Why is my caramel not hardening?

If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough . Again place the caramel back into a sauce pan with a couple of tablespoons of water and heat to 244°F. If you don't have a candy thermometer, you can test with a cold water test.

Does homemade caramel sauce need to be refrigerated?

Caramel sauce should be stored in a heat-resistant, airtight container such as a jar or a glass microwave-safe bowl with a lid. This sweet sauce can be left out at room temperature for a few days, but because of the dairy incorporated into the sauce, it's best kept refrigerated .

Why did my caramel sauce get hard?

The water evaporates, leaving sugar crystals behind . If even one sugar crystal falls back into the pan of cooking caramel, it starts a chain reaction of sugar crystals and the entire pan will harden. The result? Gross, grainy caramel that is unusable in most recipes.

What flavors go best with caramel?

In the fall months, caramel pairs beautifully with seasonal ingredients like pumpkin, pecans, and cinnamon apples . In the winter, we're serving caramel alongside the warm holiday flavors and by way of Southern candies.

What to do if caramel isn t thickening?

Add heavy cream . Heavy cream has a higher fat content than regular milk, so when the fat combines with the sugar in the caramel sauce, it thickens.

What makes homemade caramel hard?

Temperature is key when making candy . The difference between a soft caramel and one that's hard and overcooked is all in the temperature. Candy thermometers—like this instant-read thermometer—let you know exactly what stage the caramel is in (thread, soft-ball, firm-ball, hard-ball, soft crack or hard crack).

Can homemade caramel go bad?

Fail to store your caramel properly and it will take on moisture, meaning that its texture becomes slimy and liquified. When allowed to progress, it can even change the flavor and smell of the caramel to one that is unpleasant and vinegary. At that point, it's gone bad and should be discarded.

How do you thicken caramel sauce?

For each cup (240 mL) of caramel sauce that you need to thicken, run 1 tbsp (14.7 mL) of cold water into a measuring cup, and slowly stir in 1 tbsp of cornstarch. Pour the cornstarch mixture into your pot caramel sauce, and stir constantly. Keep the sauce on low heat until it begins to thicken.

How long does caramel take to harden in the fridge?

How long does it take caramel to set? Give your caramel at least two hours to set, or overnight if possible . You can also pop caramel into the fridge to help it set up faster. The caramel will sweat a little when brought out of the fridge, but will still taste fine.

How do you fix caramel that is too soft?

Here's how to make soft caramel harder: Put the caramel back in the pot, add 2-3 tablespoons of water, and remelt the caramel . Cook the caramel until it reaches the correct temperature, and pour it back into a foil-lined pan.

How long does it take for caramel to harden?

Give your caramel at least two hours to set, or overnight if possible . You can also pop caramel into the fridge to help it set up faster. The caramel will sweat a little when brought out of the fridge, but will still taste fine. If you don't eat it right away, here's how to store caramel.

Will caramel harden after melting?

Once you make caramel, it will harden as it cools , and you'll have to heat it up again to use it. However, if you want to turn it into a more spoonable sauce, you add other ingredients like butter or cream to the melted caramel.

Why is my caramel not melting?

Caramel crystallizes because there are crystals of sigar formed on the sides of the pan by evaporation . Brushing down the sides of the pan wirh water should prevent this. I usually add any butter or other fat in the recipe while the sugar is melting, so it is already combined as it caramelizes.

15 Ooey-Gooey Caramel Recipes (2024)

Your sweet tooth is going to be so happy because April 5^thisNational Caramel Day. If you love the sweet, sticky taste of caramel, you definitely need to learn how to make your own. There are so many things you can do with this liquid gold — drizzle it on ice cream, toss it into popcorn, and even make your own caramel candy.

Making your own caramel sauce is easy and you only need you make your own, you get to choose the ingredients and how sweet you want it.

Once you’ve got the process down, you’ll have fun seeing how many treats you can make caramel-flavored – candies, brittles, crème brulée, caramel apples, puddings, nougats — the possibilities are endless. Get ready to celebrate with these 15 ooey-gooey caramel recipes.

1. Lime Sugar Churros With Caramel Sauce

You’re going to think it’s your birthday because these Lime Sugar Churros With Caramel Sauce are like a special gift. Creamy coconut caramel is poured into a rich crust and it’s all topped with lime sugar and flaked salt. This is a decadent dessert sure to impress anyone!

2. Raw Banana Caramel Cups

These bite-sized frozen Raw Banana Caramel Cups are great treats to take to parties, picnics, or even to grab on the go. A creamy banana ice cream envelops a sticky-sweet date caramel. A topping of blueberries or any berry you like adds the perfect finishing touch. Small and adorable, these caramel cups are your new go-to dessert.

