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)

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This post has been updated.

Header image via Takes Two Eggs

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FAQs

Is caramel just melted sugar? ›

Caramel is made by heating sugar to the point where it melts, causing a breakdown of sucrose molecules into different flavor compounds. Think about the flavorless sweetness of white granulated sugar and the deep, dark complexity of caramel sauce.

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How long does homemade caramel last? ›

Refrigerating homemade caramel can extend its shelf life to about a month, and freezing it can further prolong its usability up to a year. However, the texture may change slightly upon thawing. Commercially produced caramel, such as caramel sauce or candies, often contains preservatives that extend its shelf life.

What is the difference between hard caramel and soft caramel? ›

If caramels are too hard, you can try placing them back in a saucepan, adding a couple tablespoons of water and stirring until the thermometer reads 242°F. Pour back into a prepared buttered pan. If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough.

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How do you make Ina Garten caramel? ›

Directions

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. ...
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.

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Why does my homemade caramel taste bitter? ›

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.

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Why add butter to caramel? ›

Once the sugar has all dissolved and turned brown, we add butter. The heat of the caramel will melt the butter and create even more wonderful flavors.

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Why did my homemade caramel get hard? ›

If the melting sugar splashes up onto the sides of the pan, it quickly loses its moisture content and forms back into crystals. That can set off a chain reaction that can cause caramel to seize up, ruining the entire batch.

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What is the difference between Carmel and caramel? ›

Carmel and caramel are not different spellings of the same word. Caramel is the correct spelling if you're talking about food or colors. Carmel is a misspelling when used in those contexts, but it is a word that can be used as a name for people or places.

Does homemade caramel thicken as it cools? ›

As it cools, it will thicken. You will need to store the caramel sauce in the refrigerator, so it will firm up even more once chilled. Just bring it back to room temperature and microwave before drizzling or dipping! Note: Add 1-2 tablespoons more cream to thin it more before serving, if preferred.

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What is chewy caramel called? ›

Caramel Creme

An old-fashioned classic, caramel cremes feature a decadent chewy caramel with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cream in the center. Chewy but not sticky, the cream at the center of these caramels adds an extra touch of sweetness that makes them irresistible.

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Why add vinegar to 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.

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What is a fun fact about caramels? ›

Five Little-Known Facts about Caramel

Essentially, caramel is sugar that has been melted and browned. ...
The first recorded type of caramels were hard candies that date back to the 17th century. ...
The famous caramel apple was created by Kraft Foods employee Dan Walker by accident.

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Mar 31, 2017

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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.

Why do you put cream of tartar in caramel? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

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Is caramel the same as sugar? ›

“Caramels are prepared from sugars but they are different from sugars,” Cédric Moretton, physico-chemical laboratory manager at Nigay, tells NutritionInsight. “During the caramelization process, thousands of different molecules are created, responsible for the flavor and the color of caramels.

Is caramel pure sugar? ›

Caramelization is what happens to pure sugar when it reaches 338° F. A few tablespoons of sugar put in a pan and heated will eventually melt and, at 338° F, start to turn brown. At this temperature, the sugar compounds begin to break down and new compounds form.

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Is caramel different from sugar? ›

Because caramel is not sugar - it is oxidized sugar, which is a different compound. Caramel is as much like sugar as water is like hydrogen.

Why does sugar turn into caramel? ›

Caramelization is what happens when any sugar is heated to the point that the molecules undergo chemical reactions with oxygen in the air and with each other – the molecules either break apart into smaller molecules, or combine with one another to make larger molecules.