Caramel is a type of candy created when sugar is heated to approximately 320 to 340 degrees Fahrenheit. As the sugar heats up, the molecules start to break down and form different compounds, a process known as caramelization. The resulting mixture features a rich flavor and golden brown color. The rich and delicious flavor of caramel adds silky smooth sweetness to dozens of our favorite treats. It’s a classic dessert that has countless applications.
What Is Caramel and What Isn’t?
Caramel can be mixed with cream and other ingredients to turn it into different consistencies, such as caramel sauce or chewy caramel candies. It can also be heated more or less, depending on the color and flavor you’re looking for. Light caramel has a light golden brown hue, while dark caramel features a dark amber color with a slightly more bitter taste than light caramel.
Various candies, confections, desserts, and beverages are made with caramel. Desserts such as flan and creme brûlée even contain a topping of caramel. It also acts as a binding agent in candies such as pralines and peanut brittle. Surprisingly, toffee and butterscotch are considered different types of candy altogether. Butterscotch contains too high of a percentage of butter, while toffee is made with brown sugar.
If you want to indulge in a delicious caramel treat, consider our Salted Caramel Cheesecake Platter made with TWIX® Cookie Bars. It comes with a variety of caramel treats, including caramel-covered cheesecakes topped with TWIX® Cookie Bars, strawberries topped with TWIX® Cookie Bar crumbles and white chocolate, apple wedges covered in TWIX® Cookie Bars, and banana bites covered in TWIX® Cookie Bars. Or, check out our Sea Salt Caramels, featuring a variety of milk and dark chocolate sea salt caramels topped with chardonnay and Mediterranean sea salt.
Top 10 Types of Caramel Candies
You’ll find hundreds of confections that feature this versatile candy. Here are just ten of the most delicious types of caramel candies:
Image by Paul Hurst, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Hard caramels melt smoothly in your mouth, leaving a buttery sweet taste that will satisfy your cravings. Some other types of hard caramels contain other sweet treats in the middle, such as creamy caramel, chocolate liquor, and so much more.
Sweet, chewy, and delicious, chewy caramel candies feature a rich and buttery taste. Typically made with heavy cream, butter, salt, sugar, corn syrup, water, and vanilla extract, you can also top them with sea salt for extra indulgence.
Screenshot via goetzecandy.com
An old-fashioned classic, caramel cremes feature a decadent chewy caramel with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cream in the center. Chewy but not sticky, the cream at the center of these caramels adds an extra touch of sweetness that makes them irresistible.
The combination of sea salt and caramel intensifies the flavor of caramel, bringing out the contrasting tastes of sweet and salty. Some sea salt caramels also include a layer of milk or dark chocolate for extra decadence.
Perfect for drizzling on ice cream or cakes, caramel sauce combines sugar, water, butter, heavy cream, and vanilla, all heated to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You can even add a pinch of salt for an extra layer of flavor.
6. Pralines
A southern staple, pralines combine nuts (usually pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts) and caramel for the perfect sweet treat. They feature an unmistakable, fudge-like texture that contrasts nicely with the crunchiness of the nuts.
Caramel nougats combine silky smooth caramel, chewy nougat, and rich milk chocolate for the ideal decadent treat. These delightful treats come in all shapes and sizes and include some of the most well-known candies of today, including SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®, and many more.
Peanut brittle combines crunchy peanuts with a thin, hard, smooth caramel layer. Typically, candy makers pour the liquefied candy onto a cookie sheet in a thin layer and then break it up into pieces once cooled.
9. Turtles
Made with pecans and caramel dipped in chocolate, turtles get their name from their shape, which resembles the aquatic animal. The perfect decadent treat, they perfectly combine crunchy pecans, chewy caramel, and creamy milk chocolate.
Screenshot via Amazon.com
Caramel candy corn takes regular candy corn up a notch with a rich caramel flavor. Considered a mellow cream made from corn syrup and sugar, candy corn combines perfectly with the buttery caramel.
Caramel adds an unmistakable rich, smooth, sweet flavor to any confection. Try one of these delicious treats today if you’re craving some of that quintessential caramel taste.
