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I don’t think Christmas could happen without caramels. Well, at least not at my farm! I don’t mean a caramel sauce or a hard caramel candy, but instead those soft, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth caramels; the ones I really think you can only truly understand if they’re homemade. Growing up, I seemed to always know who made the “good” caramels, and I knew someday that I had to make them as well. As with many homemade candies, I think people are scared of caramels. But honestly, a thermometer makes the work easy and pretty much stress-free! Soon you can be “the one” with the good caramels!
This recipe makes one 9 x 13-inch pan, but I also explain how to vary the recipe to make unique caramels!
More Christmas Candy
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Homemade Christmas Caramels
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 ¼ cups light corn syrup
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional toppings
- 1 cup pecans toasted and chopped
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate
- 3-4 tbsp flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking sheet pan well with vegetable oil. Line the pan with parchment paper and grease paper as well. Set aside.
- In a 4-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring heavy cream, sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil. Continue to boil until 248°F is reached on a candy or thermometer. Swirl the pan every so often to heat evenly.2 cups heavy cream, 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar, 6 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 ¼ cups light corn syrup
- When the temperature reaches 248°F, remove from heat and stir in salt and vanilla extract. Immediately pour into prepared pan.½ tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Cool 6-8 hours or up to 24 hours to allow caramel to set up.
- Use parchment sling to remove caramels from pan. Remove caramels from parchment and cut with a large sharp knife. The caramels are slightly sticky, so to keep the shape and keep from sticking to each other, individually wrap in parchment papers or wax paper.
For turtle caramels
- Sprinkle the pecans over hot caramel. Let cool. Drizzle over the melted semi-sweet chocolate. Let the chocolate cool before cutting.1 cup pecans, ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate
For salted caramels
- Let the caramels cool for 30 minutes, then sprinkle the flaky sea salt over the caramels. Finish cooling and cut.3-4 tbsp flaky sea salt
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below!
I think that Pan might be too big. Too thin. I like the size you used. Makes candy thicker. But I followed the directions. Next time will go smaller and not as hot.
Just got done making these caramels. I did one batch with sea salt and tomorrow I am going to do a batch of regular caramels. Really easy recipe to follow!! Thanks Kaleb for your wonderful delicious recipe!!
Yummo!!!! You are just the Best! I look forward to seeing you! I wish I could just adopt you! Keep doing what you are doing I think you are loved by all! Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎄🍾🥂🇨🇦
I don’t have a heavy bottom saucepan. I have a Dutch oven, will that work?
My grandmother made the best caramels, but I lost her recipe ages ago. We used to make them together in the 1970s. Her recipe had all of these same ingredients as yours; I especially remember the cream, and the vanilla bubbling when she added it. I’d cut the little wax paper squares for her while she cooked the caramel. When cut and ready to wrap, we’d position a perfect pecan half on top of each piece, then wrap them up. She was from central-western Illinois, so maybe your recipe is close to her long lost version. I’m gonna try it and find out!
I adore Caramels and Carmel, California has Lula’s which is super famous for their Caramels. I can’t wait to make your recipe!! I know they will be just as good.
I am a hopeless gardener. Certified black thumbs. Do you know how to get Orchids to re-bloom? I have sa shelf full of pots with leaves. Help!
Judy
I did it! My granddaughter and I made the caramels today! She is 6 and even said it was so easy! Thanks for inspiring me to do something new, having fun and making memories with Libby.
I love your recipes they are so easy and make me look like the beat cook . I swear I’m going to gain 20 but it’s so fun cooking these . Me and my grand daughter are having the beat time thank you so much
Kaleb:
I will be making these this weekend. I love seal salt flakes. I keep them in my kitchen as I use them to top cupcakes and cheesecakes. I hope this turns out. I am excited to share this recipe with my family on Christmas when we have appetizers together.
Merry Christmas, Kaleb to you and your precious family.
Keep sharing the love.
Hello Kaleb! Long time no see! I wish I had time to make everything you most, but when I do, I am never disappointed! Thanks for this recipe! They are going to my work goodie exchange tomorrow! 🙂