Microwave Caramels

Perfect every time, these microwave caramels couldn’t get much easier! A few minutes of hands on time and you have caramel candy that tastes like you bought it at a fancy candy store.

If you love making homemade candy, make sure to check out all of my other candy recipes!

Caramel candy is my nemesis.

I can’t say no. I can’t turn away.

You know those homemade looking caramels that you can sometimes find by the checkout at the grocery store? Even though I know they are never as good as homemade, I have a hard time resisting them.

And I’m no stranger to homemade caramels. I have a Homemade Caramel Candy recipe that I’ve been using for years. And it is such a good recipe and those caramels are delicious. But they require a candy thermometer. And a careful eye. And I get that sometimes that can be super intimidating.

That is why these Microwave Caramels are so good. And good for any skill level.

It really doesn’t get much easier than this recipe. Only a few minutes of hands on time, a few minutes in the microwave, and then all you have to do is have the patience for the caramels to set up. That really is the hardest part!

These are perfect for the holidays or for gift giving, or really even if the craving hits!

Ingredients

• Butter: I like to use unsalted butter so I can control the amount of salt that goes into the recipe.
• Corn Syrup: I use light corn syrup.
• Sugars: You’ll need both granulated and brown sugars for this recipe.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Make sure you are using sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk!
• Salt: A bit of salt is important to balance the sweetness. I actually like to add a little bit extra salt for more of a salted caramel.
• Vanilla: The vanilla gives the caramels flavor.

How to Make Microwave Caramels

1. Prep your pan. I like to line the baking dish with two pieces of parchment paper. I do like to spray the whole thing with nonstick cooking spray so that the caramel doesn’t stick to the corners.
2. In a large bowl, melt the butter. Make sure to use a large bowl because the caramel will bubble up some.
3. Remove the butter from the microwave and stir in the corn syrup, sugar, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and salt. Microwave on high for 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 minutes. (See the tips below to determine how long to cook the mixture.)
4. Remove from the microwave (be careful – it’s hot so you’ll want to use hot pads). Stir in the vanilla.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Let it sit until the caramels have set up.
6. Once set up, use the paper to remove the caramels from the dish and then use a sharp knife to cut the caramels.

Tips and Tricks

Every microwave will cook a little differently, so you may need to make a few batches until you find what works perfect for your microwave. I have a 1200 watt microwave, and the first time I tried 6 1/2 minutes. The caramels were delicious, but more chewy than soft. My sweet spot is 5 minutes 45 seconds for a caramel that is soft but still keeps its shape.

These are easiest to cut with a sharp knife. If the knife is sticking, try spraying the knife with a bit of nonstick cooking spray.

I wrapped mine in cut pieces of wax paper, but you can buy specialty wrappers online. These are perfect if you are giving these as gifts!

Store the caramels at room temperature in an airtight container. I would suggest wrapping them before storing, as they will stick together if not wrapped. Stored properly, they should last at least 2 weeks. (Although they never last more than 24 hours at my house because my kids and their friends eat them all!)

Make it Your Own

If you like salted caramel, add a bit of finishing salt to the top of the caramel before it sets.

Add toasted, chopped nuts to the caramel mixture.

Dip the caramels in chocolate.

More Candy Recipes

Shaggy Dog Candy Recipe
Cranberry Pistachio Fudge
Cherry Nut Chocolates
Eggnog Truffles
Homemade Junior Mints
Buckeye Candy