I love making holiday treats, but I’ve always been a little intimidated when it comes to candy making. I especially enjoy caramels at Christmas, but after a few failed attempts at making them, I gave up. That was, until a few years ago, when I discovered a delicious and simple recipe for microwave caramels! We just made a batch of these today and they turned out perfect, just like they do every time!
Easy Microwave Caramel Recipe
- 1 c. butter
- 2½ cups packed brown sugar
- 1 cup light karo corn syrup
- 1 - 14oz can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Generously butter a 9x13 inch pan and set aside.
- In a large microwave safe bowl melt butter.
- Add all the remaining ingredients except the vanilla and mix well.
- Microwave on full power for 4-5 minutes. Remove from microwave and whisk. Microwave on high for another 4-5 minutes. Whisk again.
- Microwave an additional 4-5 minutes. Whisk while adding the vanilla.
- Pour the caramel mixture into the 9x13 inch pan.
- Let cool for 1 - 2 hours.
- Using a knife, cut into bite size portions and wrap in wax paper. Keep refrigerated.
Like I said, they’ve turn out perfectly for me every time!! It always surprises me when they do, given my track record with making these tasty treats. I think the trick is to take them out of the microwave and stir thoroughly every 4-5 minutes.
If I can make them, then you know this has to be a foolproof recipe! Take it from me, a candy making novice, these caramels are easy and delicious!
To package the caramels, wrap in wax paper and twist the ends to seal. I found these precut waxed twist papers and they make it so easy!
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I have to try these! They look super simple!
This sounds wonderful, not sure if I know what karo syrup is though, can you explain please? Thanks.
Karo is just a brand of corn syrup @Tracye Weir. 🙂
Just to clarify so I don’t mess these up – do you add the vanilla with the rest of the ingredients like you said at the beginning or after their third and final run through the microwave?
No, you wait and add the vanilla at the very end. 🙂
you can find Karo syrup with pan cake syrup its come in dark and light and some time they call it corn syrup the dark is good on pancakes.
I just made a batch of these.. I also popped some popcorn and used a few spoonfuls of the carmel for the popcorn and then put the rest in a pan to cool.. Delicious!!
It seems to be wonderfull!!! I would like to try these but can you tell me what “1 – 14oz can sweetened condensed milk” mean? can you tell in gramms please?
thank you so much for the recipe!
It is 397 grams
1oz=28g….. 14oz×28=392g
a gram is 28.6 X 14 = 397.6
14 oz means 14 ounces. So you need one can with 14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk in it. Sweetened condensed milk is a concentrated milk, that kind of resembles coffee creamer (called coffee milk in some countries). It has been sweetened with LOTS of sugar, and is thicker than regular milk. A well-known brand in the United States is “Eagle.” Good luck!
396g
I think you have just spurred me on to start my baking…My daughter LOVES these and we can never get them just right…We have to try this…today! Thanks so much pinning this for sure! ~God bless~~
I love easy and I’m going to try these!
These are so easy, but I have a quick questions. I made them yesterday cooled them, then put them in the fridge, but even out of the fridge for more than 5 minutes they start to melt is that normal? They are still super yummy, just not very pretty. 🙂
The longer you cook caramel, the firmer the set. The recipe says 4-5 minutes, so you might need to do the 5 minutes with your microwave.
Do you know how powerful your microwave is? 1000w? 1100w?
these will be great dipped in chocolate. I’m going to try these tomorrow.
SO easy! Great for gifts this Christmas! Were so easy! Oh, Did I say they were EASY!!!?
So easy!! Made these twice over Christmas break! These were easier, much easier than I thought and everyone liked them, which is a risk with some of the PINTEREST/blog recipes!!
My aunt makes these all the time & they are so Delicious, can’t wait to try making these myself. Thank You for sharing your recipe.
I made a batch of this, only I used one cup of brown sugar and one cup of white sugar. It would only be better with 2 cups of brown sugar. The flavor of these caramels is amazing!
ok these were so simple my 13 year old niece made them with me
How many watts of power does your microwave need to make these caramels? Our old microwave had 1200 watts and made microwave fudge beautifully! But our new microwave only has 1000 watts and it wrecks the fudge now.
Do you have to keep these refrigerated? Or would they be OK at room temperature? Was thinking of making these as the office Christmas gift this year, but unsure of how to store. Thanks!
I would keep them refrigerated.
