Why do they put sea salt on caramel?

These are sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. Salted caramel combines two of these, giving an effect that chefs call “flavour layering”. Salt also acts as an enhancer of flavour (that's why you sprinkle it on your chips, for instance), so that's why it makes caramel taste even better.

How does salt affect caramel?

Salted caramel is similar to regular caramel, but it has a small amount of salt added to it. This can help to balance out the sweetness of the caramel and add a savory note to the flavor . Salted caramel is often used as a topping for desserts or as a filling for candies and chocolates.

What is the difference between sea salt caramel and regular?

The primary difference between salted caramel and normal (or unsalted) caramel lies in salt in the former , which significantly impacts both the flavour profile and the overall taste experience.

What are the ingredients in salted caramel chocolate?

Sugar, vegetable fats, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, skim milk powder, lactose (milk), caramel (2%) [sugar, cocoa butter, cream powder (milk), salt, emulsifier (soy lecithin)], milk fat, emulsifier (soy lecithin), sea salt (0.2%) (fleur de sel), barley malt extract, flavourings, natural flavouring, salt.

Why do people put sea salt on chocolate?

Function of Salt in Chocolate Salt accentuates sweetness and suppresses bitterness, while also functioning as a natural enhancer to bring out the flavor in chocolate . Simply adding a touch of salt in chocolate recipes can make the chocolate taste better by balancing out flavours and bringing out many subtle nuances.

Is sea salt caramel good for you?

While caramels and chocolates containing sea salt may taste delicious, there are no significant health benefits associated with consuming them beyond the pleasure of the taste .

What can go wrong when making caramel?

Don't Be Intimidated by Homemade Caramel Sauce, Just Avoid These Common Mistakes Using the Wrong Pot. You can't make a caramel sauce with a thin or flimsy pot. ... Dumping in All of the Sugar at Once. ... Not Setting up Your Mise en Place. ... Pulling the Caramel too Soon. ... Trying to Multitask. Nov 11, 2015

Why does my homemade caramel taste bitter?

The liquefied sugar is then cooked, without stirring, until it darkens in color, taking on additional flavor notes the longer it remains on the heat. You want to hit the sweet spot here: If the caramel is too light, it won't have much flavor, but if it gets too dark , it will taste burnt and bitter.

Why shouldn't you stir sugar when making caramel?

Stirring the sugar 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.

Why does salt make caramel taste better?

Firstly, salt acts as a flavour enhancer , which means it brings out the flavours of the caramel that may have been previously overlooked.

What does sea salt caramel taste like?

Salted caramel is slightly saltier than regular caramel, but the saltiness is balanced out by the sweetness of the caramel. It's a great combination of flavors and can be used in a variety of recipes.

When was sea salt caramel invented?

Salted caramel was invented by Henri Le Roux, a French chocolatier and caramélier. The invention took place in the 1970s in Brittany, a region in France famous for its butter and sea salt. Henri Le Roux sought to create a confection that would stand out in the competitive world of French sweets.

Who added salt to caramel?

Salting. Salted caramel was created in 1977 by French pastry chef Henri Le Roux in Quiberon, Brittany, in the form of a salted butter caramel with crushed nuts (caramel au beurre salé), using Breton demi-sel butter.

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (2024)

There's nothing better than homemade chocolate caramels topped with just a little bit of salt! Easy to make and no candy thermometer needed.

One of my very favorite things about the holiday season is definitely the homemade chocolate caramels.

I absolutely love our microwave caramels (and we make them pretty often at our house!), but I was really in the mood for some chocolate, too.

I remembered some of my favorite chocolate’s from Mrs. Call’s and decided to give it a go making a homemade version myself.

THEY TURNED OUT AMAZING. I had to send them to work with my husband, or else I would have eaten them all in one sitting.

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (2)

I decided to use our microwave caramels as a base for two reasons:

You don’t need a candy thermometer (which means you have no excuse NOT to make them)
You only need a few ingredients(most of which you probably already have in your pantry)

Ingredients for Homemade Chocolate Caramels:

Butter
Granulated sugar
Light brown sugar
Light corn syrup
Sweetened condensed milk
Milk chocolate chips (you could also use semi-sweet or dark chocolate)
Vegetable oil
Coarse sea salt (if you’re not a fan of salted caramels, you could easily leave this off)

How to make Homemade Chocolate Caramels:

Step 1: In a microwave safe bowl, combine butter, sugars, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk until smooth.

