Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published December 15, 2018. Updated February 21, 2019

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Caramel is one of my all time favorite treats and this is a foolproof recipe that turns out perfectly! They’re soft and chewy and perfectly buttery with a rich caramel flavor. These make one of the best homemade gifts and no one will know how easy it was for your to make them!

Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (1)

The Easiest Caramel Recipe Ever!

Oh the things you can make in the microwave! Honestlythough, I don’t know if it gets much better than this one, caramel made in the microwave. I got this recipe from my mother-in-law and it is one of my favorite recipes ever!

This is caramel made easy and they taste completely perfect. She’s used this recipe for about 30 yearsand she said everyone she gives the recipe to absolutely loves it and I can see why.

She also said it’s so easy that her kids always used to make it when they were younger (adult supervision required here though people, this bowl gets HOT!). And now my kids love to help me make it, and we’ve been using the recipe for 4 years.

I’ve added a few minor changes to the recipe, like adding some vanilla and adding Maldon sea salt, add them if you’ve got them otherwise feel free to leave them out.

Try a batch this weekend, you’ll be amazed!

Post originally shared Apr. 2014.

Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (2)

Ingredients for Caramel

  • Unsalted butter
  • Light corn syrup
  • Granulated sugar and brown sugar
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Salt
  • Vanilla

Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (3)

How to Make Caramels

  • Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish.
  • Place butter in a large microwave safe bowl (not anything plastic, something micro safe glass or ceramic), heat in microwave until melted.
  • Add corn syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and salt and whisk mixture very well. R
  • Return to microwave and cook mixture on HIGH power for 6 to 7 minutes (some have even mentioned 5.5 worked for them).
  • Using hot pads, carefully remove bowl from microwave. Mix in vanilla.
  • Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
  • Let set in refrigerator then cut into pieces and wrap.

Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (4)

Tips for This Recipe

  • Use unsalted butter, salted butter will splatter.
  • Test caramel at 6 minutes instead of going to the full 7 minutes. To do so test with a candy thermometer (should be 238 – 242d) or you can drop a small spoonful in ice water and after just a bit is should be pliable and chewy.

My first batch was too hard because I went the full 7 minutes, the time will vary based on your microwave wattage and the how large the bowl is you’re using.

Can you believe it though, caramels made in 7 minutes in the microwave!? Trust me, I’m hanging onto this recipe forever, and I’m thinking you will too!

Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (5)

More Easy Treats and Desserts to Try!

  • Easiest Fudge
  • Microwave Peanut Brittle
  • Christmas Crunch
  • One Santa Cookie
  • Hot Chocolate

Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (6)

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (7)

4.96 from 62 votes

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Microwave Caramels

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A super easy foolproof recipe for homemade caramels! They're soft and chewy and perfectly buttery with a rich caramel flavor. These make one of the best homemade gifts and no one will know how easy it was for your to make them!

Servings: 40 caramels

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Place butter in a large microwave safe bowl (that is microwave safe to high temps such as heavy duty glass**), heat in microwave until melted.

  • To bowl with butter, add corn syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and salt and whisk mixture very well.

  • Return to microwave and cook mixture on HIGH power for 6 to 7 minutes.***

  • Using hot pads, carefully remove bowl from microwave. Add in vanilla extract and mix well.

  • Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, sprinkle top lightly with Maldon sea salt or fleur de sel if using.

  • Place in refrigerator until set, about 20 - 30 minutes. Cut into rectangular pieces (I cut into rows slightly less than 1/2-inch then cut each row into three) and wrap in cut rectangles of wax paper.

Notes

  • *Don't use salted butter or it will splatter a lot.
  • **For safety I recommend referring to the bowls manufacturer to ensure the bowl is microwave safe to high temperatures. For safety avoid setting on a cold surface after removing from the microwave and be sure that you don't begin with a cold bowl or it could shatter.
  • ***I recommend taking it out around 6 and testing either with a candy thermometer which should register between 238 - 242 degrees or placing a small spoon of the caramel in a bowl of ice water then remove it from the water and it should have formed a small pliable ball - nothing too soft or too hard.
  • ***If it needs a little more time return to microwave and heat in 20 second increments. Mine was done at 6 minutes 20 seconds but will will vary slightly based on the wattage of your microwave and the size of the bowl you use.
  • Recipe from my mother-in-law, thanks Jill!

Nutrition Facts

Microwave Caramels

Amount Per Serving

Calories 78Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 13mg4%

Sodium 14mg1%

Potassium 15mg0%

Carbohydrates 8g3%

Sugar 8g9%

Vitamin A 150IU3%

Vitamin C 0.1mg0%

Calcium 12mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Treat

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Caramel, Microwave Caramels

Author: Jaclyn

Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (8)

Categorized:

  • Desserts
  • Treats and Snacks

Tagged:

  • brown sugar
  • butter
  • sea salt
  • sugar
  • sweetened condensed milk
  • vanilla extract

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415 Comments

  • Kailey Larsen

    So DELICIOUS!! I needed a quick recipe to make caramel for dipping apples in. I cooked it for 5:15 minutes and it came out perfect as a soft dipping caramel sauce. I used salted butter and just covered it With a paper plate as it cooked. I did t add the salt or the vanilla (because I forgot) and it was still amazing. Thank you!!

  • Janin

    I have made this recipe for 2 years and it is always foolproof. I cook mine for 6 minutes 20 seconds. I also add the mixture right into the buttered 8×8 glass pan and cook it right in the pan. Take it out and let it cool on the counter for about 2 hours before cutting. Perfect! this year I had purchased clear candy wrapping paper from Amazon and they looked beautiful and professional. They didn’t stick either. I am going to experiment with adding chocolate sometime this year and will get back to you about the results. Thanks for an easy recipe that tastes like a million bucks!

