To start crafting your irresistible soft apple cider caramels, the key lies in gathering your ingredients. Before diving into the cooking process, ensure you have fresh apple cider, heavy cream, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and flaky salt at hand. By having all the necessary components ready, you’ll seamlessly move on to preparing the apple cider reduction for the perfect caramel base.

How to Make Chewy Apple Cider Caramel Candies

APPLE CIDER REDUCTION

To create a rich and flavorful caramel base for your apple cider caramels, you must first prepare the apple cider reduction. This step is crucial in intensifying the apple flavor and ensuring a smooth texture in your caramels. By reducing the apple cider to a concentrated syrup, you’ll enhance the overall taste of your candies. Once the reduction is ready, you’ll be all set to move on to making the perfect caramel base.

APPLE CIDER REDUCTION INGREDIENTS LIST-full printable recipe below in recipe card

• 2 cups good apple cider

APPLE CIDER REDUCTION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
2. Pour apple cider into a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil.
3. Turn down the heat to a soft simmer.
4. Boil the apple cider until reduced to ¼ cup (about 45 minutes).
5. CANDY MAKING TIP: If you are uncertain about the ¼ cup it won’t hurt the candy-making process if you want to pour the reduction into a ¼ cup measuring cup to make sure the reduction hasn’t gone too far.

MAKING THE CARAMEL BASE

Next, you will transform the apple cider reduction into a decadent caramel base that will give your candies a luscious and indulgent texture. This process involves combining the reduced apple cider with sugar, butter, and cream to create a creamy and smooth caramel mixture. Perfecting the caramel base is essential to achieving that irresistible softness in your apple cider caramels.

APPLE CIDER CARAMEL CANDY INGREDIENTS LIST-full printable recipe below in recipe card

• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Optional topping: flaky salt

SOFT APPLE CIDER CARAMEL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Remove apple cider reduction from the heat, and add the butter, cream, and sugars.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Return the caramel mixture to the heat set at medium-high.
4. Insert the candy thermometer, and bring the caramel mixture to a boil.
5. Continue boiling until the candy mixture reaches the firm ball stage (245°-250°). DO NOT STIR
6. Remove the candy from the heat, and stir in the cinnamon and salt.
7. Continue stirring until there are no longer any bubbles.
8. Pour caramel into the prepared loaf pan.
9. Refrigerate until the caramel has set (about 1 hour)
10. Sprinkle with flaky salt
11. Cut into 40 pieces (see below diagram)

What is Flaky Salt?

Flaky salt is a type of salt with a distinctive flat, flaky shape and a crunchy texture. It’s also known as flake sea salt or Fleur de sel. Where can I find flaky salt? I purchased my flaky salt at Walmart. What is a good substitute for flaky salt? Kosher salt will not give you that wonderful flat flaky look. When it comes to flavor, kosher salt is a good substitution.

How to Cut Caramels

With the right tools cutting caramels is easy. Now onto how to get 40 pieces of melt-in-your-mouth caramel candy. 1. Use the parchment paper to pull the candy out of the pan. 2. Remove the paper and place on a hard cutting surface. 3. Make FOUR cuts from the top to the bottom along the 9-inch of the candy. 4. Then make 10 slices across the 5-inch caramel.

HELP! My knife is getting stuck! Below are a few helpful tips for cutting homemade caramels.

• When to cut: Cut caramels while they are still cold from the refrigerator. They will be easier to cut and wrap. 
• Use a sharp knife: A sharp, lightly oiled knife works best. 
• Mark your cuts: Before cutting, mark out your desired shapes. For example, you can cut the pan into strips first, then make horizontal cuts. 
• Clean your knife: Clean your knife between each cut to get very neat slices. 
• Use a scraper: A stainless steel scraper can help you get even lines. 
• Use an accordion cutter: An accordion cutter has rotary wheels that allow you to control the width of your cuts. 
• Use scissors: Using scissors for cutting caramel makes the cutting process super easy. But, if you desire straight perfect cuts then scissors are not the way to go.

OTHER HOMEMADE CARAMEL RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

• HOMEMADE COOKIE BUTTER CARAMEL
• HOMEMADE SALTED CARAMEL
• RUM CARAMEL
• EASY CARAMEL SAUCE
• EASY ESPRESSO CARAMEL SAUCE
• EASY PUMPKIN CARAMEL SAUCE

How to Store Homemade Caramel Candy

WRAPPERS: They keep caramels fresh, you can wrap them individually in wax paper or parchment paper and twist the ends to close. CLICK HERE FOR THE WRAPPERS I USED→Wax Paper Squares

ROOM TEMPERATURE: Store the caramels in an airtight container in your kitchen’s cool, dry area. This will create a waterproof seal around the candies. At room temperature, soft caramel candies will last as long as nine months.

FREEZER: Store in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to a year. Before eating, allow the caramels to thaw and soften for at least an hour.

ENJOYING AND SHARING YOUR DELICIOUS CREATIONS

Now that your apple cider caramels are set and ready to be enjoyed, it’s time to savor each bite and share the deliciousness with those around you. These soft and chewy treats are perfect for indulging in during cozy evenings by the fire or for giving as gifts during the holiday season. As you prepare to share your culinary creations, consider including them on a festive Christmas candy tray, adding a touch of sweetness to your holiday celebrations. Arrange your apple cider caramels alongside other holiday treats like peppermint bark, sugar cookies, and white chocolate eggnog truffles for a delightful assortment that will surely impress your guests. The colorful array of candies and treats will not only look beautiful on display but will also provide a variety of flavors and textures for everyone to enjoy. So go ahead and create a Christmas candy tray that will be the highlight of your holiday gatherings, filled with homemade goodness that will bring joy to all who indulge.

MORE HOMEMADE CANDY RECIPES

Candy….the gift of homemade candy is always appreciated. Whether that’s for the holidays or a sweet thank you. Here you will find OVER 180 easy-to-make candy recipes with tons of fudge recipes, marshmallows, mixes, and even MICROWAVE PEANUT BRITTLE that is delicious! CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE COLLECTION→CANDY/FUDGE

• CANDIED ORANGE PEEL
• OLD-FASHIONED DIVINITY CANDY
• FRUITCAKE FUDGE
• WHITE CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS EGGNOG TRUFFLES
• PUMPKIN SPICE ALMOND ROCA
• HOMEMADE FLUFFY PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

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In just a few easy steps, you can create a batch of irresistibly soft apple cider caramels that will delight your taste buds and impress your loved ones. Whether you choose to share them as a thoughtful gift or savor them all to yourself, these homemade treats are sure to bring joy this holiday season. So why wait? Start making your own batch of apple cider caramels today and experience the magic of this delicious recipe.💗Sheryl