Homemade Salted Caramels Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (2024)

by Mindi Cherry

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Sweet and salty come together with these easy to make salted caramels. Perfect for a little sweet snack or as a great addition to a cookie tray!

Homemade Salted Caramels Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (1)

I don't know who ever came up with the idea of adding salt to caramels, but I would love to thank them one day. The combination of sweet and salty is usually delicious (that's why my husband is so happy when I make him some chocolate-covered bacon!)

I do love salted caramels but I can't quite figure out why they are so much more expensive than other caramels (if you can even find them in the grocery store). I can buy a huge bag of caramels for about $1.50 when we are making caramel apples, but throw about ½ of $0.01 of salt on those caramels? The price triples! Caramels are just so easy to make and besides - these salted caramels will be a nice addition to the cookie trays that I make to pass out at Christmas!

I've made caramels many times and tasted homemade caramels from others and there is one mistake that many people make that can easily be avoided....when you are first heating up the water, corn syrup and sugar mixture, you want to make sure that you keep the sugar crystals off the side of the pan or else you can end up with some "crunchies" in your caramel. I do this easily by putting the lid on the pot for about a minute as soon as it comes to a boil. This traps the moisture in and "washes" any sugar crystals back in to the mixture.

It's not the end of the world if you have those "crunchies", but most people do prefer the smooth creaminess of caramels without the crunchies!

One last thing - when you are adding the cream and butter to your sugar syrup mixture, make sure to do it very slowly or else you can have a bubbled up mess! Just trust me on this one!

Scroll down for the directions!

Homemade Salted Caramels Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (3)

Homemade Salted Caramels Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (4)

Homemade Salted Caramels Recipe

Sweet and salty come together with these easy to make salted caramels.

5 from 1 vote

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Author: Mindi

Ingredients

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup Butter
  • ¼ cup Corn Syrup
  • ¼ cup Water
  • ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ½ teaspoon Course Sea Salt

Instructions

  • Spray with non stick spray and line an 9×5 loaf dish with parchment so that excess paper comes up the sides.

  • Cut up butter into slices and combine with cream and microwave 1-2 minutes until butter is melted.

  • In the medium to large saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water.

  • Stir just until the sugar is moistened and uniform, being careful not to splash sugar on sides.

  • Heat over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil.

  • Cover with a lid for 1 minute (this helps wash any sugar on sides back in).

  • Remove lid and do not stir the after this point.

  • Place the pot with the sugar mixture over medium to medium-high heat.

  • Let the sugar syrup come to a boil without stirring.

  • Cook until mixture reaches 320, the syrup will begin to darken slightly.

  • Turn off the heat and slowly add the warm cream and butter mixture a little at a time while gently whisking (will bubble violently).

  • Turn burner back on to medium-high.

  • Let the caramel come to a boil and reach 240 without stirring.

  • Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla.

  • Pour into the prepared pan.

  • Cool 20 to 30 minutes then scatter the salt over the caramel.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda at Mixed Kreations

    Yummy! I love caramel, your recipe looks pretty easy. Thanks for sharing! Pinning and sharing!

  2. Chrissa - Physical Kitchness

    NOM! These look so easy!!! My mom makes caramel like this for the holidays, but I'm using your version! Pinning!

  3. Megan

    Those look awesome! My grandmother always makes the Christmas caramels, but now that I live so far away, I might have to finally try it. Thanks for sharing on Whimsy Wednesday!

  4. Denise

    These look so yummy! Thanks for linking up to Home Matters Party. #HomeMattersParty

  5. Melissa

    Homemade Salted Caramels Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (9)
    Hey just stopping by to let you know that this awesome post was picked as one of the feature post for the #HOMEMATTERSPARTY this week. You can stop by and check it out here http://adventuresfrugalmom.com/home-matters-linky-party-66/. Also while you are there make sure to grab the I was featured button for you sidebar. Congrats on being selected

  6. Audrey

    These look delicious! Congrats on your #HomeMattersParty feature.

Homemade Salted Caramels Recipe | Moms Need To Know ™ (2024)

FAQs

What makes salted caramel so good? ›

The Science Behind The Flavour

Salt, on the other hand, stimulates the taste buds responsible for detecting sour and umami flavors, which can enhance the perception of sweetness. The addition of salt to caramel not only enhances the sweetness, but also adds a savory element to the flavor profile.

