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Microwave Caramels are so incredibly easy to make and they turn out perfect! Soft chewy and perfect caramel texture made right in your microwave!

We love all recipes that have caramel in them! Be sure to try these other caramel desserts:  Salted Caramel Brownie Bites, Chocolate Caramel Fudge, or these Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars.

Unwrapped Microwave Caramels pieces with wrapped microwave caramels behind them.

Microwave Caramels

Heyyyyy it’s Tiffany from Creme de la Crumb! Can you believe Christmas is one week away?? Crazy. Just crazy. I’m knee deep in wrapping paper and holiday treats and my house smells like pine and gingerbread. I’m one happy gal!

I’ll tell you what though, during Christmas time life is so busy and hectic that I LOVE finding really easy recipes that don’t take a lot of time. These caramels are no-fuss and sooo yummy – plus they make the perfect neighbor gift (if you can bear to part with a few!) I love to sprinkle  a little sea salt right on top of mine to get that salty-sweet thing going on – MMMM!

How do you make caramel in the microwave?

  • Start by generously buttering a 9×13 inch pan and set aside. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter. Once the butter has been melted, add the brown sugar, karo syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave on full power 4- 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the microwave and stir. Continue microwaving for 4-5 minutes. Stir again and add the vanilla.
  • Pour the caramel into the 9×13 inch inch buttered pan. Let them completely cool for 1-2 hours. Cut the caramel with a knife and wrap in wax paper.

Unwrapped microwavable Caramels with three of them on a parchment paper with wrapped microwavable Caramels behind them in the photo.

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Microwave Caramels

3.40 from 5 votes
By: Tiffany
Microwave Caramels are so incredibly easy to make and they turn out perfect!  Soft chewy and perfect caramel texture made right in your microwave! 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 24 caramels

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup light karo corn syrup
  • 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions 

  • In a 9x13 inch dish, generously butter a 9x13 inch pan and set aside.
  • In a microwave safe bowl (make sure it is microwave safe!) melt the butter. Once the butter is melted add brown sugar, karo syrup, and sweetened condensed milk and mix well. Microwave on full power for 4-5 minutes.
  • Remove from microwave and stir. Continue microwaving for 4-5 minutes. Stir again and add the vanilla.
  • Pour the caramel into the 9x13 inch buttered pan. Let them completely cool for 1-2 hours. Cut the caramel with a knife and wrap in wax paper. Keep refrigerated.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 104mgPotassium: 94mgSugar: 42gVitamin A: 281IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

*Recipe from Simple As That

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About Tiffany

Tiffany is an avid cook and photographer who enjoys eating food as much as she does preparing it. She likes to focus on quick, no-fuss meals with lots of big, bold flavors the whole family will love. Putting her own tasty spin on a classic meal or flavor combination is her passion!

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34 Comments

  1. Highly successful recipe! I microwaved 4, 4, then 2 minutes. Tuned out caramels just firm enough to cut. Next time will Microwave another 2 minutes.

  2. Maybe the caramels aren’t hardening because of the microwave wattage. Microwaves have variable wattage, which affect cooking times.

  3. 1 star
    Hi! I wanted to try this recipe so bad, so I followed the instructions to the tee and then it just boiled over in the microwave. I had it in a large bowl too, so idk the problem. ( I rate this recipe five stars but it won’t let me put five stars on there) ( tasted good though)

  4. Is that a total of 8 to 10 minutes in the microwave? Or do you stir once during the 4 to 5 minute period and then continue microwaving with a total of 4 to 5 minutes? The video doesn’t show a second microwaving of the caramel sauce.

    1. Yes, you will microwave a total of 8-10 minutes. You will stir after 4-5 minutes then again at the next 4-5 minutes. Hope that helps! These are amazing! XOXO

    1. Oh no! Sometimes putting them in the fridge longer does help the process. Caramels are a little sensitive to make but pretty simple in the long run too for a candy. Let me know if they made it! XOXO

  5. I have lost a recipe. Some of the ingredients are: peanut butter, white almond bark, dry roasted peanuts and i think perhaps rice krispies and/or marshmellows. Can you help me. Thanks

    1. I think I know what recipe your looking for, we just call it “Stuff”!
      Ingredients: 1 pound almond bark, which equals 8 cubes.
      2 cups each- rice crispy cereal
      dry roasted peanuts
      mini marshmallows
      Cap’n Crunch
      Peanut Butter
      Cereal
      Mix the dry ingredients in large bowl. Melt almond bark in microwave, just till melted. Pour over the dry ingredients and toss to coat. Pour out onto cookie sheet to let almond bark set up.
      Break apart and store in air tight container.