These Christmas Caramels are definitely my favorite caramel. They make your house smell amazing and they taste like Christmas to our family!
A True Christmas Tradition
We have so many Christmas memories of wrapping these Christmas caramels in wax paper for our neighbors. The house would smell like sweet caramel, the kitchen would be covered in pots and bowls, Christmas music would be playing… and we would be cutting up pieces of wax paper and wrapping these caramels like elves in Santa’s sweet shoppe. Of course when our mom wasn’t looking we would pop one or two (one less to wrap and a quick sweet treat — win-win). We always looked forward to making Christmas caramels each year when we were little, and now our own kids look forward to it too! It is a true family tradition that has made its way through generations.
A Recipe to Learn by Heart
These Christmas Caramels are definitely my favorite when it comes to caramels, nothing else even compares. Plus, they are SO easy. You can even memorize the recipe by heart. It only takes 4 ingredients and 2 of everything (2 sticks, 2 cups…)! It is SO easy to memorize! My mom doesn’t even have this recipe written down – she knows it by heart (we all do) and it is perfect EVERY time. All you have to do is remember:
- 2 sticks of butter
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups Karo (corn) syrup
How To Make Salted Caramels
If you are wanting to take the traditional recipe just one step further, try stirring a splash of vanilla in with the caramel before pouring it into the pan. Then sprinkle some pink Hawaiian sea salt over the top after you have poured it into the pan and it has cooled for about 2 minutes. That way the salt will stick to the top and not get absorbed into the caramel. SO GOOD.
How to Wrap Caramels
The easiest way to wrap caramels is to wait until they are mostly cooled before cutting them into pieces. I have found that they are easiest to wrap when they have reached room temp. Cut the caramels with a sharp knife (or scissors) into approximately 1″ x 1 1/2″ pieces and wrap them in wax paper appx. 3″x3″. Wrapping them diagonally to get full coverage, and then twisting the ends to seal them.
Christmas Candy Recipes
We LOVE all the candy around Christmastime. Here are more of our favorites:
- Traditional Chocolate Covered Cherries
- Ritz Dipped Cookies
- Dipped Caramel Pretzel Bites
- Copycat See’s Fudge
How to Make Homemade Caramels
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter NOT margarine
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups Karo syrup
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pan.
- Stir and bring to a boil and continue boiling until candy thermometer reaches 240 degrees.
- Pour into a large, greased cookie sheet and cool.
- Once cooled cut into bite size squares and wrap in wax paper.
Catherine Williams says
As I’m British how much is a cup of liquid and a stick if butter? Thanks
Favorite Family Recipes says
A stick of butter is about 113 grams and a cup of liquid is about 1/4 of a liter. Hope this helps!