Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (2024)

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These Creamy Microwave Caramels couldn’t be more simple! They are so rich and buttery that no one will guess how easy they are to make.

I love making homemade candies over the holiday season. Crispy peanut butter balls, caramel turtles, and homemade toffee are favorites, and they all make great neighbor gifts!

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (1)

My mom and I have started a Christmas tradition of getting together to make goodies to hand out to neighbors. Last Christmas my sister in law joined us, and it was even more fun!

We made a few family favorites, but also tried a few new recipes like these microwave caramels.

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (2)

In the past we’ve made my aunt’s recipe for traditional caramels that requires a lot of stirring over the stove. We decided to try this speedier version to see how they compared.

Honestly, they are so close that I don’t know if I can ever go back to my old recipe. With just six minutes of cooking in the microwave, you have rich and buttery caramels that are simply out of this world!

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (3)

Even if you’ve never made candy before, you should be able to make perfect caramels with this recipe! Cooking the mixture in the microwave takes out so much of the guesswork. Some people like to use a candy thermometer, but I prefer the ice water test. It’s easier to see the exact consistency of your caramels that way.

Just spoon a little bit of caramel into ice cold water and let it sit for a few seconds. When you pull it out, you should be able to roll it into a soft ball that holds its shape but can be molded.

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (4)

How to make microwave caramels:

-The first thing you need to do is prepare your pan so it’s all ready to go when your caramel mixture is ready.

-Next up you melt your butter, then stir in the sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk.

-You cook the mixture for 6 minutes, stirring once. Yep, just once!

-Stir in the vanilla and salt and pour the mixture into your prepared pan.

-Let the caramels set, then cut into rectangles and wrap in waxed paper.

So easy, so very delicious!

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (5)

Can I add nuts or other ingredients to my microwave caramels?

-Absolutely! You can stir in chopped nuts with the vanilla (pecans are our favorite), or you can sprinkle nuts on top after you pour the caramel into the pan. I prefer the sprinkling method, I think it makes for prettier caramels.

-You could also sprinkle chocolate chips or toffee bits on top of the caramel mixture after you pour it into the pan.

Be creative and see what other flavor combinations you can come up with!

What is the best way to store homemade caramels?

Wrap the individual caramels up in waxed paper and store them in an airtight container. A ziplock bag works just fine. I always store mine at room temperature, but you can store them in the refrigerator.

How long will microwave caramels last?

Homemade caramels will last for about 2-3 months at cool room temperature. If you live in a hot and humid place, you may want to store them in the refrigerator.

Love caramel? Check out these recipes:

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (6)Turtles Candy/Easy Caramel Sauce/No Bake Cornflake Cookies

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (7)Caramel Brownies/Caramel Crunch Torte/Rolo Cookies

MORE CANDY RECIPES:

  • English Toffee Recipe
  • Chocolate Mint Candy
  • Brigadeiro Recipe
  • Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls

EASY MICROWAVE CARAMELS

Yield: 4 dozen

Creamy Microwave Caramels

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (8)

These creamy caramels are so easy to make! They are cooked in the microwave and turn out perfect every time!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time6 minutes

Additional Time45 minutes

Total Time1 hour 1 minute

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Butter a square 8" pan, line with parchment. Set aside.
  2. Melt butter in a large glass mixing bowl. Add sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Cook 3 minutes, stir, cook 3 more minutes.
  3. Spoon a bit of the caramel into a cup of ice cold water. If it can be rolled into a soft ball, it's ready.
  4. Stir in the vanilla and salt.
  5. Pour into prepared pan and let sit till completely cooled.
  6. Cut into rectangle or square shaped pieces and wrap in waxed paper.

Notes

Recipe inspired by I Heart Naptime

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 90Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 33mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 1g

Serving size is 2 caramels.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below and pin the recipe to Pinterest!

Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to turn sweetened condensed milk into caramel in microwave? ›

How to make caramel from a tin of condensed milk in a microwave - Quora. It's easy, as long as you have a nice large bowl. Empty a can of condensed milk into a bowl and microwave it for 3 minutes. Take it out, stir it, and do it again, watching carefully.

Can you microwave caramels to melt them? ›

To melt caramels using a microwave, open up a bag of soft caramels, unwrap the individual candies, and place them in a microwave-safe dish. Next, add milk to the bowl, or if you'd like a richer treat, add heavy cream instead. Then, place the bowl in the microwave and heat the caramels on HIGH for 1 minute.

