Bourbon Caramel Candy Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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Soft chewy salted caramel squares with a hint of bourbon flavor! This Bourbon Caramel Candy Recipeis so easy to prepare, you’ll be happy to make batch after batch for friends and family this holiday season.

Why You’ll Love This Caramel Candy Recipe

One of my biggest thrills of the holiday season is gift-giving.

Receiving a gift is always nice. Yet for me, there’s nothing better than to hand someone a little memento that shows just how much Ilove them.

Gifts don’t always have to be extravagant and costly. Sometimes the gifts that speak the loudest are the ones you made by hand. You’re silently telling the recipient that they are worth your money, your creative energy, and most importantly… your precious time.

That is where homemade candy comes in! I love to make these Bourbon Caramel Candies for all of my loved ones during the holidays. It is SO much better than store-bought candy, and surprisingly easy to make at home!

The crunchy sea salt on top is like a cherry on top. It cuts the sweetness of the caramel and adds a touch of texture!

You’ve heard the sayings “Actions speak louder than words” and “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

This season, I encourage you to take the time to make one gift. If you’ve never done it before, you’ll be amazed by the impact it leaves on your friends and family.

Priceless.

Every year I spend hours making cookies and candies to package and give to loved ones.

This season among the thumbprintsand fudge, I decided to make something slightly more elegant, yet just as comforting… our newBourbon Salted Caramel Candy Recipe.

I know, I know. Candy-making sounds complicated.

However, I promise you this is the easiest and fastest caramel candy recipe you’ll ever try. Plus each little bite of this BourbonCaramel Candy Recipe is sheer magic in your mouth!

Bourbon Caramel Candy Recipe

The beauty of each little salted caramel is the creamy dreamy texture and taste that comes from ultra silky California dairy and caramelized sugar.

I love using California-made dairy products, because California has such high standards for their dairy industry, that they produce meticulously consistent dairy products. I know when I buy cheeses, milk, cream, and butter with the Real California Milk seal, I’m buying quality.

Bourbon Caramel Candy Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (5)

To make this super-easy, yet luxurious,Bourbon Salted Caramel Candy Recipe start by bringing cream, butter, sugar, bourbon, and corn syrup to a boil.

Using mostly brown sugar gives you a jump-start on the caramelization process, so it takes less time to make.

Place a candy thermometer on the edge of the sauce pot and when the temperature reaches 245 degrees F, test the caramel candy recipe by spooning a little bit into a cup of ice water. The ice water will cool the candy quickly, then you can pick it up and pop it in your mouth to see if it has the flavorand soft chewy texture you like.

If it’s too soft, or isn’t as caramelized as you like, you can simmer it a bit longer and test again.

The alcohol cooks out leaving a hint of boozy essence that give each little salted caramelakiss of something special.

Pour the molten Caramel Candy Recipe into a parchment paper-lined baking dish and cool.

Cut. Generously sprinkle with salt. Then wrap each piece in wax paper so they are easy to pass around.

Upon first taste, your loved onesare going to know just how special they are to you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is caramel candy made of?

If you have never made caramel candy at home, it is made from cream, sugar, butter and vanilla!

How long does homemade caramel candy last?

These easy caramels can be wrapped and stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks!

Can I dip caramel candies in chocolate?

Definitely! To make chocolate caramel candies, dip these caramel squares into melted semi-sweet or milk chocolate.

Looking for More Marvelous Holiday Dessert Recipes?

  • Sugared Cranberries
  • No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
  • Easy Peanut Brittle
  • Dessert Charcuterie Board
  • Tiramisu Cookies

Bourbon Caramel Candy Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (9)

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Bourbon Caramel Candy Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Amazing Bourbon Salted Caramels! This soft chewy caramel candy recipe makes the absolute and easiest salted caramel you'll ever try.

Servings: 80 + caramels

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place the sugars, heavy cream, butter, corn syrup and bourbon in a large sauce pot. Attach a candy thermometer to the edge of the pot with the tip touching the ingredients, then place over medium heat.

  • Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Allow the mixture to simmer until it reaches 245-260 degrees F andis the desired color you like for caramel. If the temperature starts rising faster than the caramel is browning, lower the heat even more to give it time to caramelize.

  • Meanwhile, line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and cut the corners so it folds into the dish neatly. Spray the parchment with non-stick cooking spray. Then prepare a cup of ice water to test the caramel. Once the caramel reaches at least 245 degrees F, use a spoon to drop a little bit of molten caramel into the ice water. Lift it out and test for texture. It should be firm enough to cut, yet soft enough to chew. If needed, simmer the caramel a little longer, but do not allow it to go over 260 degrees F. Once it's ready, stir in the vanilla extract.

