Soft Sea Salt Vanilla Caramel Squares Recipe
Soft Sea Salt Vanilla Caramel Squares are rich, creamy, and perfectly sweet caramels accented with a touch of coarse sea salt and infused with vanilla bean for a luxurious flavor. These squares make excellent gifts and are ideal for special occasions, offering a delightful balance of sweet and salty in each bite.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 65 squares 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Candy
Ingredients
Scale
For the Caramel
- 1.5 cups heavy cream (full-fat for best results)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cups light brown sugar (packed)
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup (can substitute with glucose syrup)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or vanilla paste)
- Seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean (for richer vanilla flavor)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (softened, plus extra for greasing the pan)
- Coarse sea salt (to taste for topping)
For Wrapping
- Wax paper or cellophane (as needed, for wrapping squares)
Instructions
- Preparation: Line an 8-inch square pan with foil, leaving some overhanging on two sides for easy lifting. Lightly butter the foil to prevent sticking.
- Combine Ingredients: In a heavy 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, combine the heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Stir continuously until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Dissolve Crystals: Once the mixture begins to boil, use a wet pastry brush to carefully brush down the inside walls of the pan to dissolve any stray sugar crystals. This prevents crystallization during cooking.
- Cook to Temperature: Clip on a candy thermometer and allow the mixture to bubble, stirring occasionally, until it reaches 245°F (firm-ball stage), about 15-20 minutes.
- Finish the Caramel: Remove the pan from heat and carefully stir in the salt, vanilla extract, vanilla bean seeds, and softened butter until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Set the Caramel: Pour the caramel mixture into the prepared pan and sprinkle the top evenly with coarse sea salt. Let it cool and set at room temperature for approximately 4 hours or overnight if needed.
- Cut and Wrap: Once set, lift the caramel out using the foil overhang. Cut into small squares with a sharp, lightly oiled knife for clean edges. Optionally, wrap each square in wax paper or cellophane to preserve freshness and for gifting.
Notes
- Store caramel squares in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to 3 weeks.
- To store even longer, freeze wrapped squares for up to 3 months.
- Before serving from frozen, allow the squares to sit at room temperature or warm them slightly for best texture and flavor.
Keywords: caramel squares, sea salt caramel, vanilla caramel, homemade candy, sweet and salty, gift candy
