Homemade Amish Caramels

The Amish are legendary for their homemade candies.  When I explore Amish communities, I am always on the look-out for bakeries. That’s a given.  But, for me, the “Holy Grail” of a discovery in an Amish settlement is when I see a little hand-made sign pointing the way to a candy store. 

Amish candy stores are often tucked away in an outbuilding on a summer kitchen on someone’s property.  You make some amazing finds, like these homemade Amish caramels!

Jump to:

• 🍬 Ingredients for Caramels
• 📋 Instructions for Caramels
• 🍬 Amish Caramel Recipes
• 🖨️ Full Recipe

I’ve stumbled upon Amish candy stores in Hardin County and Holmes County, Ohio, and in the Conewango Valley of New York.  Ah, nothing like some homemade peanut butter eggs. Or, in the case of today, homemade Amish caramels.

A skilled Amish candymaker will turn out recipes for homemade turtles, peanut clusters, Rocky Road candy, and, yes, homemade caramels.  Candy, in general, is a big draw in Amish kitchens around Christmas. This is how an Old Order Amish grandmother described her Christmas gatherings when she was a child, which would have bene in the 1930s and 40s in Berne, Indiana:

After a big meal was served Grandma and Grandpa would pass out a bag of candy, a dish, and an orange to all their grandchildren and then they would also give gifts to their children. After an enjoyable day we would go home I would take my candy out of the bag piece by piece and then put it back in. I was so proud to own that whole bag of candy. I also enjoyed the Christmases at home. We would usually sit around the stove eating peanuts from the shell and oranges. Mom would always have all kinds of Christmas goodies like fudge, peanut butter balls, peanut brittle, peanut clusters, popcorn balls, chocolate covered pretzels, and Ritz crackers filled with marshmallow crème and peanut butter dipped in chocolate.

This is a recipe that I got from an Amish candymaker in Ohio and it’s so simple, so tasty.

You think of caramels as being something very difficult to make, but this recipe is pretty accessible and perfect for Christmas. Give someone a tin of these and you’ll amaze them when you tell them you made them. 

It's amazing how basic and easy this recipe is, you probably have all the ingredients at home.

Be sure to use a knife dipped in hot water for easier cutting.

And you can enjoy some homemade caramels that taste like they came from the candy store!

When you are cooling the caramels, the best way is just to stick them in the fridge overnight or a for a few hours, they'll set better and be easier to cut. This recipe makes about 60 - 70 pieces of caramel.

What makes this recipe so amazing is how easy and basic it is, true to Amish tradition. I mean, six ingredients is all. Now, you could experiment and add a hint of cinnamon, a tablespoon of brown sugar, or some sea salt. Perhaps even a pinch of cayenne for those of you who like heat in everything. But the basic baseline recipe below works quite well. Enjoy!

🍬 Ingredients for Caramels

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups corn syrup
• 1 cup light cream
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

📋 Instructions for Caramels

1. Cook sugar, syrup, cream, salt, and butter to 250 degrees or until it forms a firm ball when dropped in cold water.
2. Add vanilla. Pour immediately into greased square pan.
3. Cool.
4. Turn out of pan and cut into squares with sharp knife dipped in hot water.
5. Wrap each piece in waxed paper.
6. Makes about 2 pounds.

🍬 Amish Caramel Recipes

Caramel is great as a candy, but it also works well in pies and other desserts!

Amish No-Mess Caramel Pie

A wonderful pie that came across in Canada!

Amish Caramel Bars

These are so good!

Amish Caramel Cinnamon Rolls

How could you not like these?

Mennonite Chocolate-Caramel Cake

Delicious!

🖨️ Full Recipe