What Is Caramels (candy squares) and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about caramels (candy squares) and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 101 recipes to cook tonight.

What is caramels (candy squares)?

Caramels are soft, chewy candy squares made by cooking sugar with butter and cream until it turns golden and pulls into that classic stretch. The individually wrapped ones, sold by the bag, are a baking staple as much as a candy bowl treat.

Their real value in the kitchen is that they melt into a smooth sauce. Unwrap a handful, add a little cream or milk, and you have caramel for dipping or drizzling without cooking sugar from scratch and risking a burnt, crystallized mess.

Cooking With Caramels

The everyday move is melting them down for sauce. Combine unwrapped caramels with a splash of heavy cream over low heat, or microwave in short bursts, stirring between each, until smooth and pourable.

This is the base for caramel apples and the gooey center in turtle candies, where caramel binds pecans under a chocolate shell.

In baking they hide inside cookies and brownies. Man-Catcher Brownies layer a melted-caramel center through the batter, and Caramel Nut Acorn Cookies use them as a soft filling.

They also melt into frostings, as in Apple-Spice Layer Cake with Caramel Swirl Icing, and bind crunchy snacks together in Better Than Sex Chex Mix.

The key technique is low and slow. Caramels scorch easily, so keep the heat gentle and stir often. A tablespoon or two of cream per cup of caramels keeps the sauce smooth instead of stiff once it cools.

Getting Them to Melt Right

The most common failure is a grainy or seized sauce. It happens when the heat is too high or the caramels cook dry.

Always melt with a little liquid and keep the flame low. Do not walk away, because the gap between melted and burnt is short.

Caramel pairs naturally with chocolate, apples, pecans, and a pinch of salt, which is why salted caramel took over dessert menus. For dipping apples, let the melted caramel cool slightly so it coats in a thick layer instead of running straight off.

If your sauce stiffens as it sits, warm it gently and stir in a few drops of cream to bring it back.

Substitutes

The closest swap is store-bought caramel sauce or dulce de leche when you only need the melted form. Skip the melting step and use it as is. For a firmer result, butterscotch chips melt similarly, though they taste more of brown sugar than true caramel.

You can also cook caramel from scratch out of sugar, butter, and a little cream, which gives you control over flavor but takes more skill. For chewy bits inside a cookie, soft toffee bits or cut-up soft caramel candy of any brand work the same way.

Buying and Storing Caramels

Buy them soft and fresh. Squeeze a square through the bag; it should give a little, not feel rock hard, which signals stale candy that will be tough to melt evenly.

Keep the bag sealed in a cool, dry cupboard, where caramels last several months. Heat is the enemy: above about 75°F (24°C) they slump and stick together, so keep them away from the stove and out of a hot car.

If they harden, a brief warm-up softens them, and any caramel destined for melting does not need to be soft to start.

Avoid the fridge for storage, since the cold makes them brittle and they pick up odors; a stable room-temperature shelf is best.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find caramels (candy squares): Caramels (candy squares) is usually found in the candy section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Caramels (candy squares) is a member of the Sweets US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

焦糖（糖果方块）

British (UK) term

Caramels (candy squares)

en français

caramel carrés de bonbons

en español

cuadrados dulces de caramelo

How much does caramels (candy squares) weigh?

Related

Sweets

Recipes using caramels (candy squares)

There are 101 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Caramel Apple Blondies

Forget chocolate brownies. These gooey, caramel-filled blondies are heavenly.

Caramel Chip Bread for the Bread Machine

This is soooooooo good if you are looking for a bread that tastes like a caramel cinnamon bun. Chocolate or vanilla ingredients can be substituted for the caramel

Caramel Chip Bread for the Bread Machine

This is soooooooo good if you are looking for a bread that tastes like a caramel cinnamon bun. Chocolate or vanilla ingredients can be substituted for the caramel

Billion Dollar Chocolate Bar

Billion dollar chocolate bars, a homemade candy bar in four layers: a chocolate-peanut butter base, fluffy peanut nougat, gooey caramel, and a chocolate top. Like a candy-shop Snickers, made at home.

Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Squares

This favorite back-to-school treat is kicked up with a topping of creamy caramel and a sprinkling of sea salt.

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Caramel Cake

I live in Norway, but I have a good friend living in Missouri US. She sent me this recipe, and I just love it. Here in Norway we don't use pumpkin, so this was all new to me.

Better Than Sex Chex Mix

Sweet-and-salty Chex mix: chocolate cereal coated in crackly caramel, then piled with peanut butter cups, marshmallows, a triple chocolate drizzle, and flaky salt. A no-bake, gift-worthy snack.

Apple-Spice Layer Cake with Caramel Swirl Icing

"A tall, impressive cake that showcases the flavors and smells of the holidays. A three-layer extravaganza with a touch of molasses and shredded apple to keep it moist. It fills the house with a fragrance that beats the most expensive holiday-scented candle. It will be talked about long after the party is over." Source: The Pastry Queen Christmas, by Rebecca Rather

Caramel Nut Acorn Cookies

These cookies are a beloved Christmas treat. Featuring sticky caramel and pecans both inside and out, they are so adorable that I almost didn't want to eat them. However, once you take a bite, be warned - they are incredibly addictive and impossible to resist.

Man-Catcher Brownies

This decadent brownie recipe was recently clipped from my local newspaper.

Christmas Tree Cakes

Adorable Christmas tree cakes cut from a sheet cake, frosted with green cream cheese icing, and decorated with candies, sprinkles, and little candy trunks. A fun holiday baking project with kids.

Caramel Brownies

Layered caramel brownies with German sweet chocolate, a gooey melted caramel center, chocolate chips, and walnuts. Fudgy, chewy, and utterly over the top. Makes 25.

Knock You Nakeds

Knock You Nakeds, a gooey layered chocolate caramel bar made with cake mix, melted caramels, chocolate chips, and nuts. A rich, fudgy Southern potluck favorite.

Caramel-Topped Apple Pie

Crustless apple pie with a buttery graham cracker and pecan streusel, finished with a melted caramel sauce poured right over the top. Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg for a warm, gooey fall dessert.

Banoffi

Classic banoffee pie with buttery biscuit crust, rich caramel toffee, fresh bananas, and whipped cream drizzled with dark chocolate for indulgent British desserts.

Caramel Chocolate Fingers

Layered caramel chocolate finger bars using Swiss chocolate cake mix, melted caramels, evaporated milk, and semisweet chips. Just 5 ingredients and 40 minutes for 3 dozen bars.

Chocolate Turtle Cheese Cake--Microwave

Microwave chocolate turtle cheesecake layered with gooey caramel, pecans, cream cheese filling, and a chocolate chip topping. Ready in 40 minutes with no oven required.

Caramel Apple Witches

Caramel-dipped apples decorated as witches with marshmallow eyes, candy corn noses, and paper hats. A fun Halloween treat kids can help make in under 30 minutes.

Caramel Surprise Cake

Caramel surprise cake, individual molten chocolate cakes hiding frozen caramel candies that ooze when cut. Served over pooled caramel and feathered chocolate sauce.

Double Caramel Flan

Velvety custard flan with a double dose of caramel from both a golden sugar base and melted caramel candy in the custard itself. A Mexican-inspired make-ahead dessert with a gorgeous amber sauce.

Super Yummy Turtle Pie

Turtle pie layers a pecan-chocolate cookie crust with melted caramel, silky chocolate ganache mousse, and clouds of whipped cream. No-bake-ish dessert that pulls all the candy-bar flavors into one chilled pie.

Chocolate Turtles

If you're in the need for chocolate, this tasty snack is perfect for satisfying those tastebuds.

Cookie Candy Turkeys

Cookie candy turkeys assemble chocolate stars, caramels, striped chocolate cookies, and candy corn into adorable no-bake Thanksgiving favors. Kid-friendly craft dessert ready in 20 minutes.

Caramel Fondue

Two-ingredient caramel fondue made from melted caramel candy squares and water. Serve warm with apple chunks, marshmallows, and fruit for dipping, then roll in chopped nuts.

Caramel Snappers

Caramel snappers made with toasted pecan halves, melted vanilla caramels, and a semi-sweet chocolate top. A three-ingredient candy that looks like it came from a gourmet chocolate shop.

Chocolate-Covered Bugs

Chocolate-covered bugs made from caramels, red licorice legs, and melted chocolate chips, decorated with sprinkles and almonds. A fun no-bake Halloween candy project for kids.

Company Apple Pie

Company apple pie is a three-pie batch showstopper with a sugar crust, lemony apple filling, caramel sauce stripes, cream cheese topping, and chopped walnuts. Built to feed a crowd.

Chocolate Turele Cheesecake

Chocolate turtle cheesecake: vanilla wafer crust layered with caramel and toasted pecans, topped with creamy cheesecake and milk chocolate. Every turtle candy flavor in cake form.

Caramel Brownie Shortbread Bars

With three rich, sweet, buttery and chocolatey layers, every bite is a luxury enjoyment. The combination of caramel, chocolate and shortbread is enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Snicker Cake

German chocolate cake layered with gooey caramel, chocolate chips, and nuts for a candy bar-inspired dessert that tastes like Snickers in cake form.

Tortoises

Turtle cookies with pecan halves, caramel candy centers wrapped in brown sugar shortbread, and a chocolate glaze dip. Adorable candy-shop cookies from scratch.

Taffy-Apple Cheesecake Pie

Taffy-apple cheesecake pie with caramelized apples, melted caramels, cream cheese filling, and a pecan-chocolate chip crumble. A fall dessert that combines caramel apples and cheesecake in every bite.

Cheery Cherry Rolls

No-bake cherry candy rolls coated in gooey caramel and crunchy salted peanuts. Marshmallow and candied cherry fondant sliced into bite-sized holiday treats.

Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake

Lighter chocolate caramel cheesecake made with fat-free cream cheese and low-fat graham crackers. Gooey caramel layer meets chocolate chip-studded filling for guilt-free indulgence.

Caramel-Apple Euphoria

Caramelized slow-cooked spiced apples served with angel food cake and ice cream. Undoubtedly apple euphoria. Crockpot or slow cooker recipe.

Chocolate-Caramel Nut Cake

Semi-homemade chocolate cake with a gooey caramel, roasted peanut, and milk chocolate chip layer baked right into the center. Starts with a box mix and six ingredients. Tastes like a giant chocolate turtle bar in cake form.

Caramel Candy Pie

No-bake caramel candy pie with melted caramels folded into whipped cream and set with gelatin in a flaky crust. Topped with caramelized almonds.

Caramel Pecan Treasures

Buttery shortbread cookies topped with caramel, coated in melted chocolate, and pressed with chopped pecans. Homemade Turtle-style candy cookies that make a gorgeous gift box treat.

Best Caramel Pecan Pie

Caramel pecan pie skips the corn syrup and melts soft caramels into the filling instead, layered with pecan halves in a flaky crust. Richer, chewier twist on the Thanksgiving classic.

Quick Caramel Apple Pie

Caramel apple pie loads a frozen crust with cubed apples, melted caramel candies, and chopped pecans for a quick fall dessert. One bowl assembly, no peeling fuss, ready in an hour.

Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

Caramel pecan cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, melted caramel and pecan layer, and a creamy vanilla cream cheese filling. A layered dessert that's simpler than it looks.

Turtles on the Run

A buttery oat crust topped with gooey melted caramel, a layer of melted chocolate chips, and crunchy pecans, then chilled and cut into bars. Turtle candy in bar form that takes just 30 minutes to make.

Black-Eyed Susans

Three-layer Southern cookies: a buttery shortbread round spread with gooey caramel-pecan filling, then drizzled with rich chocolate icing. Named after the wildflower and just as eye-catching on a cookie tray.

Carmelitas (Squares)

Carmelita bars layer a buttery oatmeal-brown sugar crust with melted caramel, chocolate chips, and pecans, then top with more oat crumble. Classic bake-sale and potluck cookie bar.

Chewy Caramel Brownie Pie

Dense chocolate brownie baked in a pie pan, smothered with melted caramel, and topped with pecans and chocolate chips. Serve warm with ice cream for the ultimate indulgence.

Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints

Chocolate and caramel give this thumbprint cookie from Kathy T. Preston of Milwaukee a different twist.

Chewy Gooeys

Gooey caramel and chocolate chip bars made with German chocolate cake mix and pecans. A semi-homemade shortcut dessert that bakes in under 30 minutes.

Caramel-Glazed Pear Cake

This is absolutely great, full of flavor and very moist, denfinitely a keeper for my family.

Candy Bar Cookies

Candy bar cookies with a buttery shortbread base, gooey caramel-pecan filling, and chocolate glaze topped with pecan halves. Three layers that taste like a homemade Turtle.

Best Butterscotch Cookies

Chewy butterscotch cookies with dark brown sugar, chopped walnuts, and a melted caramel-cream drizzle. Each cookie crowned with a walnut half and baked low and slow.

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