What not to do when making caramel?

12 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Caramel Not assembling your ingredients. Juanmonino/Getty Images. ... Choosing the wrong pan. Milanchikov Sergey/Shutterstock. ... Using the wrong sugar. ... Getting the temperature wrong. ... Stirring the sugar too much. ... Forgetting about safety. ... Not heating your liquid. ... Stopping before the sugar browns. More items... Jan 29, 2024

What flavor compliments caramel?

All sorts of caramel twists, including combinations with co*cktail-based flavors, rosemary and sea-salt, cocoa nibs , etc. can bring your caramel creations to the next level and create a more premium perception.

What are the three types of caramel?

There are many different kinds of caramel, including soft caramels, hard caramels, and chewy caramels . Soft caramels are made with a high proportion of milk or cream, which gives them a soft, creamy texture. Hard caramels, on the other hand, are made with very little milk or cream, and have a harder, crunchier texture.

Why do you put vinegar in caramel?

Add acid. Acid ingredients (like vinegar or lemon juice) can help prevent re-crystallization which causes caramel to become grainy . Acid physically breaks the bonds between the glucose and fructose molecules that form sucrose and ensure that it stays apart.

Should you stir sugar when making caramel?

Swirl, don't stir : While slow, deliberate stirring will help the sugar dissolve evenly, you want to stop stirring once it has fully melted.

What makes caramel taste so good?

Sure, there are additional ingredients that add flavor like vanilla extract, butter, and heavy cream, but the real star of the show is the cooked sugar . This means that in order for your caramels to develop a robust flavor, the sugar needs to be cooked until it's deeply caramelized.

What happens if you stir caramel too much?

Stirring the sugar That can set off a chain reaction that can cause caramel to seize up, ruining the entire batch . Instead, gently swirl the pan as you go and use a wet pastry brush to wipe down any sugar that sticks to the sides of the pot. Read up on more tips for preventing crystallization, too.

What does Starbucks use for caramel flavor?

Ingredients : 'SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVOUR CITRIC ACID (E330), PRESERVATIVE: POTASSIUM SORBATE (E202) . '

Why does my caramel taste weird?

The temperature of the caramel can rise so rapidly that it is hard to keep it in the desired temperature range, shown above. As a result, the caramel could burn and taste bitter.

What can you dip in caramel besides apples?

Things to Dip – Apples, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and pretty much any fruit you can think of is going to be delicious here. Pretzels, graham crackers, or cinnamon tortilla chips would also be great.

What are the two methods for making caramel?

There are two basic methods of making caramel – wet and dry ; the basic difference between the two methods being water. Essentially both methods are heating sugar, then adding fat (butter and cream, typically); but the wet uses water to dissolve the sugar faster.

How to prevent sugar from crystallizing when making caramel?

Add an acid : Adding an acid keeps sugar from recrystallizing by breaking down a portion of the sucrose molecules into fructose and glucose molecules. Our Caramel Sauce, for instance, includes cream of tartar as insurance against the sugar crystallizing.

Why shouldn't you stir sugar when making caramel?

Don't stir the pot The reason that caramel turns back into sugar crystals and becomes grainy is because too much moisture has been lost in the cooking process. When sugar is dissolved in water it loses its structure and becomes the liquid that develops into caramel.

Why won't my caramel get hard?

If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough .

30 Irresistible Caramel Recipes You Have To Try (2024)

We are *always* down to try caramelized foods of all sorts — whether savory, sweet, or a little bit of both, there’s just something about toasted sugars that’s, well, oh-so-toasty. Today, we present you with 30 irresistible caramel recipes from around the web that have a sweet caramel element front and center. From cookies to croquembouche, we’ve got you covered in this roundup!

No-Bake Salted Caramel Cheesecake in a Jar

We just love these personal-sized cheesecakes! They are the perfect dessert for your next party — all the heavy lifting, including serving, is done ahead of time, leaving you with more time to mingle with guests. This recipe also works as a tasty, travel-ready treat to take on a camping trip. (via Brit + Co.)

Salted Caramel Bourbon Milkshake

Ice cream, adult chocolate milk, salted caramel sauce, and bourbon are whirled together in a blender to create this sneakily strong milkshake. (via Brit + Co.)

Buttered Caramel Popcorn Cake

Tight-crumbed yellow cake, salted caramel Italian meringue buttercream (so fluffy!), buttery caramel corn, and a salted caramel drizzle combine to create a to-die-for, totally homemade, ridiculously unique cake. (via La Pêche Fraîche)

Chocolate + Salted Caramel Macarons

Chocolate macaron shells sandwich a homemade chocolate and salted caramel ganache filling. Don’t want to mess around with whipped egg whites quite yet? We suspect that the ganache filling would be terrific on its own, eaten by the spoonful! (via Simmer And Boyle)

Caramel Apple French Toast

This stacked breakfast is filled with caramelized apple slices and spiced cream cheese. The finishing touch is not your ordinary maple syrup, but a warm, maple-caramel drizzle instead. (via The Cozy Apron)

Vegan Grilled + Glazed Caramel Ice Cream Sandwich

Cookies are normally bangin' on both sides of a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but this caramel recipe takes things a step further by sandwiching the frozen treat in donut slices. (via The Edgy Veg)