Why do you add cream to caramel? ›

The heat of the caramel will melt the butter and create even more wonderful flavors. Finally, after the butter has melted, we add heavy whipping cream. This will allow the mixture to be loose enough to be used as a sauce.

How do you keep melted caramel from hardening? ›

Just keep the flame low to keep it from going too far. If the temperature gets too hot and the caramel becomes too hard as it cools, you can put it back in the pan with a couple of tablespoons of cold water to try and save it.

Does sweetened condensed milk turn into caramel when cooked? ›

Most of the time, people cook caramel by heating up regular or brown sugar until it turns into a smooth and creamy substance. However, you can also make caramel out of sweetened condensed milk, creating the same great sauce with a unique, extra-sweet kick.

How do you know when caramel is done with condensed milk? ›

Boiling sweetened condensed milk into homemade caramel:

This is the method I have used and works great! The longer you boil it, the darker the caramel gets. I usually boil mine about 3 hours and get a nice golden color. Beat until smooth and then cool completely.

Do you add milk when melting caramel? ›

To melt caramels using a microwave, open up a bag of soft caramels, unwrap the individual candies, and place them in a microwave-safe dish. Next, add milk to the bowl, or if you'd like a richer treat, add heavy cream instead. Then, place the bowl in the microwave and heat the caramels on HIGH for 1 minute.

Does sugar turn into caramel when melted? ›

Caramel is made by heating sugar to the point where it melts, causing a breakdown of sucrose molecules into different flavor compounds. Think about the flavorless sweetness of white granulated sugar and the deep, dark complexity of caramel sauce.

How do you melt soft caramel in the microwave? ›

Combine caramels and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave mixture in 30-second increments, stirring between each increment, until caramels begin to melt, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.

Why is my caramel not creamy? ›

Graininess occurs when the sugar in caramel sauce hasn't completely dissolved before adding in butter and heavy cream or if the caramel is cooled too quickly. Luckily, you can bring grainy caramel sauce back to a smooth, creamy consistency with an easy fix. Simply reheat it on the stovetop and add more liquid.

How do you keep caramel from seizing when adding cream? ›

If too many bits of sugar get stuck to the side of the pan, they will harden and can cause the caramel to seize or become gritty or grainy when you add in the butter and/or the cream. Prevent this by gently swirling the sugar around as it melts, while holding the pan's handle, instead of using a utensil to stir it.

What is the difference in Carmel and caramel? ›

Generally, “caramel” is defined as a chewy, light-brown candy made from butter, sugar, and milk or cream. For example: I love eating caramels because they are soft and chewy. In contrast, “Carmel,” is used as a proper noun, and it is a popular beach town in California, known as Carmel-by-the-Sea.

How do you melt caramel and keep it soft? ›

How to Melt Caramels in the Microwave
  1. Unwrap the individual caramel candies. Place in a microwave safe bowl along with 1 tablespoon of water.
  2. Microwave on high for about 1 minute. Stir until smooth, then heat longer if needed.
Sep 11, 2023

Why is my homemade caramel so hard? ›

This is usually caused by sugar crystals stuck to the side of the pan that didn't get fully dissolved. It only takes one to set off a chain reaction, and before you know it you have crunchy caramel.

Why is my homemade caramel too hard? ›

Your caramel is too hard

It is likely that you took the mixture past the 240° / 120°c stage, which is called the firm ball stage in candy making. You want to make sure that you very carefully measure the temperature of your caramel when you are cooking it.

Can you microwave sweetened condensed milk? ›

Directions. Empty the can into a large (2-1/2 quart or larger) glass bowl, and cover with plastic wrap (cling film), keeping a tiny bit uncovered to prevent excess steam build-up. Microwave on medium power (I used level 5 on a 10-level appliance) for 2 minutes. Remove, stir with a wire whisk, and recover.

What happens when you microwave sweetened condensed milk? ›

After the first two stirs, you'll notice that the milk bubbles and foams up as it expels moisture. Then, with each stirring, the milk will be thicker and more caramel colored. If after the 10 minutes, you like the color and consistency, stop!

How to make caramel from condensed milk without boiling? ›

You're going to simply pour condensed milk into a pie pan or casserole dish. Cover it with foil and place it in a larger pan of water and bake. SO easy! I put my water level about 1/2″ to 3/4″ (depending on your pan) so just check the oven every now and then to make sure the water hasn't evaporated.

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