These Easy Microwave Caramels are buttery and soft and made in just 7 minutes in the microwave. This is the easiest way to make this homemade candy!
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Why This Recipe Works
Buttery, sweet, and gooey caramels made in the microwave in just 7 minutes. Say what? Simply melt butter, add white and brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and corn syrup, and cook in the microwave. The result: perfect, golden, gooey, and buttery caramels you ever had!
These Easy Microwave Caramels are quite easy to make and totally irresistible! You can wrap them in wax paper for a sweet treat anytime, dip them in chocolate and dress up with sprinkles for a festive holiday platter, or hide them inside a cookie dough ball before baking! Either way, these caramels are bound to be a hit!
Ingredients:
- unsalted butter: gives the caramels a rich and smooth flavor;
- sugar: I use white and brown for rich flavor;
- corn syrup: I recommend the clear one; dark corn syrup has more of a molasses flavor;
- sweetened condensed milk: makes caramels creamy and soft;
- salt: any type works; sea salt pairs very well with caramel;
- vanilla extract: adds delicious flavor to this simple candy.
Tools You'll Need:
- 8" square baking pan
- parchment paper
- wax paper
- microwave-safe bowl
- wooden spoon or spatula
How to make microwave caramels?
- Start by lining your baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper. Set aside, so it's ready as soon as the caramel mixture is done.
- Make sure the bowl you will be making the caramels in is microwave safe and clean and dry. Place butter (chopped into tablespoon-size pieces) in the bowl and microwave for 1 minute. It will be almost all melted. Add remaining ingredients and stir well.
- Place mixture in a bowl into the microwave and cook for 2 minutes. Stir well. Set timer to cook for 4 minutes, but stop it every minute to stir the mixture. It will bubble up and rise up in the bowl, so stir it until it calms down. Once done, carefully remove the bowl with caramel from the microwave and pour into prepared pan. Let cool completely in room temperature.
- Once the caramel is cooled, lift up the parchment paper and set on a cutting board. Slice caramel into squares and wrap each one individually. If you keep them all together unwrapped, they will stick together and get messy.
Helpful Tips!
- Plan ahead: make sure nothing will be distracting you (phone, kiddos, laundry, etc.). We are dealing with a hot sugar mixture here that you need to watch and stir every minute.
- Prep: make sure your 8" square pan is lined with parchment paper and ready before you start microwaving the mixture. Once the caramel is done, pour it carefully into the pan, smooth out, and let cool completely.
- Parchment paper: line your 8" square pan with it for easy removal. Once the caramel cools, lift it out of the pan, place on a cutting board and slice with a knife into small squares. Each one will easily come off the parchment and will be ready for wrapping.
- No need to pull out the bowl out of the microwave, just hold it with one hand (in a kitchen mitten since the bowl will be hot!) so it won't be turning around and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until the bubbling stops and the mixture falls a little bit. Be careful while handling the mixture. The bowl and the caramel will be very hot!
- Use real unsalted butter (no margarine, Imperial spread, etc.): real butter won't splatter and it will make the caramels buttery and delicious.
How to wrap homemade caramels?
This recipe makes 100 pieces if you cut the cooled caramel into 1" x 1/2" pieces. Cut wax paper into 4" x 3" pieces and wrap each piece of caramel, rolling it into a 2" x 1/4" candy. See the photo below for visual help.
Recipe FAQs:
Caramels can be stored at room temperature and stay well for a few weeks. You can keep them in the fridge or freezer for up to 3 months. I highly recommend wrapping them in wax paper. This way they won't stick together.
Corn syrup prevents the caramel mixture from becoming grainy. Without it, candy syrup will crystalize. If you
Absolutely! Double the ingredients and use 2 square pans or one 13" by 9" pan.
More candy recipes:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Easy Microwave Caramels
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line an 8″ square baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper. Set aside, so it’s ready as soon as the caramel mixture is done.
- Make sure the bowl you will be making the caramels in is microwave safe and clean and dry. Place butter (chopped into tablespoon-size pieces) in the bowl and microwave for 1 minute. It will be almost all melted. Add white and brown sugar, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk and salt and stir well.
- Place mixture in a bowl into the microwave and cook for 2 minutes. Stir well. Set timer to cook for 4 minutes, but stop it every 1 minute and 30 seconds to stir the mixture. It will bubble up and rise up in the bowl, so stir it until it calms down.
- Once done, carefully remove the bowl with caramel from the microwave, stir in vanilla extract and pour mixture into prepared pan. Let cool completely in room temperature.
- Once the caramel is cooled, lift up the parchment paper and set on a cutting board. Slice caramel into squares and wrap each one individually.
Notes
- No need to pull out the bowl out of the microwave, just hold it with one hand (in a kitchen mitten since the bowl will be hot!) so it won’t be turning around and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until the bubbling stops and the mixture falls a little bit. Be careful while handling the mixture. The bowl and the caramel will be very hot!
- To wrap caramels in wax paper: This recipe makes 100 pieces if you cut the cooled caramel into 1″ x 1/2″ pieces. Cut wax paper into 4″ x 3″ pieces and wrap each piece of caramel, rolling it into a 2″ x 1/4″ candy.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
Rowen Schwartz says
do we need the corn syrup for the carmels becuse I don´t have anymore?
Carol says
How do the varying wattages of different microwave ovens affect this recipe? My microwave ocean is only 900 watts. Would I need to increase the overall time?
Becki says
I too have a low wattage microwave and have made this recipe numerous times and they always come out perfectly. Just cook at full power (high) for around 5 minutes, stopping every 1 minute and 30 seconds to stir.
Beau says
It would be even better to know at which setting the microwave should run...
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Mine is always set to HIGH. I hope this helps!
Terri Moen says
Just made these today for the first time. Easy to prepare and set up just perfectly. The microwave recipe is genius. I will definitely make these again; everyone loved them!!! Thank you 😋😍
Kimberly says
THIS is what I need....quick, easy, fuss-free and totally delicious! Awesome!
Krista says
I have to get these made for the Holidays! My family would love to have them!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Awesome! Thanks, Krista!
Dee says
So easy and delicious! I've gotta make these for myself!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
I hope you love them, Dee!
Erin says
These would disappear in our house!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thanks, Erin!
Chrissie Baker says
Cannot believe how easy and delicious this recipe is. I am so excited to have found it! Thank you!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
I am so happy to know you love it, Chrissie!
Lora says
These are so easy to make and what a great Christmas gift idea!!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Exactly! So easy and delicious!
Melanie Bauer says
Looks awesome! I love how easy to make this, definitely making this yummy recipe!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thanks, Melanie!
Lisa says
I made these and was pleasantly surprised! I do think they are just a tad bit soft so am refrigerating them before I cut into pieces.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Awesome! Let me know what you think when you taste them, Lisa! Thank you!
Jennifer says
I can't believe how easy these are to make! Perfection!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Right? Thank you, Jennifer!
Sabrina says
These are so good! I'm making another batch this weekend to give away to friends and neighbors.
Jamielyn says
Doesn't get easier than this! Such a classic Christmas candy!
Tara says
So chewy and luscious, and I love that I can use the microwave!
Allyson Zea says
I had no idea you could do this in the microwave!!!
Becky Hardin says
I love how easy these are to make! Nothing better then a soft chewy caramel candy! Yum!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Absolutely! They are so buttery and gooey!