🍬 Homemade Soft Caramels
Rich, buttery, and perfectly chewy — these melt-in-your-mouth caramels are easier than they look.
🛒 Ingredients (Makes about 40 pieces)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2¼ cups packed brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼–½ teaspoon salt (more for salted caramel)
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Pan
Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper and lightly butter it.
2️⃣ Cook the Caramel
In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and condensed milk.
Stir constantly.
Cook until mixture reaches 245°F (118°C) on a candy thermometer (firm-ball stage).
This usually takes 10–15 minutes.
3️⃣ Finish
Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and salt.
Pour into prepared pan.
4️⃣ Cool & Cut
Let cool completely (at least 2–3 hours).
Lift out, cut into squares, and wrap in wax paper.
🔥 Tips for Perfect Caramels
- Stir constantly to prevent scorching.
- Use a thermometer — guessing can make them too soft or too hard.
- For deeper flavor, cook slightly darker but don’t exceed 250°F.
✨ Variations
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top.
- Dip in melted chocolate.
- Add a splash of bourbon or espresso powder.
If you’d like, I can also give you a microwave shortcut version or a traditional old-fashioned cream caramel recipe without condensed milk.