The Story & Intro
There’s something magical about December the twinkling lights, the cozy sweaters, the smell of cinnamon drifting through every corner of the house. And every year, like clockwork, I find myself craving cinnamon caramel Christmas candy. Not the store-bought kind, but the homemade chewy squares that melt on your tongue and taste like pure holiday cheer.
Bonjour my friends! 👋 I’m Lacamorea, a 31-year-old French girl who traded the cobblestone streets of Paris for the cozy kitchens of America 🇫🇷➡️🇺🇸. Ever since I could reach the countertop, I’ve been whisking, stirring, and sneaking tastes of cake batter when no one was looking 🍰😋. Cooking isn’t just my passion it’s my love language, my therapy, and my favorite way to make people smile.
And oh, cinnamon caramel Christmas candy really is one of my go-to “smiles in candy form.”
Back in France, Christmas markets always smelled like spiced sugar and roasted chestnuts, and I adored watching the old-fashioned candy makers pull shiny strands of caramel into ribbons. When I moved to the States, I started experimenting in my own kitchen, trying to recreate that nostalgic, warm, cinnamon-spiked sweetness. My American friends were instantly obsessed and now, these little golden squares are one of my signature holiday gifts. I tuck them into tins, tie them with festive twine, and deliver them like sugary joy bombs.
If you love buttery caramel, cozy cinnamon flavor, and ridiculously delicious homemade treats, then this cinnamon caramel Christmas candy is going to become your new holiday tradition too. Let’s make some magic. 🎄✨
⏱️ Time
- Prep: 10 minutes
- Cook: 20–25 minutes
- Cool: 2 hours
- Total: About 2.5 hours
🛒 Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make a perfect batch of chewy, buttery, cinnamon-kissed caramel candy:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1–2 tsp ground cinnamon (depending on how cozy you want it!)
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- Optional: flaky sea salt for topping
- Optional: red & white holiday sprinkles
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prep Your Pan
Line an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper, making sure it hangs over the sides for easy lifting later. Lightly butter the parchment.
2. Melt the Butter
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan (trust me don’t use a flimsy one), melt the butter over medium heat.
3. Add Sugar & Syrup
Stir in the brown sugar and corn syrup. Keep mixing until everything combines into a glossy, sweet mixture.
4. Pour in the Condensed Milk
This is when the magic begins. Add the sweetened condensed milk and keep stirring. Caramel can burn quickly, so don’t walk away! Continue cooking until it reaches a gentle simmer.
5. Heat to Soft-Ball Stage
Attach a candy thermometer to your pot. You’re looking for 238–242°F (soft-ball stage).
This usually takes about 12–15 minutes. Stir frequently!
6. Add Cinnamon & Vanilla
Remove the caramel from heat and immediately stir in:
- vanilla
- cinnamon
- sea salt
The cinnamon will perfume the whole kitchen. Holiday heaven. 😍
7. Pour and Cool
Carefully pour the hot caramel into your prepared baking dish. Smooth the top if needed.
Optional toppings:
• flaky sea salt
• festive sprinkles
• a dusting of cinnamon sugar
Let the caramel cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
8. Slice Into Candy Squares
Lift the caramel out by the parchment, transfer to a cutting board, and cut into small squares. Wrap each one in wax paper for gifting or eat them unwrapped if patience isn’t your strong suit!
Serving Suggestions
These cinnamon caramel Christmas candies are delicious on their own, but here are some fun holiday ways to serve them:
- In gift tins with cookies, fudge, and peppermint bark
- As coffee stirrers drop one into hot coffee for a cinnamon caramel latte
- Chopped over ice cream for a festive sundae
- Wrapped in wax paper and tucked into stockings
- Melted into hot cocoa for extra indulgence
- Paired with apple slices as a sweet dipping caramel
📝 Notes
- Storage: Keep candies in an airtight container at room temp for 2–3 weeks.
- For firmer caramels: Heat to 244°F.
- For softer caramels: Stop at 236°F.
- Add more cinnamon if you want a stronger holiday spice flavor.
- Want a spicy kick? Add a pinch of cayenne trust me, it’s delightful.
🍽️ Nutrition (per square, approx.)
- Calories: 95
- Fat: 5g
- Carbs: 14g
- Sugar: 12g
- Protein: 1g
📜 Recipe Card
Cinnamon Caramel Christmas Candy 🎄✨
Ingredients 🛒
- 1 cup butter
- 2¼ cups brown sugar
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1–2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions 👩🍳
- Line an 8×8 pan with parchment.
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Add brown sugar + corn syrup.
- Stir in condensed milk; simmer.
- Cook to 238–242°F.
- Stir in cinnamon, vanilla, salt.
- Pour into pan; cool 2 hours.
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes 📝
Store up to 3 weeks in airtight container.
Nutrition 🍽️
~95 calories per square.
Conclusion
There’s something so heartwarming about making a treat that fills your home with the smell of cinnamon and sugar. It feels like a hug from the holidays warm, sweet, and nostalgic. These cinnamon caramel Christmas candies have become one of my most requested festive recipes, and I hope they become a beloved tradition in your home too.
Whether you’re gifting them, sharing them at a holiday party, or sneaking a few for yourself while wrapping presents, these little golden bites bring pure joy to every moment. And that, my friends, is what cooking is all about. 💛
Joyeux Noël and happy candy making! 🎄✨
With love,
Lacamorea