Hostess Caramels

Indulge your sweet tooth with these luscious homemade Hostess Caramels, a crowd-pleasing classic perfect for gifting or savoring yourself. Made with rich, velvety ingredients like unsalted butter, sweetened condensed milk, and a touch of fine sea salt, these buttery caramels achieve the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess. Using a candy thermometer ensures precision, yielding a silky-smooth texture that melts in your mouth. With just 10 minutes of prep and a few simple steps, you’ll create bite-sized confections ideal for holiday treat boxes, party favors, or everyday indulgence. Wrap them individually for a charming, professional touch and enjoy the unmistakable taste of handcrafted caramel bliss!

Nutriscore Rating: 31/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 40

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions

Step 1

Prepare an 8x8-inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Lightly grease the lining to ensure the caramels will release easily.

Step 2

In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.

Step 3

Once the butter has melted, stir in the granulated sugar, light corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Stir well to combine.

Step 4

Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan, ensuring it does not touch the bottom. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, over medium heat until it reaches 240°F (soft ball stage). This will take approximately 20-30 minutes.

Step 5

As the caramel thickens and darkens, avoid scorching by continuously stirring and scraping the bottom and sides of the saucepan.

Step 6

Once the mixture reaches 240°F, remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and fine sea salt until evenly combined.

Step 7

Carefully pour the hot caramel mixture into the prepared pan. Use a spatula to spread it evenly. Let the caramel cool to room temperature, then transfer it to the refrigerator to firm up completely, about 1-2 hours.

Step 8

Once the caramel has hardened, lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper or foil. Use a sharp, greased knife to cut the caramel into 1-inch squares or desired shapes.

Step 9

Wrap each caramel individually in wax paper or cellophane, twisting the ends to seal. Store the caramels in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	758.7 grams (758.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3038

Total Fat 96.00g	123%
Saturated Fat 56.00g	280%
Polyunsaturated Fat NaNg
Cholesterol 248mg	83%
Sodium 1020mg	44%
Total Carbohydrate 578.10g	210%
Dietary Fiber 0.00g	0%
Total Sugars 578.10g
Protein 0.80g	2%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 25mg	2%
Iron 0mg	0%
Potassium 33mg	1%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 27.2%

Protein: 0.1%

Carbs: 72.7%