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

Can you turn condensed milk into caramel in the 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 is my microwave caramel lumpy? ›

A note about sugary or grainy caramels: If you find that your caramels are sugary or grainy, it is because sugar crystals were reintroduced to the caramel candy after it was cooked. The uncooked sugar causes sugar crystal regrowth in the finished product.

How do you caramelize sugar in the microwave? ›

-In a microwave-safe dish, add the sugar and water but don't stir! Place into the microwave for 3 minutes… being sure to stop every 30 seconds (still don't stir!) Once the sugar mixture is lightly golden, stop microwaving (this may need an extra 30 secs-1 minute).

Does sweetened condensed milk turn into caramel when cooked? ›

This is how to make sweetened condensed milk caramel: Place sealed cans of sweetened condensed milk in slow cooker, fill slow cooker with water, slow cook on low for 8 hours. Output: Perfectly smooth, no stir, thick, deep flavoured caramel sauce. It's incredible!

Can I use condensed milk instead of heavy cream for caramel? ›

Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Place can of condensed milk, unopened, in the boiling water. Cover and let simmer for 3 hours, refilling water as needed and turning the can every half hour to prevent scorching. Carefully open can and serve.

Do you add milk when melting caramel? ›

The key to getting it right is to use soft caramels as opposed to hard. You must also add some sort of liquid, such as milk or cream, to prevent the caramels from drying out. Knowing these tricks will help you to melt caramels with ease.

Can I melt Werther's hard caramels? ›

Instructions. Melt Werther's Original Caramels with half and half, salt and vanilla in medium saucepan over medium heat until smooth, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately with assorted fruit, cookie, pretzels, marshmallows, nuts or cubed pound cake.

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.

Why did my caramel seize when I added cream? ›

Why Did My Caramel Seize? 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.

What thickens caramel? ›

Thicken the sauce with cornstarch.

Pour the cornstarch mixture into your pot caramel sauce, and stir constantly. Keep the sauce on low heat until it begins to thicken. Then remove the sauce from the stove and let it cool.

How to stop caramel from crystallizing? ›

Adding a little lemon juice or corn syrup also helps prevent crystalli... | Caramel Recipe | TikTok.

How long does it take to melt caramel in the microwave? ›

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

Is it OK to microwave brown sugar? ›

To quickly soften brown sugar: place the sugar in a microwave safe bowl and cover it with a damp paper towel for about 20 second, or use a food processor to loosen the brown sugar. If you aren't pressed for time, use a slice of bread or an apple in an airtight container with the brown sugar for 24 hours.

Can I microwave 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.

Is it safe to heat sweetened condensed milk in the can? ›

Is it safe to boil my can of sweetened condensed milk to make caramel sauce? No. For safety reasons, we do not recommend heating a can of our condensed milk, opened or unopened. The current can is not designed to withstand high temperatures.

What does condensed milk turn into when heated? ›

Dulce de Leche is a heavenly substance. At first glance, it looks a little like caramel, but it's actually sweetened milk that's been heated long enough to cause a caramelizing to occur. That's the long-winded explanation, so here's the short one: It's creamy, dreamy substance used as an ingredient in so many desserts.

What happens if you whisk condensed milk? ›

Can condensed milk be whipped like cream? Yes, condensed milk can be whipped to create a creamy, fluffy texture similar to whipped cream.

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