Soft and Chewy Caramel Candy Recipe

Soft Caramels
(c) Elizabeth LaBau
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 32 servings

These soft caramels have a creamy, chewy texture that melts in your mouth and never sticks to your teeth. They are delicious on their own, dipped in chocolate, or used in other baked goods. For the best texture, allow the caramels to sit at room temperature overnight to fully set up.

Don't miss the photo tutorial with step-by-step pictures showing how to make caramels

Try using these delicious caramels to make caramel-wrapped pretzel rods!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy cream

  • 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

  • 2 cups light corn syrup

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened and cut into small cubes

Steps to Make It

  1. Prepare a 9 x 9-inch pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

  2. Combine the cream and condensed milk in a small saucepan, and place the saucepan on a burner set to the lowest heat setting. You want the milk and cream to be warm, but do not allow it to boil.

  3. In a medium-large saucepan combine the corn syrup, water, and granulated sugar over medium-high heat. Stir the candy until the sugar dissolves, then use a wet pastry brush to wash down the sides of the pan to prevent sugar crystals from forming and making the candy grainy.

  4. Insert a candy thermometer and reduce the heat to medium. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and cook until the thermometer reads 250 F.

  5. Add the softened butter chunks and the warm milk-cream mixture. The temperature should go down about 30 degrees.

  6. Continue to cook the caramel, stirring constantly so that the bottom does not scorch. Cook it until the thermometer reads 244 F, and the caramel is a beautiful dark golden brown.

  7. Remove the caramel from the heat and immediately pour it into the prepared pan. Do not scrape candy from the bottom of the saucepan. Allow the candy to sit overnight to set up and develop a smooth, silky texture.

  8. When you are ready to cut the caramel, place a piece of waxed paper on the counter and lift the caramel from the pan using the foil as handles. Flip the top of the caramel onto the waxed paper and peel the foil layer from the bottom of the caramel.

  9. Spray a large knife with nonstick cooking spray. Firmly cut into the caramels, creating 1-inch squares. Wipe the blade and re-spray as necessary.

  10. Wrap the squares in waxed paper. The caramels will gradually spread and lose their square shape if not wrapped soon after cutting. Alternatively, you can dip them in chocolate once they are cut.

  11. Store the caramels at room temperature for up to two weeks.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
200 Calories
9g Fat
32g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 32
Amount per serving
Calories 200
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 6g 28%
Cholesterol 26mg 9%
Sodium 46mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 32g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 33mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)