This Cinnamon Caramel Candy is rich and buttery with a hint of spicy cinnamon flavor. They’re perfect for gift giving around the holidays or Valentine’s Day.
Learn how to make homemade caramel that is perfectly chewy and delicious every single time. If you’re looking for more easy caramel recipes, you can also try our classic Homemade Caramels, Chocolate Covered Caramels, or these Black Licorice Caramel Candies.
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Homemade Cinnamon Caramel Candy
Anyone that loves those cinnamon bear candies will love these cinnamon caramels. They are soft and chewy with the perfect amount of cinnamon spice to go with the rich and buttery caramel.
To get that strong cinnamon flavor, you’ll need to add cinnamon extract or even cinnamon oil. If you want your caramels to be a darker red, as opposed to more natural amber colored, add a few drops of red gel coloring. Feel free to top them with flakey sea salt or just leave as is.
Wrap them up in pre cut wax paper squares—6” x 6” is perfect for 1” square caramels. Just place the caramel in the center, wrap the paper around, and twist each side tightly a few times around. From there, they’re ready to gift to friends or just enjoy!
Ingredients You Will Need
- Butter: You can use unsalted butter or salted butter; either works great. If you use salted butter, you may want to decrease any additional salt that you add.
- Sugars: you will need both white granulated sugar and light brown sugar.
- Karo Syrup/Corn Syrup: Light corn syrup is best. You can make this caramel recipe without corn syrup but corn syrup is a crystallization inhibitor, meaning it will prevent you from having gritty caramels.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is important for this recipe. Do not substitute it for heavy cream or evaporated milk! This recipe doesn't allow for those substitutions.
- Cinnamon Extract: this is what gives this homemade caramel candy that super cinnamon flavor. Just adding ground cinnamon would be delicious, but it won’t be strong enough. If you want these to be bright red, you can add a few drops of red gel coloring.
- Flaky Salt: This is optional. You can find salt flakes at a boutique grocery store or on amazon.
How to Make Cinnamon Caramels
- Dissolve the ingredients. Heat a large nonstick heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat, then add the butter, sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and salt. Stir until all the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted.
- Cook the caramel. Once dissolved, begin to stir constantly and cook the caramel mixture until it reaches 238 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
- Add the cinnamon extract. Remove the caramel from the heat immediately to stop the cooking, then stir in the cinnamon extract.
- Cool and cut. Carefully pour the hot caramel into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with salt flakes if desired. Let the caramel cool completely at room temperature before cutting into small 1" pieces. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to get that super strong cinnamon flavor, you will need something stronger than just ground cinnamon. Either cinnamon extract or cinnamon oil works great. Just a little bit will go a long way.
If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can still make homemade caramel! Grab a small bowl and add about 2 cups of cold water. Once the caramel has been cooking for a while and is looking thick and bubbly, take about a tablespoon and drop it into the cold water.
Move it around with your fingers. If it forms a soft ball, the caramel is finished. If it dissolves in your fingers, keep cooking.
If you store these candies wrapped in a cool place at room temperature, they should last for up to 2 weeks. To keep them even longer, you can freeze them for up to 2 months.
Storing Instructions
- Room Temperature: store individually wrapped candies at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: store wrapped caramels in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Cinnamon Caramel Candy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Karo syrup or corn syrup
- 1 10-oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Extract
- Flaked Salt optional garnish
Instructions
- Grease a 9" by 13" baking dish with butter. Do not use non-stick cooking spray for this or it will give your caramel a strange flavor. Set it aside until the caramel is done cooking.
- Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat, then add the butter, sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring until all the sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted.
- Once dissolved, begin to stir constantly and cook the caramel mixture until it reaches 238 degrees F on a candy thermometer. (Note: If you don't have a candy thermometer, 1-2 cups of cold water in a small bowl. Drop a tablespoon of caramel into the cold water and move the caramel mixture around with your fingertips. If the caramel forms a "soft-ball" it's ready. If the caramel dissolves or runs through your fingers, keep cooking it.)
- Remove the caramel from the heat immediately to stop the cooking, then stir in the cinnamon extract.
- Carefully pour the hot caramel into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with salt flakes if desired. Let the caramel cool completely at room temperature before cutting into small 1" pieces. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More of the Homemade Candy Recipes
- Snickers Candy
- Black Licorice Caramel Candy
- Mounds Candy
- Peppermint Patties
- Chocolate Covered Caramel
- Cream Cheese Mints
- Peanut Butter Cups
- Turtles Candy
- More Caramel Candy Recipes
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These Cinnamon Caramels are soft, buttery, and full of warm cinnamon spice—a fun boutique caramel flavor. Wrap them up and give them as gifts for Christmas or Valentine's Day.
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