treats too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
No Bake Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars
easy caramel recipe
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Best Homemade Caramel RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a 13×9 pan with foil and then spray it with cooking spray or an oil mister. Set aside.
- In a 2qt heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Cook & stir until the candy thermometer reads 248 degrees (firm ball stage). This should take about 25-30 minutes depending on the BTU's of your stove. Don't turn the heat higher to rush the process.
- Remove from heat and carefully stir in the vanilla extract.
- Carefully pour the caramel into the prepared pan. Move quickly as it will firm up fast.
- Let cool completely before pulling out of the pan by any overhanging foil. Cut into squares and wrap individually with parchment paper.
Notes
Pieni lintu says
Looks super delicious!
Erika B says
Oh yum! I must try this! Great shot.
Erika B
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin says
Looks so delicious! I’ve never been a huge caramel fan, I like it in things like the candy I only eat when it’s laying around this time of year (snickers are my go to, hehe).
No Greater Love says
That looks delicious. I will definitely try it. In fact, today is my shopping day so I’m writing the ingredients on my list. I think I even like caramel more than chocolate!
mgatwood says
I am a caramel junky. I’ll compare this recipe with the one I use, that of course I think is the best! LOL. I usually do some sort of caramel for Christmas gifts. Have a good week!
Kim Stevens says
I have one that is similar that it microwaveable, I know it sounds crazy, but it was sooo good. I’ll have to give this one a try . . . I love caramels!! And yeah, I can see pictures and everything!! ha
Gina Kleinworth says
Thanks Kim! I have a microwave recipe too that Danelle sent me last year. I just had to give this one a try because of what I’m sharing tomorrow. If I’m just making it for squares I will definitely be using the quicker method.
Molly says
That looks absolutely to die for yummy.
Mollyxxx
Stacy Uncorked says
Ohhhhh! Caramel is my favorite! Thanks for the recipe – I’m absolutely going to try this! 🙂
Zelda the Bored Statue Kitty
Nancy says
These look amazing and sound so easy — unfortunately, caramels are off my list due to dental work, but I can dream. 🙂
Jessica says
Sounds good! I’ve been thinking about making homemade caramel lately. Must be the fall season.
Susan says
Yummy! I bought some caramel sauce this weekend @ a winery we went to. It’s a total weakness!
Serendipity is Sweet says
Those look amazing! I love caramel!!
Ruthie says
Great shot! And that looks so yummy!
Danelle says
I LOVE caramels! I tried a microwave recipe last year and it was actually really good. Dangerous, in fact, because it was so easy. So it might be worth trying if the craving strikes again and you just can’t wait!
Liz says
Oh my!! They look delicious!!
Heidi says
Congratulations! I love your idea so much that I will be featuring it on OneCreativeMommy.com later today. Please stop by and grab a featured button if you’d like. I hope you’ll be back to share more great ideas at One Creative Weekend tomorrow. (As of right now, there is no image included with your feature because you site doesn’t allow me to copy the images. Please let me know if it’s okay to embed the pin of this recipe that I created on Pinterest on my page. If it’s okay, I’ll add it.)
Gina Kleinworth says
Thanks so much Heidi! I appreciate that. Yes- you may use that pinned image. THANK YOU! You made me smile today-
Carol says
Caramel apples are my favorite – yummy recipe
Victoria says
Thank you for the recipe! How do you store these after you cut them? Mine stuck together after leaving them in a ziplock over night😕
Gina Kleinworth says
I usually just cover the pan that I poured them in to. That way they stay in a single layer & aren’t crowded or stacked.
Kathy Tapp says
Please email me the recipe for these easy caramels. Did not find ingredient list at end.
Gina Kleinworth says
It is directly above the comments section – you may have scrolled past it.