Salty-Sweet Bagels with Ricotta + Caramel Sauce

Don’t these sweet-savory bagels sound out of this world? In place of cream cheese, ricotta is spread atop these homemade bagels along with a honey caramel sauce. (via Australian Gourmet Traveller)

Milk Stout + Sea Salt Caramel Candies

Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake

Caramel and pumpkin work wonders when they're baked together – this cheesecake is proof. (via Amanda Wilens)

Wonton Apple Pies with Caramel Dipping Sauce

What a great change of pace from the usual apple pie. Each wonton is only a few bites, meaning there’s sure to be enough room left to down one or two more of these dipped in a homemade, salted vanilla caramel sauce at the close of a holiday meal! (via NeighborFood)

Toasted Coconut Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes

In case you don't know, caramel and coconut are perfect flavor partners. The two team up in this caramelly recipe that yields bite-sized cupcakes. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Caramel-Stuffed Pumpkin Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

A welcome surprise awaits you inside these pumpkin and pecan oatmeal cookies – in the form of caramel. No raisins here! (via Butterlust)

Salted Caramel Coffee Creamer

Sure, store-bought caramel coffee creamer will do in a pinch, but now you can DIY it to your taste using this recipe! You won't even miss the Starbucks drive-thru. (via Alaska From Scratch)

Apple Pancakes with Caramel-Apple Syrup

Stacks of fluffy, apple cider-laced pancakes are topped with a homemade, caramel apple syrup in this delicious breakfast recipe that'd likely be *just* as good for dessert. (via Taste & Tell)

Caramel-Wrapped Marshmallows

These 100% homemade caramel-marshmallow squares will make a terrific homemade gift for the holidays! (via Not So Humble Pie)

Floating Island Dessert with Caramel + Dulce de Leche

A impressive dessert, the smooth, airy meringue reminiscent of mounds of snow is enveloped in layers of dreamy caramel. Keep this recipe in mind for the next time you have lots of egg whites to use up! (via Vintage Kitchen Notes)

Paleo Pumpkin Caramels

Pumpkin puree, honey, and coconut oil are the only ingredients you need to create these simply delicious, paleo-friendly pumpkin caramels. For a non-paleo version, be sure to check out this recipe, courtesy of the same blog. (via Kitchen Vignettes)

Apple Dumplings with Miso Caramel Sauce

Why not make a gourmet twist on your go-to apple slices and caramel sauce snack? In this case, the crispy dumpling wrappers pair amazingly with a sauce that's elevated with miso! (via Takes Two Eggs)

Gooey Caramel Stuffed Brownies

Take brownies beyond their sub-par potential by infusing each layer with oozing caramel. Trust us, these are worth the bake. (viaA Spicy Perspective)

Salted Chocolate Caramel Tarts

Almost too cute for words, these chocolate, caramel, and, uh, more chocolate confections can be made two ways: handheld or in a large format for slicing and sharing. (via Cakelets & Doilies)

No-Bake Caramel Banana Pie

Crunchy candied walnuts top this decadent banana cream pie off in the most perfect way. Each bite is laced in a caramelly taste – plus, this caramel recipe is no-bake! (via Where Is My Spoon?)

Sweet + Salty Bacon Crack Pie

Intentionally under-baked, sticky caramel oozes out of the custardy center of this pie, made with a crisp bacon-studded oatmeal cookie crust. (via The Moonblush Baker)

Olive Oil + Saffron Ice Cream with Burnt Orange + Caramel Swirl

Each scoop of this homemade ice cream has *so* many layers of flavor packed in – olive oil, saffron, orange, caramel combine to form a totally unique blend. (via Food52)

Caramel Apple Granola Bars

Start your mornings off right with these convenient, make-ahead caramel bars. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Croquembouche (Caramel-Glazed Cream Puffs)

This French dessert may be a classic at weddings, but why not break with tradition and serve it as a show-stopping Christmas centerpiece instead? Each choux pastry puff is filled with creamy custard and enrobed in spun caramel! (via Saveur)

Gluten-Free Ricotta Doughnuts with Bittersweet Chocolate + Salted Caramel Dip

No need to wait around for the yeast to do its magic in these donuts — as soon as the batter’s mixed, fluffy ricotta fritters are dropped into hot oil. Alternate between the two caramel sauces, or combine them for an out-of-this-world treat! (via Girl Cooks World)

Vanilla-Bourbon Ice Cream with Grilled Peach + Caramel Sauce

Dessert time just got a *major* upgrade. The bourbon-infused ice cream in this perfectly caramel recipe is the best match for grilled fruit. (via No Eggs Or Ham)

Candy Bourbon Milkshake

Blend together some vanilla ice cream, homemade bourbon caramel, bourbon, and strong espresso to create a totally fun, yet adult-caliber milkshake. (via Kitchen Konfidence)

Salted Bourbon Caramel Popsicles

If six hours is way too long to wait for these creamy treats, consider picking up a pop maker — it’ll have them ready in a mere fraction of the time! Feel free to swap in your favorite, non-boozy type of caramel sauce for a custom (and more kid-friendly) version. (via Autumn Makes & Does)

Stuffed Caramel Apples with Chocolate Drizzle

It doesn't have to be fall to indulge in a caramel apple. These sweet snacks are ideal for any time you're craving some caramelly crunch! (via The Girl On Bloor)

Tag us in your caramel recipes on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest for more desserts!

This post has been updated.

Header image via Takes Two Eggs

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