What is the difference between salted caramel and caramel? ›

Salted caramel is often used as a topping for desserts or as a filling for candies and chocolates. In summary, the main difference between caramel and salted caramel is the presence of salt in the latter. Caramel is sweet and has a rich, buttery flavor, while salted caramel has a slightly savory edge to its sweetness.

How do you reduce salt in salted caramel? ›

Balance the salt with acid: If your dish is too salty, try adding a small amount of acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, to balance it out. Acid can help cut the saltiness and brighten the flavors of the dish.

Can you taste salt in salted caramel? ›

Salted caramel is a popular confectionery flavour that combines the rich, sweet taste of caramel with a hint of salt. This addition of salt enhances the caramel's flavour and adds a delightful contrast to its inherent sweetness.

What flavor goes best with salted caramel? ›

Use Salted Caramel as a Topping For:
  • Pumpkin Scones.
  • Chai Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake.
  • Pound Cake.
  • Flourless Chocolate Cake.
  • Snickers Cheesecake Bars.
  • Cheesecake or Cheesecake Pie.
  • Apple Cinnamon Bread.
  • Vanilla Cake.
Oct 19, 2018

Why does my salted caramel taste bitter? ›

Follow the recipe carefully, and never melt your caramel on your stove's highest setting—it will cause the caramel to scorch and taste burnt. Once it gets a burnt or bitter flavor, it can't be saved. Luckily, sugar is inexpensive, so you can always start over!

Is butterscotch the same as salted caramel? ›

They look and taste similar, but there are subtle differences. What's the difference between caramel and butterscotch sauce? This is a common question since both are cooked sugar concoctions. But the main difference is caramel is made with granulated sugar while butterscotch is made with brown sugar.

Is butterscotch and salted caramel the same thing? ›

Similar to caramel, butterscotch is made by heating sugar. The main difference between the two is that butterscotch uses brown sugar instead of white. The ingredients are also combined in a slightly different order for butterscotch: your start out by melting butter with brown sugar.

What are the three types of caramel? ›

Caramel can be produced in so many forms such as, sauce, a chewy candy, or a hard candy because of how much of an ingredient is added and the temperature it is being prepared at.

How do you make salted caramel less bitter? ›

Before pitching a botched batch of caramel, here are a couple quick fixes. One option would be to try masking the bitterness of burnt caramel by incorporating instant coffee into the mix.

Why is my salted caramel hard? ›

If caramels are too hard, you can try placing them back in a saucepan, adding a couple tablespoons of water and stirring until the thermometer reads 242°F. Pour back into a prepared buttered pan. If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough.

What cancels out too salty? ›

Add an Acidic Ingredient

It won't reduce the sodium level of your dish, but adding an acidic ingredient, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or even a tomato product, can neutralize the saltiness of a dish. Start with a dash or a squeeze, stir well to combine, and give it a taste before adding any more.

Why is salted caramel so addictive? ›

The combination of salty and sweet flavours, plus fat, found in salted caramel releases an unusually intense rush of morphine-like endogenous opioids – or endorphins – in the brain. It does so, moreover, in a way that never gets boring, say scientists at the University of Florida.

What is the deal with salted caramel? ›

Salted caramel: the perfect juxtaposition between salty and sweet. It's one of those marriages that shouldn't work but just does. Sweet, velvety layers of caramel, tempered with just the right amount of salty tang – what's not to love?

What kind of salt is used in Starbucks salted caramel? ›

What Type of Salt Does Starbucks Use in Their Salted Caramel Mocha Lattes? Starbucks uses a blend of turbinado sugar and smoked sea salt.

What makes caramel taste so good? ›

Eventually, these new sugar molecules also break down into other molecules and react with one another to make a whole new taste that's more nutty, sour, buttery, and malty. These are usually the distinct aromas and flavors associated with caramelized sugar.

What makes salted caramel at Starbucks? ›

Sea salt, whipped cream and caramel flavors meet in your mug for this delicious drink.

How would you describe salted caramel? ›

Salted caramel is a soft sweet food made from heated sugar and butter or cream, with salt added as a flavoring. He makes shortbread topped with salted caramel.

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