For a sweet and kinda sticky treat, give our homemade caramels recipe a try. These soft and buttery homemade caramels are a perfect Christmas candy recipe to eat and share as gifts.
I was so excited when I first tried out our homemade caramels recipe. But, I’ll be honest, I was also a bit intimidated too because caramel can be a bit finicky and hard to master, which is why I had normally steered clear of making it myself.
However, this is the best homemade caramel candy recipe you will find. Not does this recipe make some of the best soft and buttery caramels, but it is also an easy recipe that does not have to be intimidating to accomplish.
My love of caramels started back when my grandpa would always have some of the soft Worther’s candies that he took joy in (or so I assumed) sharing with me, especially around the holidays. So not only is this a great Christmas tradition to eat the caramels, but now I can make my own and share the love of caramels with other too.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make Homemade Caramels, you will need the following ingredients:
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Salt
- Light corn syrup
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How To Make Homemade Caramels
- Melt butter over stove top. Add brown sugar and salt, mixing well.
- Stir in corn syrup.
- Gradually add milk, stirring constantly.
- Cook and stir over medium heat until candy reaches firm ball stage (245 degrees).
- This will take 12-15 minutes approx.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Pour into greased 9×13 pan. Let cool.
- Cut into 48 pieces with a sharp knife.
FAQ’s
In my personal option, I would say that using a candy thermometer is better to use than doing the ice water test.
The biggest reason for this is simply because the thermometer can sit in the pot with the mixture and you can see the temperature rising in real-time, making it super simple to know when it has hit 245 degrees.
As for the ice water test you have to guess and check every so often to see if the mixture is at the right stage. If you would like to learn how to do the ice water test without using a thermometer, Instructables has a great tutorial on how to perform the ice water test.
If you want to store the caramels individually or have made them to give as gifts to friends and family then choosing the right type of wrapping is key.
Since caramels are sticky you have to be careful when making your selection. The last thing you want to do is scrap your caramel off the wrapper.
So in order to avoid any scraping or unraveling of the caramels, use cut wax paper as the wrapper. You can cut a sheet of wax paper to fit the sizes of caramel you made and it is super cheap and efficient for homemade caramels.
Caramels will stay fresh for a good amount of time. If you leave the caramels sitting at room temperature and stored them in an airtight container they will last for about 2 weeks.
However, you can store them in the fridge and they will last about 3-4 weeks. But I would suggest letting the candy come to room temperature before enjoying a piece.
Storing and Other Tips
Store caramels at room temperature in an airtight container for about 2 weeks.
You can store them in the fridge and they will last about 3-4 weeks.
The biggest tip I can give you for making caramels is to make sure you are 100% prepared when you are ready to make caramel.
When making caramel a lot of the time is spent stirring the ingredients in the pot. By continuously stirring the pot you will avoid the caramel from burning and create the perfect creamy soft caramel you want.
So, make sure to measure out all your ingredients ahead of time and prepare the pan so it is ready to pour the caramel mixture into right away.
Enjoy More Delicious Caramel Recipes
Making homemade candy makes us feel less guilty about our sweet tooth. Check out our comprehensive collection of candy recipes here.
- Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles
- Halloween Mickey Mouse Caramel Apples
- Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt
- Homemade Microwave Caramels
Homemade Caramels
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2¼ cups brown sugar, firmly packed
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, 1 can
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Melt butter over stove top. Add brown sugar and salt, mixing well.
- Stir in corn syrup.
- Gradually add milk, stirring constantly.
- Cook and stir over medium heat until candy reaches firm ball stage (245 degrees).
- This will take 12-15 minutes approx.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Pour into greased 9×13 pan. Let cool.
- Cut into 48 pieces with a sharp knife.
- Optional: Wrap each piece in wax paper.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
I haven't tried that, but I'm sure it would be delicious!
I have never had enough left over to freeze them. I am not sure how it would work! I am so sorry I am not more help. Let us know if you try it!