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Home » Recipes » Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup)

Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup)

December 17, 2018 by Faith Leave a Comment

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Gingerbread Caramel Candy is a fun festive spin on soft and chewy caramel candy. If you’re looking for homemade soft and chewy caramel recipe with no corn syrup, this is the recipe for you and it’s easier to make than you might think!

Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup) Top View with Candy Unwrapped

I have a family member who is absolutely crazy about my homemade soft and chewy caramels (I won’t mention names to protect the innocent, but she’s a certain 15-year-old sugar fiend, lol), which I usually only make during the holidays as a special treat. This year I decided to spice things up with Gingerbread Caramel Candy! This aromatic soft and chewy caramel is warmly spiced with maple-y caramel notes and buttery richness.

A lot of people have asked me for a homemade soft caramel recipe that doesn’t use corn syrup. The reason many caramel recipes use corn syrup is because it helps prevent crystallization. In my Gingerbread Caramel Candy I use cream of tartar instead of corn syrup and it works like a charm.

All About Caramel

Caramel can be a bit tricky to make, so I wanted demystify the process a bit. It’s actually not hard to make, it just takes a little practice. Before you know it you’ll be making perfect soft and chewy caramel in any flavor you fancy (I suggest Gingerbread Caramel Candy for all the festive feels!).

What is Caramel?

Caramel is basically burned sugar. When sugar is cooked to 340F, it caramelizes and turns a deep amber color and takes on a rich, complex flavor.

Ingredients in Caramel

When we think of caramel, we’re usually thinking of soft and chewy caramel. The basic ingredients for soft and chewy caramel are sugar and heavy cream. I like to use cream of tartar for improved texture and to help prevent crystallization. Also, I find that a touch of salt balances out the sweetness.

Do You Have to Use Corn Syrup When Making Soft Caramels?

A lot of recipes for soft and chewy caramel use corn syrup because it helps give the candy the right texture and helps prevent crystallization. In fact, I have a recipe for Salted Caramels on my blog that uses corn syrup! However, after a bit of testing I discovered corn syrup isn’t absolutely necessary. I use a little bit of cream of tartar in this recipe instead of corn syrup, and the result is perfectly soft and chewy caramel candy.

Can You Substitute Honey for Corn Syrup in Caramel?

In caramel recipes that call for corn syrup, people often ask if they can use honey instead. Not only will the flavor be different, but you also run the risk that your caramels won’t set properly. For more information on when to use corn syrup, see David Lebovitz’s article When To Use (Or Not Use) Corn Syrup.

Front View of Wrapped Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup)

How to Make Soft and Chewy Caramel

There are two basic steps to making soft and chewy caramel:

  1. Caramelize sugar.
  2. Add butter and/or heavy cream.

Any other add-ins for flavor and improved texture are subsequent to these two main components. For example, in this Gingerbread Caramel Candy recipe I add warm gingerbread spices and a hint of molasses.

As easy as it is to make caramel, I want to talk about the method for caramelizing the sugar, because there are two different ways to do it. The first way to caramelize sugar is to cook it alone (without added water) gently until it caramelizes. The second way to caramelize sugar is to cook it with water. The benefit of adding water to sugar when making caramel is that it’s harder to scorch the caramel because the water slows down the caramelization process. However, this is also the downside of adding water to sugar when you’re making caramel; it takes a bit longer because the sugar won’t caramelize until the water evaporates out.

Do Homemade Caramels Need to be Refrigerated?

This recipe for Gingerbread Caramel Candy keeps well at cool room temperature (about 72F). I individually wrap my caramel pieces in parchment paper and store them in a container in my pantry for up to 1 month. If it’s really hot in your kitchen and you need to store these in the fridge, I recommend letting them warm to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Front View of Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup) with Candy Unwrapped

Gingerbread Caramel

You won’t believe how much this Gingerbread Caramel Candy actually tastes like gingerbread! Warm gingerbread spices marry perfectly with the complexity of caramel, and these are perfectly soft and chewy.

What Does Gingerbread Taste Like?

Gingerbread cookies, cakes, etc. are sweets that are usually warmly spiced with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and other spices. Gingerbread items may be sweetened with honey or sugar and frequently have molasses and/or brown sugar.

Spices in Gingerbread

Many gingerbread recipes include a blend of the following spices:

  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Cloves
  • Nutmeg
  • Black pepper

More Gingerbread Recipe Inspiration:

  • Gingerbread Snack Cake with Earl Grey Glaze from An Edible Mosaic
  • Gingerbread from Sugar Spun Run
  • Chewy Molasses Gingerbread Cookies from Healthy Sweet Eats
  • Gingerbread Muffins from An Edible Mosaic
  • Healthy Gingerbread Smoothie from Root + Revel
  • Gingerbread House from Sally’s Baking Addiction
  • Gingerbread Spice Syrup (For Lattes) from An Edible Mosaic

Front View Close Up of Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup)

Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup) Top View with Candy Unwrapped

Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup)

This Gingerbread Caramel Candy marries warm gingerbread spices with the complexity flavor nuances of caramel, and these are perfectly soft and chewy!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 20 pieces of caramel
Calories: 109kcal
Author: Faith Gorsky

Ingredients

  • 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Line a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with a piece of parchment paper.
  • Sift together the ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and black pepper and set aside.
  • Add the sugar, cream of tartar, salt, and water to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar caramelizes; it should be a golden amber color. To help the sugar dissolve, you can gently swirl the pan, but don’t stir. If sugar crystalizes along inside the pan, you can use a wet pastry brush to brush it down.
  • Once the sugar is amber-colored, turn off the heat and stir in the butter.
  • When the butter is melted in, stir in the cream, molasses, and spices until combined.
  • Carefully pour the caramel into the prepared pan and let it cool to room temperature before cutting (at least 4 hours, but overnight is best).
  • Carefully cut the caramel into 20 pieces with an oiled knife, wrap each in parchment paper, and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 13mg | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Calcium: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @anediblemosaic or tag #anediblemosaic!

