Description
Delight in the rich, buttery sweetness of these Homemade Christmas Caramels, perfect for holiday gifting or a cozy treat. Made with simple ingredients and cooked to the perfect firm ball stage, these soft yet chewy caramels melt in your mouth and offer a timeless festive flavor that’s sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
Caramel Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the baking dish. Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Melt the butter. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter completely before adding other ingredients.
- Combine ingredients. Stir in the packed light brown sugar, light corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and salt into the melted butter.
- Cook the caramel mixture. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until it reaches 245°F on a candy thermometer, which is the firm ball stage. This typically takes about 12 to 15 minutes.
- Add vanilla extract. Immediately remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract thoroughly for deep flavor.
- Pour into prepared dish. Carefully pour the hot caramel mixture into the lined baking dish and smooth the top for an even layer.
- Let cool and set. Allow the caramels to cool completely at room temperature for several hours or overnight until fully set.
- Cut and wrap. Once the caramel is firm, lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper, cut into 64 small squares using a sharp, lightly oiled knife, and wrap each piece individually in wax paper to keep fresh.
Notes
- For a salted caramel variation, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top of the caramel before it cools completely.
- Use a sharp knife lightly greased with oil to ensure cleaner cuts and prevent sticking.
- Store wrapped caramels in an airtight container at room temperature; they will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 caramel
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 3.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