Cook for 6 minutes in your microwave, removing and stirring every two minutes.

Make sure you don’t cook the mixture for the full six minutes at once, otherwise it will burn.

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (3)

Step 2:When caramel is done cooking, pour into a 9×9-inch baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Let cool completely, then cut into squares. It will take about 30 minutes, but you can put it in the fridge to make it set up faster.

*PRO-TIP:To make them easier to cut, run your knife under hot water, and then spray it lightly with cooking spray. That way you’ll get a clean, sharp cut.

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (4)

Step 3:Set the caramels on a wax-lined baking sheet and make sure they are completely set up before dipping them.

You may want to freeze them for a few minutes to make them easier to work with.

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (5)

Step 4:In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and vegetable oil in 30 second intervals (stirring in between) until smooth.

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (6)

Step 5:Dip each caramel square by hand (or you could use a fork) in the chocolate, then place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.

Repeat until all caramels have been dipped.

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (7)

Step 6:Top with coarse sea salt, then let cool until chocolate has hardened.

I drizzled mine with the leftover chocolate I had from dipping, but that’s definitely not necessary.

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (8)

More delicious recipes:

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Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe (9)

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Try these other candy recipes:

No Bake Sugar Cookie Truffles
Easy Divinity
Peanut Praline Clusters
Rolo Pretzel Turtle Bites
Chubby Hubby Clusters
Homemade Caramels
Chocolate Pretzel Bites

Serves: 20

Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Homemade caramels dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt.

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 8 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

¼ cup butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
½ cup sweetened condensed milk
3 cups milk chocolate chips
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt (for topping)

Instructions

Combine butter, sugars, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk in a microwaveable safe bowl until smooth.
Cook for 6 minutes in your microwave, removing and stirring every two minutes.
When caramel is done cooking, pour into a 9 x 9 inch baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
Let cool completely, then cut into squares.
Set the caramels on a wax-lined baking sheet and make sure they are completely set up before dipping them.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and vegetable oil in 30 second intervals (stirring in between) until smooth.
Dip each caramel square in the chocolate, then place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Repeat until all caramels have been dipped.
Top with sea salt, then let cool until chocolate has hardened.

Notes

You can use any caramel recipe, but I love this caramel recipe because:

You don’t need a candy thermometer
You only need a few ingredients(most of which you probably already have in your pantry)

Nutrition

Calories: 113 kcal · Carbohydrates: 21 g · Protein: 1 g · Fat: 3 g · Saturated Fat: 2 g · Cholesterol: 9 mg · Sodium: 153 mg · Potassium: 36 mg · Sugar: 21 g · Vitamin A: 91 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 28 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

Mixing Bowl
9×9-inch baking pan

Recipe Details

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Join The Discussion

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Sandy Haire says:

I made my caramels exactly as the recipe except I used dark brown sugar instead of light. That was all I had. Unfortunately, the caramel was so chewy we were afraid to lose a filling. Did the dark brown sugar make a difference or is there something else that made them so hard?
Cyd says:

You may have cooked them too long, or your microwave was too hot.
Debbie Naquin says:

I also followed the recipe exactly. They are dark brown and definitely hurt my teeth....more like very hard glass. I don't know what I could have done differently.
Sherry Brayton says:

Worked perfectly and so simple!
Christy says:

This recipe was very easy. I followed the exact directions and my caramels were soft and chewy.
Mary says:

Can you store these in the freezer? How long do they store for?
Momma Cyd says:

These should store fine in the freezer for a few months. The wrapping is really important. You want to be sure that any candy you freeze is well wrapped. You want to keep ice from building up inside the package.

About The Author:

Steph Loaiza

Steph lives in Southern California with her husband, Andrew, and her five kids: 2 girls and 3 boys. She oversees all of Six Sisters' Stuff products and loves going to Disneyland with her family and reading in her spare time.

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