Salted Whiskey Caramels

These salted whiskey caramels are a mouthwatering treat that perfectly combines the warmth of whiskey, the sweetness of caramel, and the satisfying crunch of sea salt. This blog post will guide you through the process of making irresistibly delicious whiskey salted caramels from the comfort of your own home!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love these Caramels
• Ingredients
• How to Make the Caramels
• Tools to Make this Recipe
• Tips and Tricks
• Frequently Asked Questions
• 📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love these Caramels

Before we jump into the recipe, let's take a moment to appreciate the magic of whiskey salted caramels. These delightful caramels offer a harmonious blend of flavors. The caramel provides a rich, sugary base, the whiskey imparts a warm and slightly boozy kick, and the sea salt adds a touch of savory perfection. Homemade whiskey salted caramels are an ideal treat for indulging yourself or gifting to loved ones.

Ingredients

Here are the eight ingredients to make the delicious whiskey salted caramels:

• Unsalted Butter: You can use salted if needed. Make sure that your butter is room temperature so it doesn't separate from the caramel mixture.
• Granulated Sugar
• Light Corn Syrup
• Maple Syrup: Maple and whiskey go together like peanut butter and jelly in my opinion which is why this recipe calls for maple syrup. You can substitute for corn syrup if you'd like. I recommend using pure maple syrup.
• Evaporated Milk
• Whiskey: Use your favorite kind of whiskey for these. If you want to get creative, you can use flavored whiskey such as peanut butter whiskey or pecan whiskey. You can also sub for other alcohol such as bourbon.
• Heavy Cream: I recommend using heavy cream for these. You can look to substitute half and half but it will change the final consistency and you will likely need to adjust the amount so it's not recommended to substitute.
• Sea Salt: Use a course or flaky sea salt for this recipe.

How to Make the Caramels

Caramels can be finnicky to make. However, I have done my best to lay out step-by-step how to make them along with process photos to guide you.

Step 1: Line an 8" square pan with parchment paper.

Step 2: Combine the butter, sugar, corn syrup, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the mixture begins to boil.

Step 3: Slowly add evaporated milk, whisking constantly. The mixture must maintain a constant boil to avoid curdling so you will add this extremely slowly and likely in batches!

Step 4: Continue stirring until mixture reaches the firm ball stage (245℉-249℉).

Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in the whiskey and heavy cream.

Step 6: Pour the caramel into the prepared dish and top with sea salt, if desired. Cool in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. When ready, remove caramels from the refrigerator to set at room temperature. Cut into squares and wrap in wax paper.

Tools to Make this Recipe

Here are the key tools needed to make this recipe:

• Sauce Pan
• Candy Thermometer
• 8" Pan
• Wax Paper for wrapping the caramels

Tips and Tricks

Like I said earlier, caramel can be finnicky. However, I'm going to give you some tips and tricks to help you make the best salted whiskey caramels possible!

Temperature: For caramels, you want to heat the mixture to a firm-ball stage which is 245-249℉. However, this applies to those at sea-level. For every 1,000 ft above sea level you are located, you will want to reduce that boiling temperature by about 2℉. I highly recommend you invest in a candy thermometer if you're going to make caramels!

Prepare Your Ingredients: It's important to have your ingredients measured out and ready to go once you start the process of making these caramels. Once the caramels start to boil, things advance pretty quickly so it's important to be paying attention and ready to go so you don't overcook them.

Saucepan Size: It's important to use a medium to medium-large sized saucepan for this recipe. It may look like it's way too big for the job but the mixture will bubble up pretty significantly and you don't want it to boil over!

Cutting and Wrapping Caramels: These caramels are very soft which is why I love them! However, it doesn't make them quite as easy to cut and wrap. To avoid your caramel turning into a sticky mess, there are a few simple things you can do.

1. Lightly spray your knife with nonstick spray before cutting the caramels. This will keep them from sticking to the knife. You may need to re-spray it a couple of times throughout the process.
2. Second, cut and wrap your caramels while they are cold. The reason that these caramels are recommended to be stored in the refrigerator is because they maintain their shape and don't become as sticky when they are cold so it's recommended to cut and wrap them when they are cold.
3. Either pre-cut your wax paper or buy pre-cut wax paper. This will help you not waste time and allow the caramels to come to room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating at the bottom of the page! This helps me get feedback on the recipes as well as helps other readers. If you love my recipes, feel free to subscribe to my newsletter or follow me at the social media links below so you don't miss new recipes! I appreciate you taking the time to view my blog and appreciate when you share it with others!

📖 Recipe