3. Salted Caramel Apple Galette

Caramel apples are fun but they get all grown-up in this Salted Caramel Apple Galette. These pastries are warm, gooey, delicious, and loaded with apples. What more can you really ask for? Plus, these are so much better than traditional caramel apples because they’re less messy. You can add as much caramel as you desire, it’s homemade, and you can share it with loved ones. It doesn’t get any better than that.

4. Samoa Layer Cake

If you like Samoa cookies, you’ll love this Samoa Layer Cake. It starts with a moist chocolate cake. It’s then coated with a layer of walnut frosting and a layer of rich and fudgy date chocolate caramel. When you take one bite of this cake, you’ll experience the amazing combination of nutty coconut, chocolate, and caramel. Once you make it, you’ll find yourself craving this cake all the time.

5. Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Cookie Bars

These mouthwatering Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Cookie Bars begin with a shortbread cookie base that’s baked in the oven until golden. The first layer is then topped with a layer of rich caramel, which is finished off with a rich topping of dark chocolate. These simple cookie bars are the perfect thing to bring along to parties or you can keep them all to yourself. We understand.

6. Salted Chocolate Caramel Mousse

Every spoonful of this Salted Chocolate Caramel Mousse is a delight with a hidden ingredient. Sweet potatoes, dates, pink salt, and natural sweetener blend seamlessly into a deliciously sweet caramel mousse that’s then swirled with a rich chocolate mousse. Served in fancy glasses or thrifted mugs, this luscious mousse is the perfect dessert for date night — or any night.

7. Panna Cotta With Caramel Sauce

This Panna Cotta With Caramel Sauce is an Italian classic. It’s simple yet decadent, and the perfect solution to satisfy any sweet tooth. The texture is quite smooth and creamy and perfectly complements the plump raspberries served on top. This will impress anyone you set it down in front of.

8. Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

9. Snickers Tart

If you love Snickers bars, then you must make this Snickers Tart. It’s everything you loved about the candy bar but it has all whole ingredients. The gooey caramel layer is made out of Medjool dates and peanuts, the nougat can be made from cashews or peanuts, and the chocolate that envelops the bars is sweetened with maple syrup. These bars taste way better than anything you can buy in the store and they’re sure to satisfy any candy cravings.

10. Salted Gingerbread Caramels

Remember those little caramel candies you could buy for a nickel? Now you can make your own at home. These Salted Gingerbread Caramels are the perfect little treat. The sea salt balances out the sweetness of the dates while ginger and cinnamon provide a bit of spice. These candies are so easy to make, but so tough to resist!

11. No-Bake Mini Banoffee Pies

If a dessert made of almonds, dates, banana, vanilla, and coconut sounds good to you, then you have to make these No-Bake Mini Banoffee Pies. These bite-sized treats have four layers of deliciousness: a crust of dates and almonds, a layer of almondy-date caramel, sweet banana slices, and a generous dollop of coconut whipped cream. This gluten-free take on a classic English dessert is sure to win over your taste buds.

12. Hand-Churned Bourbon Salted Caramel Apple Ice Cream

If you’ve been putting off making your own ice cream because you think you need an ice cream maker, we have great news for you. You don’t need an ice cream maker to whip up this amazing Hand-Churned Bourbon Salted Caramel Apple Ice Cream. Salted caramel and apple bourbon sauce are swirled generously into a base of hand-churned vanilla coconut ice cream. The only thing left to decide is one scoop or two? Yeah, we think two sounds about right.

13. Gooey Salted Caramel Pecan Turtle Bars

These Gooey Salted Caramel Pecan Turtle Bars are a dream come true. They combine rich, salty caramel, chocolate, and toasted pecans … doesn’t that sound divine? These decadent desserts also look pretty fancy, so if you have a party to go to, these are the thing to make! The toughest part is resisting the urge to keep them all to yourself.

14. Maple Cheesecake With Caramel Sauce

If you think cheesecake is the perfect dessert, we say it can get even better. This Maple Cheesecake With Caramel Sauce is going to change your ideas about cheesecake. The creamy cashew-coconut filling and gluten-free crust require no oven time at all, making this recipe no-bake. The dark maple syrup gives it such rich flavor. Topped with caramel sauce, this dessert is simply decadent!

15. Peanut Butter Thumb Cakes With Salted Caramel

These Peanut Butter Thumb Cakes With Salted Caramel are not only tasty but they are adorable! With peanut butter, brown sugar, and a homemade caramel sauce poured down on top, these are decadent and rich. They are the perfect tiny snack which makes them great for parties. We give these treats two thumbs up!

Caramel is probably the reason why sweet tooths came into existence. …Okay, maybe not, but once you try any of these ooey-gooey caramel recipes, you’ll believe that caramel is liquid gold.

Lead image source: Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies