Apple Cider Caramels

Apples· Candy & Confections· Desserts· Fruit· Gluten Free· No-Bake· Recipe Index

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These Apple Cider Caramels are soft, sweet, and absolutely full of apple flavor! They’re sprinkled with flaky salt for a perfect sweet treat.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about making your own candy. I always feel way more successful after an awesome batch of caramel or toffee than I do about a great batch of cookies – but the truth is, there’s no need for it to feel like an accomplishment, because it’s really not that hard!

(But you should still totally feel great about making these, because they’re awesome and everyone will love ’em).

As long as you have an accurate candy thermometer, you’re in business. Candy does require a close eye, but only for a few minutes, and it all comes together so quickly that as long as you have all your ingredients put together before you start the recipe, you’ll be golden.

The one time consuming part of this recipe is reducing the cider, which is also easily the most important part. It takes about 45 minutes (in my case, this may vary about 10 minutes in either direction), but doesn’t require a close eye, just a few stirs every once in a while. What you get after reducing for 45 minutes is the ultimate apple-y syrup that tastes ridiculously incredible.

A great apple cider really is key here. You don’t want to use some lame apple juice – you want good, fresh from the apple farm cider. I used a brand called Lattin’s which is made super close to me and is some of the best apple cider I’ve probably ever tasted. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, I highly recommend trying to get your hands on it. It’s freshly made by hand with no preservatives or sweeteners and literally tastes like biting an apple. Heavenly!

Your caramel is going to taste like a potent version of whatever apple cider you use, so make sure it’s a good one! Scour your grocery’s refrigerated section for some fresh cider, or try and find it at a local farmer’s market. Just make sure it’s delicious!

After you reduce your apple cider, you’re left with a thick syrup, to which you add all the normal caramel ingredients and watch magic happen in just 5 minutes of simmering. Your house will smell like fall in the best way possible, I promise!

After letting your caramel harden up, add just a sprinkle of Maldon flaky sea salt (so, so highly recommended! I get mine from Vitacost). If you don’t have flaky sea salt, use a little less of a coarse sea salt.

These slice up into little squares quite nicely with a super sharp knife or my recommended method, using a pizza cutter! Wrap them in parchment squares, and you have the most adorable little caramels ever. These apple cider caramels are the perfect gift, or the perfect sweet treat to grab when you just need some sugar. They taste like a burst of fall in your mouth, and who doesn’t want that?!

Give ’em a go – I doubt you’ll be disappointed you did! Enjoy!