Creamy Microwave Caramels Recipe (2024)

These Creamy Microwave Caramels couldn’t be more simple! They are so rich and buttery that no one will guess how easy they are to make.

I love making homemade candies over the holiday season. Crispy peanut butter balls, caramel turtles, and homemade toffee are favorites, and they all make great neighbor gifts!

My mom and I have started a Christmas tradition of getting together to make goodies to hand out to neighbors. Last Christmas my sister in law joined us, and it was even more fun!

We made a few family favorites, but also tried a few new recipes like these microwave caramels.

In the past we’ve made my aunt’s recipe for traditional caramels that requires a lot of stirring over the stove. We decided to try this speedier version to see how they compared.

Honestly, they are so close that I don’t know if I can ever go back to my old recipe. With just six minutes of cooking in the microwave, you have rich and buttery caramels that are simply out of this world!

Even if you’ve never made candy before, you should be able to make perfect caramels with this recipe! Cooking the mixture in the microwave takes out so much of the guesswork. Some people like to use a candy thermometer, but I prefer the ice water test. It’s easier to see the exact consistency of your caramels that way.

Just spoon a little bit of caramel into ice cold water and let it sit for a few seconds. When you pull it out, you should be able to roll it into a soft ball that holds its shape but can be molded.

How to make microwave caramels:

-The first thing you need to do is prepare your pan so it’s all ready to go when your caramel mixture is ready.

-Next up you melt your butter, then stir in the sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk.

-You cook the mixture for 6 minutes, stirring once. Yep, just once!

-Stir in the vanilla and salt and pour the mixture into your prepared pan.

-Let the caramels set, then cut into rectangles and wrap in waxed paper.

So easy, so very delicious!

Can I add nuts or other ingredients to my microwave caramels?

-Absolutely! You can stir in chopped nuts with the vanilla (pecans are our favorite), or you can sprinkle nuts on top after you pour the caramel into the pan. I prefer the sprinkling method, I think it makes for prettier caramels.

-You could also sprinkle chocolate chips or toffee bits on top of the caramel mixture after you pour it into the pan.

Be creative and see what other flavor combinations you can come up with!

What is the best way to store homemade caramels?

Wrap the individual caramels up in waxed paper and store them in an airtight container. A ziplock bag works just fine. I always store mine at room temperature, but you can store them in the refrigerator.

How long will microwave caramels last?

Homemade caramels will last for about 2-3 months at cool room temperature. If you live in a hot and humid place, you may want to store them in the refrigerator.

Love caramel? Check out these recipes:

Turtles Candy/Easy Caramel Sauce/No Bake Cornflake Cookies

Caramel Brownies/Caramel Crunch Torte/Rolo Cookies

MORE CANDY RECIPES:

• English Toffee Recipe
• Chocolate Mint Candy
• Brigadeiro Recipe
• Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls

EASY MICROWAVE CARAMELS