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Grandma's Homemade Caramels

If you can stir, you can make Grandma’s Homemade Caramels! These are soft, chewy, and so easy to make. We’ve even included instructions on how to make caramels without a candy thermometer!

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 117 caramels
Calories: 48 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 (14 ounce can) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Butter a 9x13 pan well to coat. Set aside
  2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, pour in sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup, and brown sugar.
  3. Use a rubber spatula to stir the mixture constantly over medium heat until it starts to simmer, scraping the sides and bottom regularly.
  4. Once simmering, continue at a constant simmer, stirring constantly until caramel reaches the softball stage of 235 and 245 F, with higher elevations using the lower temperature range, and lower elevations using the upper end of the range.
  5. At the soft-ball stage, immediately remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt. Pour caramel into the prepared 9x13 pan.
  6. Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Wrap in pieces of wax paper for individual servings if desired.

Notes

  • Don't have a candy thermometer? You can determine if your caramel is ready the old fashioned way! Fill a drinking glass or bowl with cold water. Add in just a drop of the caramel from the pan on the stove. For the soft-ball stage, the caramel should form a small round ball in the cold water, then when it is removed, it should flatten. 
  • Serving size is based on cutting caramels into 1-inch squares. A 9x13-inch pan will produce approximately 117 1-inch squares. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1piece Calories 48kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 8g (3%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 5mg (2%) Sodium 12mg (1%) Potassium 18mg (1%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 58IU (1%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 14mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 117caramels

Amount Per Serving

Calories 48

% Daily Value*

Serving 1piece
Calories 48kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 8g 3%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 12mg 1%
Potassium 18mg 0%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 58IU 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.