Calling all caramel lovers! This Microwave Caramel Recipe is simple to make, a treat that’s perfect for the holiday season. Ready in just 30 minutes.
Do you love the flavors of fall? I get so excited when all the caramel treats start coming out. I particularly love homemade caramel & this Microwave Caramel Recipe is so quick that it makes it easy for me to have a bite or two of caramel all season long.
You see, I grew up having boxes of specialty chocolates & candies around the house throughout all of fall & winter. It was sort of a family tradition to be given these boxes of candy from our favorite chocolatier. My favorite ones in the box were always the caramels with nuts mixed in.
It didn’t matter what type of nuts or if the caramel was coated in chocolate or not. I really just loved that deliciously chewy caramel. Bonus if it was salted too.
But over the years the family has sort of fallen apart. My mother is no longer with us, along with so many others that used to share in this tradition. But because I love these treats so much I just had to learn to make them on my own.
easy microwave caramel
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For many years, probably more than a decade really, I have made my usual homemade caramel recipe. I love it, it is positively delicious & it’s pretty simple to make too.
But with the kids getting older & moving out on their own, I have been wanting to simplify some of our family recipes so that they can make them too. They have all worked with me in the kitchen & are fully capable of following the original recipe.
But something about them not having me there cooking with them made me want to make those favorites even EASIER. Which is how I came up with this really quick way to make caramel candy in the microwave. Literally ANYONE can do this!
Here are some commonly asked questions
Can I make this recipe without nuts?
Yes- of course. I love it both ways. But because I already make my traditional recipe without the nuts, I chose to mix some in for this one. It really is delicious with the walnuts. But feel free to also use almonds or pecans too.
What is the best way to store leftover microwave caramel?
If you are wrapping each individual piece in parchment or wax paper, then you can just leave any extras in a bowl at room temperature. If you choose to leave the caramel in the pan you poured it into, then just cover that pan with foil or plastic wrap & keep at room temperature.
Can I add sea salt?
Absolutely. That is one of my favorite ingredients to add to this caramel. Just sprinkle it on after you pour it into the pan, before it cools to make sure it sticks.
Do I need a thermometer?
No, you don’t need a thermometer for this recipe. That is the best part about this recipe is how simple it is & that you don’t need any special equipment or gadgets.
Should I use salted or unsalted butter?
I like to use unsalted butter for this recipe because the salted butter tends to splatter quite a bit.
how to make caramel in the microwave
How many pieces does this make?
This will depend greatly on how large or small you cut the pieces. But I was able to get 48 pieces from this recipe.
Can this recipe be doubled?
I don’t recommend it. Because the cooking time has been set to bring these exact measurements to the right temperature. If you were to increase the quantities of the ingredients you are combining, this would change the time you would have to cook them. I can’t say how that would ultimately change the final result.
HOW DO YOU MAKE this Microwave Caramel Recipe?
- Line an 8×8″ pan with parchment. Grease the parchment with a little butter & set aside.
- Place the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl & heat until melted (approx 15 seconds).
- Add the sugar, corn syrup & sweetened condensed milk & stir until smooth.
- Return the bowl to the microwave & heat for another 5-1/2 to 7 minutes depending on the wattage of your microwave. (remove & carefully stir at the halfway point)
- Test to see if the caramel is ready by placing a small spoon into the caramel & then immediately into a cup of cold water. If it is able to be formed into a soft ball of caramel, then it is done & ready to be transferred out of the bowl. If it is still too soft, cook an additional 30-60 seconds.
- Carefully fold in the vanilla, sea salt & then the walnuts if desired.
- Pour into the prepared pan & refrigerate for about 20 minutes to cool.
- Use a plastic knife to cut (because this prevents sticking) and wrap each piece with wax or parchment paper squares.
homemade caramel candy
What is the best utensil for stirring the caramel?
I personally prefer using a large silicone spatula. They are firm, non-stick & can really scrape the sides of the bowl down nicely. I haven’t had the best results using a wooden spoon or standard silverware.
Does the wattage of the micorwave matter?
Yes, absolutely. If you are using a lower wattage microwave (less than 1100W) you will want to cook your caramel for the full 6-7 minutes. If you are using a higher wattage microwave, cut the time by about 30-45 seconds to keep the caramel from over-cooking & becoming hard.
To make this recipe you will need…
- butter
- granulated sugar
- light corn syrup
- sweetened condensed milk
- vanilla extract
- sea salt
- walnuts – optional
Products I love when making microwave caramels…
This homemade caramel recipe is so simple and delicious – and if it’s fall, then you probably already have many of these items on hand like I do! OR If you’ve never made homemade caramel before, you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love the how easy this is to make. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this delicious fall treat.
- granulated sugar
- corn syrup
- sweetened condensed milk
- vanilla extract
- sea salt
- walnuts
- this metal baking pan
- mixing bowl
- spatulas
- parchment paper
- plastic knife
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
These are the epitome of a fall dessert!
Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe
microwave caramel
If you love this easy microwave caramel, you’re going to love these other quick & easy fall recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
Air Fryer Angel Food Cake Churro Bites
No Bake Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars
Cinnamon & Sugar Pretzel Bites
Chocolate Peanut Covered Caramel Apples
Homemade Kettle Corn…in the microwave
easy homemade caramel
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Microwave Caramel Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of sea salt
- 2/3 cup walnuts – optional
Instructions
- Line an 8×8″ pan with parchment. Grease the parchment with a little butter & set aside.
- Place the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl & heat until melted (approx 15 seconds).
- Add the sugar, corn syrup & sweetened condensed milk & stir until smooth.
- Return the bowl to the microwave & heat for another 5-1/2 to 7 minutes depending on the wattage of your microwave. (remove & carefully stir at the halfway point)
- Test to see if the caramel is ready by placing a small spoon into the caramel & then immediately into a cup of cold water. If it is able to be formed into a soft ball of caramel, then it is done & ready to be transferred out of the bowl. If it is still too soft, cook an additional 30-60 seconds.
- Carefully fold in the vanilla, sea salt & then the walnuts if desired.
- Pour into the prepared pan & refrigerate for about 20 minutes to cool.
- Use a plastic knife to cut (because this prevents stickinand wrap each piece with wax or parchment paper squares.
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Anamika @ Supplement Crunch says
Love this! So moist and delicious. Perfect for fall!