Caramel

Caramel has been around for centuries, with recipes dating back to the early 1800s. Early recipes were simple, made with just sugar, water and cream. These days, caramel is made with a variety of ingredients, including milk, butter, and even salt.

While the exact origins of caramel are unknown, it is thought to have originated in France. The first recorded recipe for caramel was in 1804, in a French cookbook called Le Cuisinier Impérial. This recipe called for sugar and water to be boiled together, then cream and butter to be added.

Caramel soon became popular in the United States, with recipes appearing in cookbooks from the early 1800s. One of the earliest recipes was for caramel candy, which was made by boiling sugar and water together, then adding cream, butter and vanilla extract.

Advice

Making caramel can be intimidating, but with the right tools and a few simple steps, you can make delicious caramel at home. Start with a heavy-bottomed pan and a candy thermometer. This will help you keep track of the temperature of your caramel and ensure it doesn't burn. Be sure to also have a heat-resistant spatula on hand to stir the mixture. To make caramel, you'll need to heat together a combination of sugar and water, then add butter and cream. When the mixture reaches the desired temperature, it's ready to be removed from the heat and poured into a pan to cool. As you work, it's important to remember to never leave the mixture unattended and to carefully monitor the temperature. With a little practice, you'll be making delicious caramel like a pro in no time.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

 

Bobby Flay’s Salted Caramel Sauce

5/5 - 971 votes

• sugar
• heavy cream
• butter
• salt

 

Easy Caramel Sauce

4.3/5 - 368 votes

• salt
• vanilla extract
• brown sugar
• half
• butter

 

Southern Caramel Cake

4/5 - 1418 votes

• ICING
• butter
• vanilla extract
• buttermilk
• salt
• dark brown sugar
• confectioners sugar
• CAKE
• butter
• buttermilk
• sugar
• vanilla extract
• self rising flour
• egg

 

Chocolate-Caramel Cake with Sea Salt

3.9/5 - 490 votes

• olive oil
• cooking spray
• cake pan
• heavy cream
• light corn syrup
• vanilla extract
• butter
• mayonnaise
• bittersweet chocolate
• salt
• baking powder
• baking soda
• all purpose flour
• egg
• cocoa powder
• sugar
• salt

 

Caramel Chicken

3.9/5 - 446 votes

• white rice
• salt
• chicken broth
• light brown sugar
• rice vinegar
• soy sauce
• vegetable oil
• green onion
• ginger
• chicken leg
• garlic

 

Bourbon–Sea Salt Caramels

3.9/5 - 395 votes

• salt
• cooking spray
• sweetened condensed milk
• butter
• light corn syrup
• salt
• sugar
• bourbon

 

Caramel Chicken

4.7/5 - 177 votes

• salt
• white rice
• coconut
• dark brown sugar
• rice vinegar
• fish sauce
• soy sauce
• butter
• ginger
• garlic
• chicken thigh

 

Salted Caramel Cookies

4/5 - 913 votes

• CARAMEL
• salt
• heavy cream
• caramel
• COOKIES
• light brown sugar
• egg
• vanilla extract
• salt
• all purpose flour
• butter
• baking soda

 

Homemade Caramels

4.87/5 - 384 votes

• butter
• vanilla extract
• light corn syrup
• evaporated milk
• sugar

 

Maple Pecan Caramel Corn

4/5 - 818 votes

• pecan
• maple syrup
• light brown sugar
• popcorn kernel
• salt
• vanilla extract
• baking soda
• oil
• butter

 

Caramel Sauce

4.2/5 - 154 votes

• sugar
• heavy cream
• vanilla extract
• water

 

Coconut Caramels

4/5 - 365 votes

• coconut oil
• ginger
• coconut cream
• salt
• corn syrup
• cardamom
• sugar

 

Spicy Caramel Popcorn

4/5 - 269 votes

• nonstick spray
• salt
• baking soda
• popcorn kernel
• sugar
• butter
• vegetable oil
• cayenne pepper

 

Caramel Sauce

4.1/5 - 59 votes

• sugar
• heavy cream
• vanilla bean
• water

 