Gingerbread Caramel Candy (Homemade Chewy Caramel Recipe No Corn Syrup) with Description

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items. Thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged: Caramel Without Corn Syrup, Christmas Foods, Desserts, Festive Foods, Gingerbread, Gingerbread Caramel, Holiday Foods, Homemade Caramel, No Corn Syrup Caramel, Soft and Chewy Caramel

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Hello! I’m Faith and I write An Edible Mosaic. This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics, with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. I focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home. Welcome to my mosaic of recipes.

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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❄️Buffalo-born + raised
☀️Florida-based
🍴Food✈️Travel📝Musings
📷Food stylist + photographer
📚Cookbook author
✨Lover of vintage things + good coffee

Instagram post 2191875618324833933_193133428 It’s tradition. @laraclevenger and I meet up, we have way too much fun working, and we eat allll the Indian food. 🙃 #lovemyjob #indianfood #shotoniphone
Instagram post 2188737294404226253_193133428 Rome, one of the oldest souls I’ve ever known. #🇮🇹 #roma #italia #wanderlust #travelgram #traveldeeper #instatravel #prettyplaces #map_of_italy #map_of_europe #earthpix #lonelyplanet #exploreyourworld #spqr #latergram #blackandwhite #iphonography #shotoniphone #photography
Instagram post 2188013014389581388_193133428 When you want alllll the cranberry bliss, but without the gluten or loads of sugar. 🙌🏻 Inspired by Starbucks cranberry bliss bars, my #paleo cranberry bliss cake is an oldie but a goodie on my other website #HealthySweetEats! It's festive and perfect for a weekend holiday baking project. ❤️ . . https://www.healthysweeteats.com/cranberry-bliss-cake-inspired-by-starbucks-cranberry-bliss-bars/ . . #glutenfree #starbuckscopycat #bakingseason #holidaybaking #f52grams #f52food #thekitchn #makesmewhole @thefeedfeed #feedfeed #cranberrybliss #cranberryblissbar #beautifulcuisines #hautecuisines #huffposttaste #yahoofood #bhgfood #eeeeeats #holidayfood #festivefood #happyfriday
Instagram post 2186463100185874499_193133428 Like velvet. 🧡 . . Swirls of Butternut Squash Puree with Fontina Cheese, Fresh Thyme, and Brown Butter, and there are no words. 😭🤯🤩🤤 Search "butternut puree" on An Edible Mosaic for the recipe --> https://www.anediblemosaic.com/butternut-squash-puree-with-fontina-cheese-fresh-thyme-and-brown-butter/ . . #thanksgiving2019 #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdinner #sidedish #f52grams #f52food #makesmewhole @thefeedfeed #feedfeed #eatyourveggies #beautifulcuisines #foodstyling #foodphotography #onmytable #eeeeeats
Instagram post 2185880916279076048_193133428 I asked my dad what he wanted me to bring for Thanksgiving. I know my uncle is making the turkey 🦃🍽 (and probably no less than 10 side dishes lol), so I wasn't at all surprised when dad said everything is all set. I told him there's no way I'm coming empty handed (and the veggie soup I made for his freezer stash doesn't count bc it's not Thanksgiving-related!), and he told me to bring "one of those crazy keto desserts" I make. 🤣 (Apparently my crazy keto dessert reputation precedes me. 🤷🏼‍♀️😆👏🏻) I'm going to try to find time to whip up something low carb, or I might go with this crowd-pleaser that makes enough to feed a crowd! If you've never made slab pie, the beauty of it is that it makes a huge pie 🥧 with minimal extra effort than what it takes to make a normal pie. (Side Note: Don't fear the pie! If even I can make a pastry crust, you definitely can. 😘) And I don't know about you, but when I indulge in pie, it's apple for me alllll the way. 🍎🍏 . . Search "apple slab pie" on An Edible Mosaic for the recipe --> https://www.anediblemosaic.com/apple-slab-pie-with-nutty-oat-crumble-topping/ . . #applepie #thanksgivingfood #thanksgivingdessert #fallfoods #thisisfall #f52grams #f52food @thefeefeed #feedfeed #thekitchn #huffposttaste #onmytable #eeeeeats #saveur #bonappetit #foodphotography #piegram
Instagram post 2185059598599567110_193133428 #ad #tillamook_partner Not gonna lie, one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers. 🙌🏻 Turkey 🦃 + cranberry sauce + fried sage 🌿 + lots of cheese 🧀 and really, this doesn’t even feel like leftovers. 💁🏼‍♀️ @tillamook . https://www.anediblemosaic.com/grilled-cheese-thanksgiving-leftovers-sandwich/ . #TogetherWithTillamook #thanksgiving #thanksgivingleftovers #grilledcheese #grilledcheesesandwich #cheeselover #cheeselife #f52grams #huffposttaste #feedfeed #eeeeeats
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