Microwave Caramels

Published December 15, 2018. Updated February 21, 2019

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Caramel is one of my all time favorite treats and this is a foolproof recipe that turns out perfectly! They’re soft and chewy and perfectly buttery with a rich caramel flavor. These make one of the best homemade gifts and no one will know how easy it was for your to make them!

Stack of caramels wrapped in wax paper set over a vintage cooling rack and baking pan.

The Easiest Caramel Recipe Ever!

Oh the things you can make in the microwave! Honestly though, I don’t know if it gets much better than this one, caramel made in the microwave. I got this recipe from my mother-in-law and it is one of my favorite recipes ever!

This is caramel made easy and they taste completely perfect. She’s used this recipe for about 30 years and she said everyone she gives the recipe to absolutely loves it and I can see why.

She also said it’s so easy that her kids always used to make it when they were younger (adult supervision required here though people, this bowl gets HOT!). And now my kids love to help me make it, and we’ve been using the recipe for 4 years.

I’ve added a few minor changes to the recipe, like adding some vanilla and adding Maldon sea salt, add them if you’ve got them otherwise feel free to leave them out.

Try a batch this weekend, you’ll be amazed!

Post originally shared Apr. 2014.

Showing how to make caramel. Whisking butter, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, salt and sugar in glass mixing bowl.

Ingredients for Caramel

  • Unsalted butter
  • Light corn syrup
  • Granulated sugar and brown sugar
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Salt 
  • Vanilla

 

Heating butter, sugar, condensed milk mixture in glass mixing bowl in microwave to make caramels.

How to Make Caramels

  • Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish.
  • Place butter in a large microwave safe bowl (not anything plastic, something micro safe glass or ceramic), heat in microwave until melted.
  • Add corn syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and salt and whisk mixture very well. R
  • Return to microwave and cook mixture on HIGH power for 6 to 7 minutes (some have even mentioned 5.5 worked for them).
  • Using hot pads, carefully remove bowl from microwave. Mix in vanilla.
  • Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
  • Let set in refrigerator then cut into pieces and wrap.

Caramel mixture shown after cooking in mixing bowl.

Tips for This Recipe

  • Use unsalted butter, salted butter will splatter.
  • Test caramel at 6 minutes instead of going to the full 7 minutes. To do so test with a candy thermometer (should be 238 – 242d) or you can drop a small spoonful in ice water and after just a bit is should be pliable and chewy.

My first batch was too hard because I went the full 7 minutes, the time will vary based on your microwave wattage and the how large the bowl is you’re using.

Can you believe it though, caramels made in 7 minutes in the microwave!? Trust me, I’m hanging onto this recipe forever, and I’m thinking you will too!

Caramel mixture poured into buttered glass baking dish.

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Stack of caramels wrapped in wax paper with several cut caramels unwrapped off to the side.

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4.96 from 62 votes

Microwave Caramels

A super easy foolproof recipe for homemade caramels! They're soft and chewy and perfectly buttery with a rich caramel flavor. These make one of the best homemade gifts and no one will know how easy it was for your to make them!
Servings: 40 caramels
Prep10 minutes
Cook6 minutes
Chill20 minutes
Ready in: 36 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Place butter in a large microwave safe bowl (that is microwave safe to high temps such as heavy duty glass**), heat in microwave until melted.
  • To bowl with butter, add corn syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and salt and whisk mixture very well. 
  • Return to microwave and cook mixture on HIGH power for 6 to 7 minutes.***
  • Using hot pads, carefully remove bowl from microwave. Add in vanilla extract and mix well.  
  • Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, sprinkle top lightly with Maldon sea salt or fleur de sel if using. 
  • Place in refrigerator until set, about 20 - 30 minutes. Cut into rectangular pieces (I cut into rows slightly less than 1/2-inch then cut each row into three) and wrap in cut rectangles of wax paper.

Notes

  • *Don't use salted butter or it will splatter a lot.
  • **For safety I recommend referring to the bowls manufacturer to ensure the bowl is microwave safe to high temperatures. For safety avoid setting on a cold surface after removing from the microwave and be sure that you don't begin with a cold bowl or it could shatter.
  • ***I recommend taking it out around 6 and testing either with a candy thermometer which should register between 238 - 242 degrees or placing a small spoon of the caramel in a bowl of ice water then remove it from the water and it should have formed a small pliable ball - nothing too soft or too hard.
  • ***If it needs a little more time return to microwave and heat in 20 second increments. Mine was done at 6 minutes 20 seconds but will will vary slightly based on the wattage of your microwave and the size of the bowl you use.
  • Recipe from my mother-in-law, thanks Jill!
Nutrition Facts
Microwave Caramels
Amount Per Serving
Calories 78 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 13mg4%
Sodium 14mg1%
Potassium 15mg0%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Sugar 8g9%
Vitamin A 150IU3%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 12mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

 

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415 Comments

  • Bonnie Munson

    What is an easy way to cut them? I have a hard time cutting them, so sticky.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      You could try spraying the knife with non-stick cooking spray, it may help to refrigerate longer too. It sounds like they may need a little longer to cook next time if cutting is difficult.

  • Rachel Phelps

    I can’t wait to try these out for some easy “mass” Christmas Gifts (ie, husband’s co-workers, our Mailman, neighbors, etc). I’m curious, have you ever played with adding flavored extracts or add-ins (like crushed pretzel pieces)? I’m planning a shopping trip for the ingredients and wondering if this receipt allows for playing with fun flavors.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Not with this recipe specifically but with another homemade caramel I have and it works well. I imagine this should be great too, just add after cooking. I love things like autumn spices, vanilla bean, sea salt, coconut, nuts, etc. or you could even try making homemade Twix or something like that.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I haven’t tested that so I can’t say for sure. I’ve heard it can be substituted but I’ve never tried it with this specific recipe.

  • Lisa

    i did it for 5 1/2 mins. and it almost burned. It turned out more like hard toffee…but I still love it.
    I will have to only do 5 mins next time.

    • Lisa

      OK, Second time around they came out perfect!!
      YUM YUM YUM. My hubby even said that these were the BEST tasting caramels he had ever eaten, and he’s picky.
      This time around I stopped to stir the batch, every two minutes, while it cooked, until it reached the right consistency. (I would test a small amount in cold water)
      *So easy and delicious, I will be making them again for sure!
      ♥ THANKS for sharing this recipe

  • Lisa Singleton

    You are a genius! Thank you for the simple, yet fabulous recipe! It worked perfectly. The caramels are delicious. Mine took 6min., 20 sec. I am sending you a big hug! Thanks, again!

  • Jil

    What a great recipe! I’ve made it several times already, and it really is foolproof. Love recipes that I can depend on to come out right every time, and this is one of those.

  • Cassandra

    I remember making caramels, toffee, and butterscotch the “old-fashioned” way during Girl Scout campouts so many years ago. I am now dairy free, so no enjoyment of these goodies for me ? However, I wanted to say that these look delicious! ?

  • Lisa A Langston

    Hi! My micro wave is old and doesn’t heat like it used to, can this be cooked on the stove?