Caramel Corn

4.2/5 - 53 votes

• cinnamon
• microwave popcorn
• water
• sugar
• butter

 

Caramel Popcorn

4.99/5 - 65 votes

• brown sugar
• vanilla extract
• butter
• corn syrup
• baking soda
• salt
• popping corn
• vegetable oil

 

Caramelized Shallots

4.7/5 - 46 votes

• preheat degree
• salt
• black pepper
• shallot
• parsley
• red wine vinegar
• sugar
• butter

 

Caramel Popcorn

4.95/5 - 75 votes

• light brown sugar
• baking soda
• salt
• vanilla extract
• butter
• light karo syrup
• popcorn

 

Caramel Apples

4/5 - 185 votes

• sugar
• butter
• vanilla extract
• salt
• light corn syrup
• heavy cream
• treat
• apple

 

Classic French Crème au Caramel

4/5 - 81 votes

• salt
• heavy cream
• sugar
• lemon juice
• milk
• egg
• vanilla extract
• egg yolk

 

Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken

4.88/5 - 125 votes

• water
• eschallot french onion
• red chilli
• shallot
• fish sauce
• brown sugar
• white pepper
• garlic
• rice vinegar
• chicken thigh
• coconut milk

 

Salted Chocolate Covered Bourbon Cider Caramels

3.9/5 - 169 votes

• apple cider
• honey
• butter
• heavy cream
• milk
• vanilla extract
• sugar
• bourbon
• salt

 

Caramel Apples

3.7/5 - 43 votes

• peanut
• heavy cream
• sugar
• vanilla extract
• butter
• light corn syrup
• apple

 

Crockpot Caramelized Onions

4.5/5 - 41 votes

• butter
• onion

 

Coconut Sugar Caramel Corn

4/5 - 109 votes

• coconut palm sugar
• turmeric
• popcorn kernel
• salt
• grapeseed oil
• virgin coconut oil
• butter

 

Caramel Cake

4.3/5 - 31 votes

• all purpose flour
• caramel frosting
• solid vegetable shortening
• vanilla extract
• white cake
• dark brown sugar
• light brown sugar
• milk
• confectioners sugar
• egg
• butter
• butter

 

Caramel Custard

4/5 - 57 votes

• sugar
• milk
• vanilla extract
• water
• nutmeg
• egg
• butter

 

Creme Caramel

4.2/5 - 78 votes

• baccello di vaniglia
• latte intero
• panna fresca liquida
• tuorli
• uovum
• zucchero
• zucchero

 

Caramelized Bacon

4.6/5 - 28 votes

• black pepper
• pecan
• light brown sugar
• applewood smoked bacon
• cayenne pepper
• maple syrup
• salt

 

Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe

4.7/5 - 17 votes

• vanilla extract
• vanilla pod
• salt
• water
• heavy cream
• sugar

 

Tfaya: Moroccan Caramelized Onions With Raisins

4.5/5 - 32 votes

• raisin
• cinnamon
• black pepper
• water
• ginger
• turmeric
• honey
• saffron thread
• salt
• onion
• orange flower water
• butter

 

Burnt-Caramel Custards

4.1/5 - 48 votes

• salt
• whipped cream
• heavy cream
• vanilla bean
• salt
• sugar
• egg yolk

 

Caramel Cake

5/5 - 22 votes

• vanilla extract
• baking powder
• vanilla
• butter
• butter
• evaporated milk
• milk
• sour cream
• salt
• sugar
• cake flour
• egg

 

Caramelized Bacon

4.7/5 - 24 votes

• black pepper
• pecan
• light brown sugar
• applewood smoked bacon
• cayenne pepper
• maple syrup
• salt

 

Salted Caramel Tart

4.93/5 - 51 votes

• brown sugar
• butter
• heavy cream
• salt
• dark chocolate melts chip
• butter
• sweetened condensed milk
• sweet biscuit
• salt

 

Fruit Caramel

4/5 - 84 votes

• sugar
• salt
• heavy cream
• fruit

 

Caramel Brownies

4.1/5 - 25 votes

• dulce de leche
• powdered sugar
• butter
• vanilla
• all purpose flour
• cocoa powder
• sugar
• egg
• chocolate

 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bottomed Salted Rum Caramel Tart with Toasted Marshmallow.

