Whether you’re making caramel apples, drizzling pretzels with caramel, or adding a little sweetness to baked goods, knowing How To Melt Caramels the right way makes all the difference. With just a few simple tips, you can easily turn store-bought caramel candies into a silky-smooth caramel sauce for dipping, coating or drizzling.
Melting caramels is quic and easy- perfect for the holidays, bake sales or anytime you need a little somdthin’ somethin’ added to a sweet treat. This guide walks you through each method (microwave, stovetop, or slow cooker) and provides plenty of tips to get perfect caramel every time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect Texture: Get smooth, silky caramel every time.
- Versatile: Perfect for apples, popcorn, cupcakes, candies, brownies, and more.
- Step-By-Step: Includes microwave, stovetop, and slow cooker methods.
How to Melt Caramel for Apples and More
Probably the most difficult step is the tedious task of unwrapping each caramel candy. Otherwise, all you need to do is place them in a microwave safe bowl or a saucepan on the stove, add a splash of water, milk, or cream, and heat until melted and smooth. The looser you need the caramel to be, the more liquid you need to add.
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Sure, nothing can compete with Homemade Caramel Sauce, but when quick and easy is your priority, this is the absolute best way to melt caramel.
Creative Ways to Use Melted Caramel
- Dipped Pretzel Rods– These are some of our favorite treats to make during the holidays. It looks super fancy but is really pretty simple to make. You can take a pretzel rod, dip it in melted caramel, let it set and then dip again in chocolate and sprinkle with your favorite holiday sprinkles. So easy!
- Caramel Apples– If you don’t want to make your caramel from scratch, you can easily make homemade caramel apples in no time.
- Drinks: Stir into lattes or mix with Hot Chocolate for a sweet treat.
- Homemade Candy: Homemade Snickers, Caramels with Sea Salt, Nilla Wafer Candy, and chocolate-covered caramels too.
- Drizzle: Add some to caramel cookie bars, brownies, caramel popcorn, and more.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Caramel Candies – any kind of wrapped soft caramels will melt perfectly in the microwave or on the stovetop. Make sure to unwrap them first!
- Water – the caramel stays slightly soft if you add a touch of water while melting. You could also use cream or milk instead of water. The more you add, the thinner and softer the caramel will be so depending on what you plan to use it for, you may need to add anywhere from 1-4 tablespoons to get your desired consistency.
How to Melt Caramels
- How to Melt Caramel in the Microwave: Place unwrapped caramels in a microwave safe bowl along with 1 tablespoon of water. Microwave on high for about 1 minute, stir until smooth, then heat longer if needed.
- Stovetop Method: Place unwrapped caramels in a medium-sized saucepan on the stovetop and add 1 tablespoon of water. Heat on medium low heat while stirring the caramel for 2-3 minutes, or until completely smooth.
- Slow Cooker Method: Place unwrapped caramels in a heat-safe bowl that can fit inside your slow cooker without touching the edges. Add 1 tablespoon of water. Fill the slow cooker with water so that it is even with the caramels in the bowl, creating a double boiler inside the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours, or until the caramels are melted. Stir well before using.
Tips for the Best Melted Caramel
- Unwrap All Caramels: Remove every wrapper-small bits of wrapper can is gonna get in the way.
- Low and Slow: Use gentle heat to prevent scorching-caramel burns quickly.
- Add Liquid: Stir in a tablespoon or two of water. You can also use heavy cream or milk.
- Stir Frequently: Stir often for even melting and to keep from sticking and burning.
- Use Nonstick Cookware: Nonstick pans or bowls make cleanup so much easier.
- Work Quickly: Melted caramel thickens as it cools-use right away or keep warm as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can melt any type of wrapped soft caramels in the microwave. Kraft makes the most classic wrapped candies but there are plenty of other brands that will work, too. Avoid the hard caramel candies.
For an 11 ounce bag of caramel candies, it usually takes 1-2 minutes for the caramels to melt completely when heated in the microwave.
You don’t have to, but adding just 1 tablespoon of water, milk, or cream will ensure that the caramel sets up slightly soft when it cools. The more liquid you add, the softer it will be so depending on what you use the melted caramel for, you may want to increase it to 2 tablespoons to get your desired consistency.
Yup! Just place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can remelt again, making sure to add just a small splash of water since you will no longer have the entire 11 ounces of caramel.
You sure can! You’ll just need to add the caramels and water to a bowl that is able to fit inside of the crock pot without touching the sides. Fill the crock pot with water up to the height of the caramels in the bowl, then cover and cook on high for about 2 hours.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerator: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- To reheat: to reheat, transfer to a microwave-safe container or a saucepan and reheat as directed above, adding slightly less water.
More Caramel Recipes You’ll Love
How to Melt Caramel
Ingredients
- 11 ounces caramel candies, unwrapped
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
How to Melt Caramels in the Microwave
- Unwrap the individual caramel candies and place in a microwave safe bowl along with 1 tablespoon of water.
- Microwave on high for about 1 minute, stir well, then heat longer if needed to make the caramel completely smooth.
Stovetop Method
- Unwrap the individual caramel candies. Place in a medium sized saucepan on the stovetop and add 1 tablespoon of water.
- Heat the caramels on medium low heat while stirring for 2-3 minutes, or until completely smooth.
Notes
- Storing Instructions: store melted caramel in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- To reheat: to reheat, transfer to a microwave-safe container or a saucepan and reheat as directed above, adding slightly less water.
Nutrition
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More Easy Caramel Recipes To Try
- Caramel Pecan Pie
- Caramel Pecan Monkey Bread
- Homemade Caramel Popcorn
- Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
- Caramel Apple Nachos
- More Homemade Desserts
- More Best Caramel Desserts
Melting caramel is a simple kitchen hack that will save you loads of time. Use this quick and easy melted caramel to make caramel apples, sauce, popcorn, and more.
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