salted caramels
What do you gift the person who has it all? A nice box of salted caramels, of course! The best gifts are handmade with love; a little effort on your part (and a candy thermometer) will result in a batch of soft and creamy caramels that you may find so tempting that it’s a struggle to part with them.
Flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, and honey (these caramels are corn syrup-free!), each bite is utterly balanced, caramel perfection. A shower of flaky salt is a must, especially if you’re equally smitten with all things salty-sweet.
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- flaky salt
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Combine heavy cream, butter, vanilla bean and seeds, cinnamon, and salt in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Once mixture boils, immediately remove from heat and set aside.
- Combine honey and sugar in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat and heat to 280°F. Stir just at the beginning with a heatproof spatula; stop stirring once sugar begins to melt. When the sugar mixture reaches 280°F, carefully strain heavy cream mixture through a fine mesh strainer into it (stand back; the ingredients will bubble and spatter). Continue to cook mixture until it reaches 250°F.
- Pour the caramel into prepared pan and let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes; top with flaky salt. Place uncovered pan in the refrigerator and cool for 2 hours to set. Lift parchment to remove caramel from pan and place on a cutting board. Spray a sharp knife with nonstick spray and trim any ragged edges; cut into 30 caramels. Wrap caramels individually in wax paper and store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 weeks.
Notes
Adapted from Leite’s Culinaria
Nutrition
- Calories: 90
- Carbohydrates: 14
Keywords: Caramels, Salted Caramels, Candy
More salted caramel recipes you’ll love:
Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bars
Caramel Pecan Oatmeal Creme Pies
25 comments
I love homemade caramels! I need to make a batch soon!
I think caramels are the perfect gift. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy receiving them. So lovely!
Indeed these would make the perfect gift. Must get a candy thermometer x
Homemade caramels, nothing better and these look amazing!
I would not mind receiving THIS gift! In fact, I deserve it!! 😉
They are gorgeous!
These are stunning! What a lovely gift!
PERFECT! This technique is different from the one I use…I’ll have to try it 🙂
Right you are! I can’t imagine a better home-made gift. The addition of honey is very appealing!
Perfect gift!
these caramels are SO gorgeous, Laura! mine have never (and probably will never) come out this perfect. love!! 🙂
These are the best looking caramels I’ve seen Laura! Love the sound of the flavours together too as well as the sprinkling of salt 😀
Thank you my dear, you are too kind! 🙂
Delicious!! Love the fact that you used honey! xoxo
Oh my! What a huge collection of lovely yumminess I just found here!! I feel terrible, I have been baking like crazy over the last week and my list just got much longer!! 🙂 Love your pictures, and I really really need to make these caramels like now!?! 🙂
Such GORGEOUS caramels!! Perfection, Laura!
You are a legend, Laura!
These look so perfect!
Wow, these are beauties! Perfectly salt sprinkled. 🙂
Love that these are corn syrup free! They are beautiful and look so professional.
Yes! Homemade caramels are the perfect gift for someone who has it all. I love that you included cinnamon here, how delicious!
I agree!! homemade gifts are the best!!! Shows that you care and put time into the gift! ok, I seriously need a candy thermometer. . like now!! These salted caramels look amazing!! Happy holidays!!
The best. I wish someone would give me a box – make that a crate! – of these.
Absolutely stunning, per usual. Pinned!
Such a perfect holiday gift.
Oh my! How did I miss this one? These look fabulous. I love caramels. They are my favorite candies.