I don’t use microwave because of radiation. Can this be cooked on top of the stove and if so for how long?
Thanks
I’ve never done this particular recipe on the stove top Deborah but it might be worth a try.
Was wondering if this could be used for dipping apples, will it set?
It does set up Nicole…the longer you boil in the microwave the harder it sets. I’ve never tried dipping apples with it though so I’m not sure about that.
Does the caramel need to cool on the refrigerator?
It doesn’t necessarily need to go in the fridge – if you let it cool at room temperature it will set up.
Mine is not setting up. Should I pour back into bowl and cook more??? Help!!!
You could definitely try that!
Can the caramel s be used for making homemade turtles? Just wondering since you recommended them to stay refrigeratored.
This is the second year in a row I’ve used your recipe. I love how easy it is! So much better than continuously stirring while making a batch on the stovetop.
These are not “just that simple”. In the first paragraph of instructions, you say “microwave 3-4 minutes” 3 different times, without saying why it might be 3 vs 4 minutes, or what texture, result, one might be looking for? I hate these kind of recipes. Tell me why the time might vary as much as 3 minutes total in a microwave (high, low, medium power?)
Oops you say 4-5 minutes three times!
Thankyou for that delicious recipe!
Living in Australia @ this time of the year…i think we will all be sitting in the refrigerator together enjoying your microwave caramels!! Have a Blessed Christmas!
What size do you recommend the finished candy size should be…. The picture looks fairly large (comparing it to the hand that is holding it)
I hope to make these tomorrow….
I would llove to try these out. Problem is; although adept in metric, emperial and cups, I am at a loss as to whether ‘1 c. butter) actually means a cup of butter?
Yes it means 1 cup of butter.
Thanks .
Where I live we measure everything in metric, but as long as I know precisely what I am dealing with I can google the conversions 🙂
I have deleted all other pins except yours on making these. This is my 2nd year making them and they are DELICIOUS!!! Thank you for such a great recipe!
How long do these last in the fridge?
That’s a good question Jessica – I have to admit they get eaten so fast in our house that I’ve never had to worry about it. 😉 🙂
I made these several times now, everyone loves them. I have done them with the 4 min setting and the 5 min setting. They turned out almost the same. Thw 5 min setting may have been a little firmer, bit not much. I have a 1500 w convection oven/ microwave combo. Thanks for the great recipe!
Do you think I could sub maple syrup for corn syrup? What adjustments should I make to cook on stove top?
I haven’t made it on the stove top, sorry I’m no help there. As for maple syrup, you might try it but I can’t guarantee it will turn out.
Saw this shared on Facebook; I’m doing a test run of these before the holidays hit full swing. Question – have you tried freezing them? I love to be able to freeze any treats that could be enjoyed both now and later!
I haven’t tried freezing them before Ericka K. Sorry I’m not much help.
They will freeze fine! I’ve been making these, on the stovetop, for 30+ years! I’m going to try the microwave soon!
Good to know, thank you Melinda! 🙂
What are the stove top directions?
There are none – this recipe is just for microwave caramels
I would love to make these right now except I only have golden corn syrup on hand. Does it matter one way or the other?
It will change the flavor slightly but I’d give it a try Susan. LMK how they turn out! 🙂
Works using honey instead of corn syrup.
Does it matter if you use salted or unsalted butter?
Nope! 🙂
I’d like to line the pan with parchment paper before putting caramel in, so I can lift the whole pan out and cut with pizza cutter? Any reason this wouldn’t work??
I think it would totally work!
Do you have to use real butter or can you use margarine?
I’ve never used margarine so I couldn’t say.
This is my first time making caramel and I fail at it. Can someone please tell me what I did wrong? They did not get to a consistency that you could actually cut and wrap. The taste is great but wish you could hold a caramel. I’m just using a fork so can’t share them with the neighbors. Please help
Unfortunately, these didn’t work for me at all. The only changes I made were cutting the recipe in half, and using dark corn syrup (which is past the exp date—maybe that’s the problem?). The second time I went to whisk the mixture, I could tell it was too late. When I tried some, it stuck to my teeth and turned rock-hard in my mouth. So disappointing!
This was my first time to make homemade caramels, followed directions completely, turned out great, thank you.
I used a rectangular baking dish with silicone handles, big help.
Only suggestion…make it for the kids, not with, this stuff is oooey, gooey good molten lava until it cools.