  • Ana

    I’ve made this several times and love it. Last time, we didn’t wrap them…just cut them as we were eating. Lazy, but it works since only our family was eating it. :-) I do use salted butter, I just microwave it on very low power until it’s melted then continue.

  • Maureen Haddock

    Jaclyn, I made your Microwave Caramels and my husband says they are better than his favourite toffee by MacIntosh. I am allergic to soy and can’t use premade baking toffee chips in cookies. Yesterday I chopped up these caramels and added that to my cookies, and, oh my…, the results were mouthwatering. I plan to blog about this entire story. Please thank your mother-in-law for me.

  • Jeanette

    Excellent recipe. I followed your suggestion for 6 minutes and 20 seconds and that was perfect…spot on.

    No problem wrapping at all. Make the wax paper long enough and don’t twist so tight or so close to the caramel.

    My go to recipe for caramels from here on in.

  • Dorothy

    As others have said, this recipe is simply perfect. Almost embarrassing how anyone who tries one can’t stop raving about them. My only problem is the wrapping. Very tough to do without ripping the paper. Any suggestions?

    • Jaclyn

      Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (13)

      If it’s those tootsie roll edges that are tearing maybe try not to wrap the edges so closely, twist a little ways away from the caramel. You could also try a different brand of wax paper and maybe that will help. So glad you liked them though :)!

    • Mischelle

      I bought pre-cut 4 1/2” x 5 1/2” wax paper for twisting around candies. I bought it at either Hobby Lobby or JoAnns! Perfect size.

    • Karen W

      I would love to make a mocha version – could I just add some chocolate and powdered espresso after it cooks?

      • Jaclyn

        Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (14)

        With many chocolate caramels it’s usually chopped chocolate that’s added at the beginning or mid cooking. It may take a bit of testing to see how it works out. Espresso powder should be fine to add at the end.

        • Karen W

          Thank you!

  • Kim Allen

    I was looking for a nice, easy food gift to be a part of my larger gift to friends and I found my way to this recipe. First, this was so easy to bring together. I sprayed an 8×8 aluminum pan, added parchment paper, and sprayed again to make clean up that much easier since I’ve never worked with caramel before. (I was afraid it was going to be sticky.) Second, I’m absolutely addicted to this stuff! I’m making more tonight for co-worker gifts and will be making a second batch just for my son and me. Oh gosh, I guess I need to do a third batch for family on Christmas Day! I’m not sure I can be trusted to not eat it all before then! It’s that delicious!

  • Sue

    I used 1/2 recipe to make chewy walnut brittle ( not exactly brittle). Cooked for 3 minutes to bare temp on the thermometer. Perfect!

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Easiest Caramels Recipe (Microwave Version) - Cooking Classy (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.

How do you make Ina Garten caramel? ›

Directions
  1. Mix the water and sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Do not stir. ...
  2. Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until the caramel dissolves and the sauce is smooth, about 2 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature, at least 4 hours.

Can I melt Kraft caramels in the microwave? ›

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 homemade caramel so hard? ›

This is usually caused by sugar crystals stuck to the side of the pan that didn't get fully dissolved. It only takes one to set off a chain reaction, and before you know it you have crunchy caramel.

How long does it take for condensed milk to turn to caramel? ›

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.

Which method is quickest in caramel making? ›

Dry caramel is quicker to make than wet caramel, but it's also trickier: Without additional liquid, the sugar can caramelize very quickly, burning before you realize it. Using moderate heat, as Mel suggests, can help safeguard against burning, as can vigilance: Don't walk away from the pan once you've started.

How to make caramel Jamie Oliver? ›

Sprinkle 100g of the sugar into a non-stick frying pan, add 3 tablespoons of water and place on a medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until you've got a chestnut brown caramel – don't be tempted to stir or taste it, just gently swirl the pan occasionally. Quickly and carefully divide the caramel between the ramekins.

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.

What happened to Kraft caramels? ›

In a deal that touches the taste buds of several generations, Kraft Foods Inc. will sell the business that makes its familiar cube-shaped caramels. An investment group made up of Texas Pacific Group of Fort Worth and InterWest Partners of Menlo Park, Calif. will buy the Kraft caramel and marshmallow businesses.

Do Werther's caramels melt? ›

Absolutely! Werther's Original Soft Crème and Chewy Caramels are ideal for baking. You can also use Soft Éclair Caramels for that caramel chocolate flavour profile. Just melt on medium low heat, add a little milk or cream until you get the consistency you want.

Why does my homemade caramel taste bad? ›

You're Not Watching the Pot and the Syrup Got Too Dark

Caramel isn't one of those things you can set and forget—once the sugar starts to brown, the caramelization process happens quickly. If you're not careful, the sugar can burn and take on a bitter, unpleasant taste.

Should you stir sugar when making caramel? ›

Sometimes other ingredients are included, like corn syrup or water. Either way, once the crystals are melted, they do not want to be agitated. Instead of stirring, you gently swirl the melted sugar around in the pan to keep it moving and avoid burn spots.

Is it okay to 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.

What happens when you microwave sweetened condensed milk? ›

After the first two stirs, you'll notice that the milk bubbles and foams up as it expels moisture. Then, with each stirring, the milk will be thicker and more caramel colored. If after the 10 minutes, you like the color and consistency, stop!

How to make caramel from condensed milk without boiling? ›

Making Dulce de Leche in the Oven
  1. Preheat your oven to 425 F (218 C). Open a can of sweetened condensed milk and pour the contents into a nine-inch pie plate. ...
  2. Place the pie plate in a larger baking dish. ...
  3. Bake for one hour. ...
  4. Check every 15 minutes. ...
  5. Transfer to a mixing bowl.

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.

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