How to Make Caramel Candy

Make Caramel Candy in a Few Simple Steps

Caramel's great drizzled over a crisp apple or other tasty treat; but it's also fun to make caramel candy and enjoy it just on its own.

Store-bought caramel candy can be loaded with chemicals, so it's nice to know there's a healthy alternative you can make at home. It's pretty easy to make caramel candy. All you need are a few ingredients you most likely already have. You just need some white sugar, brown sugar, heavy cream (whipping cream), and sea salt. For your tools, you'll need a 3 to 4 quart heavy saucepan, a candy thermometer, spoon, and baking pan to place the caramel candy in for cooling. Any square or rectangular pan will do. You can even use a disposable aluminum pan, which is actually great for cooling the candy quickly. You may want to use cooking spray, parchment paper, or wax paper in the pan to prevent sticking. The paper comes in handy for wrapping individual pieces of candy afterward. When you make caramel candy, it's best to use a saucepan with a heavy bottom so the candy does not heat too quickly and burn.

Here's a helpful candy thermometer that will clip to the side of your saucepan. There are a bunch more on the site.   

Easy Way to Make Caramel Candy

So let's get started! Here's a simple way to make caramel candy that will have you out of your kitchen and enjoying your delicious treats in no time. The ingredients you will need are 2 cups of heavy cream (whipping cream), 1 cup of white sugar, 1 cup of brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons of sea salt. If you are using a convenient candy thermometer that clips to the side of your saucepan, prepare that before you add your ingredients. Make sure your thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pan so you get an accurate reading of the candy's temperature. If it is touching the bottom of the pan, it will be measuring the temperature of the pan's bottom, rather than the candy.

Add both sugars and the salt to your heavy saucepan. The brown sugar may clump together, so just break it down with your spoon and mix the dry ingredients together. A wooden spoon works well for making candy. Next, add the heavy cream. Stir everything together well to ensure the mixture is smooth with no clumps. Now turn on the heat to medium and continue to stir while the combination reaches a boiling point.

When you make caramel candy, it's important to monitor the heat at all times. The candy can boil over, so make sure to watch the pan and lower the heat if necessary. Stir the candy continuously until it reaches a boiling point. It's also important to stir the combination so the sugar does not crystallize on the sides of the pan.

When the candy has begun to boil, remove the spoon and turn the heat down to low so it does not boil over. You may want to turn the heat up a little if you feel it's safe so the candy cooks faster. However, when you make caramel candy, remember to always monitor and adjust the heat to prevent the candy from overflowing. Eventually, the cream will begin to evaporate and the mixture will reach a level at which it will stay. Allow the candy to continue to boil until the temperature on your candy thermometer is 245 degrees Fahrenheit. As it reaches this temperature, you will notice the candy has formed into a thicker, caramel-colored consistency. It will begin to resemble what you envisioned when you began your venture to make caramel candy.

Make Caramel Candy for Family and Friends

Now that your caramel candy is ready, you can begin to prepare it for family and friends. Or just for yourself to enjoy! Maybe a little of both. Pour the candy into a baking pan and allow it to cool for about an hour, maybe an hour and a half. You can just leave the pan at room temperature. If you use a lightweight, disposable aluminum pan; the candy will cool quickly. A heavier type of pan will take longer. Using some cooking spray, parchment paper, or wax paper will allow the candy to be more easily removed from the pan.

Now for the fun part. Flip the caramel candy out of the pan, onto a cutting board. Slice the caramel into strips and then into squares. It will be tempting to sample a few while you do this. If you need a little more leverage while cutting, just spray the knife with some cooking spray. You can cut parchment or wax paper into small squares for wrapping the caramel candies. Place each piece of candy in the center of a paper square, fold the paper over the candy in a rectangular shape, and then twist the ends of the paper to make them stay in place around the candy. Make caramel candy treats to give as gifts, serve at parties, or take with you while you're out and about.

If you're pressed for time or run out of homemade caramel candies, make sure to check out this awesome site where you can easily get your tasty caramel treats. Just click the banner.

Making candy is a great deal of fun. Eating it is even better! Now that you've learned how to make caramel candy, you're bound to be a hit among your family and friends.