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Mom’s Homemade Caramels

These homemade caramels are a Christmas tradition. They make your house smell amazing and they taste like Christmas to our family.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 100 pieces
Calories: 67 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter NOT margarine
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups Karo syrup

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine all ingredients in a large pan. 
  2. Stir and bring to a boil and continue boiling until the candy thermometer reaches 240 degrees. 
  3. Pour into a large, greased cookie sheet and cool. 
  4. Once cooled, cut into bite-size squares and wrap in wax paper.

Notes

  • We recommend using a candy thermometer for this recipe, but if you don't have a candy thermometer or are just old-school, you can always do the "soft ball stage test" or the "cold water test". Using a clean spoon, carefully take a little of the cooked caramel from the saucepan and drop it into the bowl of very cold water. Reach into the bowl with your hands and see if the caramel can be molded into a softball. If it's pliable and soft, the caramel has reached the softball stage (234 – 240 degrees F).
  • If your caramels are too soft, that means they didn’t get up to the correct temperature. It needs to be 240 degrees F before removing it from the pan. You can place the caramel back in the pan and re-heat it to bring it up to temperature if needed.
  • For salted caramels, try stirring a splash of vanilla extract in with the caramel before pouring it into the baking dish. Then, sprinkle some pink Hawaiian sea salt or coarse Kosher salt over the top after you have poured it into the pan and it has cooled for about 15 minutes. That way the salt will stick to the top and not get absorbed into the caramel.

Nutrition Information

Calories 67kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 9g (3%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 11mg (4%) Sodium 22mg (1%) Potassium 4mg (0%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 127IU (3%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 5mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 100pieces

Amount Per Serving

Calories 67

% Daily Value*

Calories 67kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 22mg 1%
Potassium 4mg 0%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 127IU 3%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 5mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

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