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

  • Katie Casabella

    This is by second year making these. I put my mom in charge of preparing these at our annual baking party and she was so nervous. She said there was no way they would work because she’s never been able to bake perfect caramels in her life. When she took them out of the microwave and set them she was in awe that she had made the perfect caramels!! We like them soft so that we can cut them in small squares, roll them thin and wrap marshmallows with them-they’re called Modjeskas. Thanks for this perfect addition to my recipe box!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      In a very very large bowl it may work but the cook time would also need to be adjusted and without testing I can’t say to what time.

      • Justine

        I just tried it. Nope! Didn’t work well. Would need more stirring and I’m afraid that would make it crystallize. Making batches one at a time next time! Single batch turned out perfect!

  • Heidi

    These look great and I plan to try them. Question- what wattage microwave are you using? Thank you!

  • Elise

    Oh so good! And oh so easy! I am going to make a second batch right now since I have leftover sweetened condensed milk and I’m going to add chopped pecans to it. Super yummy! Note: I used salted butter because that is all I had and it did fine. I used about half the salt in the recipe and I didn’t add any sea salt to the top because I didn’t have any.

  • Kim Rampey

    I made these for my family Christmas treat bags last year. First, this is the most simple recipe. Secondly, the wax paper wrappers make this candy feel so nostalgic. Lastly, because everyone LOVED these, I had to make them again this year!!

  • Brenda

    Awesome recipe. They turned out great even after the first try. Definitely making them again.
    Thanks!!!!

  • Donna

    OH MY GOSH!!!
    I cant believe it was so Easy! I’ve been preparing for a winter farmer’s market and having the worst luck with candy. Painstakingly hovering over the stove for Hours only to have the caramel..well Not cooperate!! This turned out Awesome.
    ** note ,I used salted butter and was sure to cover w/ micro lid, and it didnt splatter. Also added 1 and a smidge t of vanilla, because well, I Love vanilla!
    Thank you for sharing this recipe! Merry Christmas