3.9/5 - 100 votes

• all purpose flour
• sugar
• rum
• vanilla extract
• butter
• egg
• vanilla bean
• brown sugar
• heavy cream
• heavy cream
• baking soda
• salt
• tartar of cream
• salt
• dark chocolate
• sweet chocolate chip
• butter
• egg white
• sugar

 

Caramels

4.9/5 - 20 votes

• nonstick spray
• brown sugar
• heavy cream
• maple syrup
• salt
• corn syrup
• sweetened condensed milk
• butter

 

Butter Caramels

3.2/5 - 30 votes

• cream
• water
• sugar
• butter

 

Molten Caramel Cakes

4.5/5 - 27 votes

• SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
• FILLING
• butter
• dulce de leche
• CAKES AND ASSEMBLY
• salt
• vanilla extract
• sugar
• dulce de leche
• baking powder
• egg
• all purpose flour
• butter

 

Salted Butter Caramels

4.4/5 - 29 votes

• cooking spray
• fleur de sel
• vanilla bean
• sugar
• light corn syrup
• heavy cream
• butter

 

Chocolate Butterscotch Caramel Bars

4.3/5 - 22 votes

• nonstick spray
• brown sugar
• baking powder
• butterscotch chip
• chocolate chip
• spanish peanut
• all purpose flour
• oat
• dulce de leche
• butter
• salt

 

Bacon Caramel Popcorn

4/5 - 41 votes

• brown sugar
• pecan
• baking soda
• light corn syrup
• butter
• popcorn
• bacon
• cooking spray

 

Southern Caramel Cake (+Video)

5/5 - 20 votes

• dark brown sugar
• sugar
• light brown sugar
• butter
• vanilla extract
• buttermilk
• butter
• vegetable oil
• baking soda
• salt
• evaporated milk
• heavy cream
• powdered sugar
• baking powder
• all purpose flour
• egg

 

Gluten-Free Thai Crème Caramel

4/5 - 39 votes

• coconut milk
• sugar
• coconut oil
• maple syrup
• pandan essence paste
• egg
• salt

 

Bourbon Caramel Sauce (No Thermometer)

5/5 - 38 votes

• heavy cream
• vanilla extract
• sugar
• water
• bourbon
• butter

 

Easy Baked Caramel Popcorn

5/5 - 13 votes

• brown sugar
• light corn syrup
• butter
• baking soda
• salt
• vanilla extract
• nut
• popcorn

 

Spiced Apple-Caramel Sauce

4.4/5 - 25 votes

• sugar
• heavy cream
• cinnamon
• nutmeg
• allspice
• calvado
• butter

 

Caramelized Pears with Rum Raisin Mascarpone

4.7/5 - 17 votes

• raisin
• mascarpone cheese
• rum
• lemon juice
• butter
• brown sugar
• amaretto cooky
• bosc pear

 

Caramel Sauce

4.3/5 - 16 votes

• corn syrup
• lemon
• sugar
• heavy cream
• water
• butter

 

Chocolate Caramel Brownies

4.6/5 - 14 votes

• nonstick spray
• chocolate chip
• chocolate brownie
• heavy cream
• canola oil
• chocolate milk
• coconut
• egg
• caramel

 

Caramelized Shallots

4.9/5 - 13 votes

• salt
• black pepper
• shallot
• parsley
• red wine vinegar
• sugar
• butter

 

Caramel Apples

3.6/5 - 17 votes

• of
• maple syrup
• heavy cream
• light corn syrup
• light brown sugar
• butter
• apple

 

Caramel Apples

4.6/5 - 13 votes

• sweetened condensed milk
• butter
• dark brown sugar
• dark corn syrup
• maple syrup
• vanilla extract
• apple
• salt
• dark molasses

 

Caramel Apples

3.3/5 - 18 votes

• salt
• nonstick spray
• heavy cream
• vanilla extract
• light corn syrup
• sugar
• butter
• apple

 

Dairy-Free Vegan Caramel Popcorn

4/5 - 26 votes

• dark
• popcorn kernel
• sugar
• salt
• light corn syrup
• olive oil
• baking soda
• vanilla extract
• margarine
• water
• dairy soy margarine