  • Carefully pour the molten caramel into the prepared dish and allow it to cool completely. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the dish in the refrigerator. Once cooled, lift the whole sheet of caramel candy out of the dish by the edges of the parchment paper and cut into 1-inch squares. Sprinkle generously with sea salt, then wrap each candy in small pieces of wax paper.

Notes

Caramels can be wrapped and stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks!

Nutrition

Serving: 1caramel, Calories: 82kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Sodium: 26mg, Potassium: 11mg, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 135IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 0mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board. All opinions are my own.

This site contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission.

Bourbon Caramel Candy Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between caramel sauce and caramel candy? ›

The Difference Between Caramel Sauce and Caramel Candy

Caramel sauce ends up being a soft-set caramel candy in the fridge, and if you let caramel candy sit out in a warm room, it becomes almost a thick caramel sauce. The two are on a continuum that starts with granulated sugar and ends with carbonized sugar.

What makes caramel harder? ›

If the caramel forms a pliable soft ball, for instance, it's around 240°F. If it forms a hard ball, it's between 250°F to 260°F, etc. Sometimes recipes will even use the descriptors below to specify the stage your caramel should be cooked to. Hard toffee, brittle, etc.

What happens when caramel hardens? ›

The water evaporates, leaving sugar crystals behind. If even one sugar crystal falls back into the pan of cooking caramel, it starts a chain reaction of sugar crystals and the entire pan will harden. The result? Gross, grainy caramel that is unusable in most recipes.

What is the science of chewy caramel? ›

When we add milk and butter to the hot, hot sugar - the proteins (remember, proteins are made of amino acids) in the milk and butter undergo Maillard reactions with the sugar to generate additional flavors. SAFETY REMINDER: The temperature at which sugar reacts to form caramel is very high.

Can I use caramel sauce instead of melting caramels? ›

Caramel sauce results either from cooking sugar until it browns or by thinning melted caramel candies. When a recipe calls for melting caramel candies, you can use a homemade caramel sauce to replace the melted caramels.

Why does my homemade caramel taste bitter? ›

If your caramel sauce is bitter, it could be that your sugar burned. Lower your heat and pay attention to the color of your sugar; it should be no darker than a medium tan.

Why is my caramel candy too soft? ›

Drop a spoonful of the hot caramel into a cup of ice water and mold the caramel with your fingers into a ball. The caramel should feel pretty firm but pliable in the ice water. Caramel is too soft after it has set up: It needed to cook longer. You can pour the whole batch back in to a pot and warm it up again!

What happens if you stir caramel too much? ›

Stirring the sugar

If the melting sugar splashes up onto the sides of the pan, it quickly loses its moisture content and forms back into crystals. That can set off a chain reaction that can cause caramel to seize up, ruining the entire batch.

Why is my caramel burning? ›

Once the sugar has melted, continue cooking it until it turns into a rich amber color. It should be removed from the heat source when it begins to smoke and foam a little around the edges. Burning most commonly occurs when the caramel is left for too long on the heat source or when the temperature is too high.

What is the formula for caramel? ›

Explanation: The typical formula for caramels is C24H36O18 , so the elements of water have been removed from the sucrose.

What thickens caramel? ›

For each cup (240 mL) of caramel sauce that you need to thicken, run 1 tbsp (14.7 mL) of cold water into a measuring cup, and slowly stir in 1 tbsp of cornstarch. Pour the cornstarch mixture into your pot caramel sauce, and stir constantly. Keep the sauce on low heat until it begins to thicken.

What is a dry caramel? ›

This recipe today is the dry caramel version which means sugar melts over direct heat in a dry saucepan as opposed to dissolving sugar first in water to create a syrup before caramelizing. This method seems daunting as the sugar clumps initially, but then as it gets hot enough it will all melt into an amber syrup.

What are the two types of caramel? ›

When creating caramel, there are typically two different versions: wet caramel and dry caramel. Wet caramel refers to caramel that has been made by adding water to the sugar during the heating process.

What are the three types of caramel? ›

Caramel can be produced in so many forms such as, sauce, a chewy candy, or a hard candy because of how much of an ingredient is added and the temperature it is being prepared at.

What is another name for caramel sauce? ›

Dulce de leche directly translates as 'caramel sauce', which felt like the perfect name for this 1 ingredient caramel. With origins in Argentina, dulce de leche is a thick caramel originally made with reduced sugar and milk.

Are there different types of caramel? ›

Light caramel has a light golden brown hue, while dark caramel features a dark amber color with a slightly more bitter taste than light caramel. Various candies, confections, desserts, and beverages are made with caramel. Desserts such as flan and creme brûlée even contain a topping of caramel.

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