 

Pumpkin-Caramel Tart with Toasted-Hazelnut Crust

4.9/5 - 12 votes

• springform
• whipped cream
• pumpkin
• heavy cream
• all purpose flour
• ginger
• sugar
• hazelnut
• butter
• tartar of cream
• sugar
• light brown sugar
• egg
• cinnamon
• salt

 

Caramel Sauce

3.2/5 - 17 votes

• heavy cream
• water
• sugar

 

Caramelized Onions

5/5 - 14 votes

• salt
• olive oil
• onion

 

French Pork Medallions and Caramelized Apples

4.5/5 - 13 votes

• onion
• pork tenderloin
• clove
• olive oil
• butter
• salt
• black pepper
• apple cider vinegar
• apple
• sage

 

Coffee Crème Caramel

3.9/5 - 25 votes

• lemon juice
• vanilla bean
• lemon zest
• sugar
• coffee bean
• milk
• egg

 

Grandma's Homemade Caramels

4.93/5 - 13 votes

• corn syrup
• butter
• salt
• sweetened condensed milk
• brown sugar
• vanilla extract

 

Crock Pot Caramel Apples

4.5/5 - 12 votes

• butter
• water
• caramel
• apple
• nut

 

Big Batch of Caramelized Onions

3.6/5 - 33 votes

• salt
• thyme
• olive oil
• garlic
• white wine
• onion

 

Caramelized Apples

4/5 - 21 votes

• water
• cornstarch
• cinnamon
• apple cider
• lemon zest
• sugar
• butter
• apple

 

Iced Caramel Macchiato

5/5 - 7 votes

• milk
• caramel sauce
• vanilla syrup
• espresso
• ice

 

Candy Bar Caramel Apples

5/5 - 7 votes

• semisweet chocolate
• caramel candy
• candy bar
• water
• apple
• cooking spray

 

Caramel Corn

3.8/5 - 12 votes

• butter
• cashew
• pecan
• sugar
• water
• corn

 

Earl Grey Caramels

4.5/5 - 11 votes

• vanilla extract
• light corn syrup
• salt
• sugar
• earl grey
• butter
• cooking spray
• salt

 

Homemade Caramel Sauce

4.69/5 - 47 votes

• vanilla extract
• light brown sugar
• evaporated milk
• salt
• water
• butter

 

Spiced Caramel Syrup

4/5 - 31 votes

• ginger
• nutmeg
• black peppercorn
• sugar
• water
• clove

 

Peanut Butter Caramel Pie

4.92/5 - 23 votes

• sweetened condensed milk
• peanut butter
• salt
• butter
• brown sugar
• heavy cream
• cream
• peanut
• milk chocolate chip
• salt
• oreo cooky
• butter

 

Blackberry-Vinegar Caramel Sauce

3/5 - 71 votes

• sugar
• blackberry
• rice vinegar

 

Mini Chocolate Caramel Apples

4/5 - 19 votes

• caramel candy
• dark chocolate
• water
• apple
• nut

 

Cheese and Caramel Popcorn

4.9/5 - 8 votes

• vegetable oil spray
• mustard powder
• salt
• orange cheddar cheese powder
• sugar
• baking soda
• white pepper
• light brown sugar
• light corn syrup
• butter
• butter
• popcorn
• popcorn

 

Sweet and Salty Chocolate Drizzled Cider Caramel Apples.

4.14/5 - 23 votes

• apple cider
• heavy cream
• honey
• dark chocolate
• bourbon
• vanilla extract
• sugar
• butter
• apple

 

Stone Fruit Caramel

4.8/5 - 8 votes

• butter
• stone fruit
• sugar
• vanilla bean paste
• almond extract
• salt
• vinegar

 

The Best Chewy Caramel Corn Plus 5 More to Crunch On

5/5 - 8 votes

• brown sugar
• light corn syrup
• butter
• salt
• popcorn

 

Sweetened Condensed Milk Caramel (Dulce de Leche)

4.94/5 - 16 votes

• sweetened condensed milk

Ingredient Breakdown