The Story & Intro
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 today, oh là là, we’re diving into one of the softest, chewiest, most irresistible little candies ever created: classic chewy caramel squares. Just the words make my inner child do a happy dance. I still remember standing on my tiptoes in my grandmother’s tiny Parisian kitchen, watching her swirl a glistening pot of bubbling sugar and butter a true culinary magic show. The moment she poured the hot caramel into a tray, she’d shoo us kids away with a wink, knowing full well we’d be back five minutes later trying to sneak a still-too-hot piece. Spoiler: we always got caught.
Now that I’m living in the U.S., these classic chewy caramel squares have become one of my go-to gifts during the holidays, birthdays, or whenever someone needs a little sweetness in their day. They’re rich, buttery, gloriously chewy, and made with simple ingredients exactly the kind of comforting treat that makes a home smell like happiness.
If you’ve ever been intimidated by caramel, don’t worry. I’m right here beside you with tips, guidance, and a little French flair. And by the time you’re done, you’ll have a tray full of perfect classic chewy caramel squares that melt in your mouth and make your kitchen feel like the warmest bakery in town.
Let’s caramelize some dreams, shall we? ✨
⏱️ Time
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 25–30 minutes
- Cooling time: 2 hours
- Total time: About 2 hours 45 minutes
🛒 Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to create the most delightful, buttery batch of classic chewy caramel squares:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 ¼ cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Optional (but absolutely drool-worthy):
- Flaky sea salt for sprinkling
- Melted chocolate for drizzling
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prep Your Pan
Line an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, making sure there’s overhang on all sides. This helps you lift the caramel out later. Lightly grease the parchment with a thin layer of butter.
2. Melt the Butter
In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan (your caramel hero), melt the butter over medium heat until it becomes silky and fragrant.
3. Combine the Base
Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Stir continuously until the mixture begins to bubble. This is where the alchemy begins the sugar mixture transforms into a golden, glossy start to your perfect caramel.
4. Add Sweetened Condensed Milk
Slowly pour in the sweetened condensed milk, stirring constantly. You want everything beautifully smooth, with no lumps.
5. Cook to Perfection
Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly (yes, constantly caramel rewards devotion).
Use a candy thermometer and cook until the mixture reaches 238–242°F (soft-ball stage).
This is the secret to achieving that soft, chewy texture we adore.
6. Add Vanilla
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. The aroma alone will make your knees weak.
7. Pour & Set
Immediately pour the caramel into your prepared pan. Spread evenly with a spatula if needed.
If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top.
Let it cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
8. Cut Into Squares
Lift the caramel slab out of the pan using the parchment overhang. With a sharp buttered knife or pizza cutter, slice into small squares. Wrap pieces in wax paper if giving as gifts — or stack them onto a plate and snack shamelessly.
Serving Suggestions
- Holiday gifts: Wrap each square in parchment or wax paper and tie with a tiny ribbon. Très adorable!
- Caramel brownies: Chop up a few squares and fold into brownie batter before baking.
- Sundae topper: Warm a couple squares in the microwave for 10 seconds and drizzle over vanilla ice cream.
- Salted caramel popcorn: Melt 8–10 squares and toss with fresh popcorn.
- Coffee companion: Enjoy a chewy caramel with your morning espresso for a sweet Paris-meets-America moment.
📝 Notes
- Candy thermometer essential: Caramel is precise; hitting the soft-ball stage is key to chewiness.
- Don’t rush the stirring: If you stop, the caramel can scorch and scorched caramel is très triste.
- Use heavy cream variation: If you like an even richer caramel, replace half the condensed milk with heavy cream.
- Storage: Caramels keep for 2–3 weeks at room temperature and freeze beautifully.
- Thin or thick: For thinner caramels, use a 9×13-inch pan; for thicker ones, stay with 8×8.
🍽️ Nutrition (per square, approx.)
- Calories: 110
- Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Sugar: 13g
- Protein: 1g
- Sodium: 55mg
Printable Recipe Card
⭐ Classic Chewy Caramel Squares Recipe Card ⭐
⏱️ Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins
🍬 Yield: 36–48 squares
😍 Difficulty: Easy–Medium
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 ¼ cups light brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
👩🍳 Instructions
- Line and grease an 8×8 pan.
- Melt butter in large pot.
- Add sugar, syrup & salt; stir until bubbling.
- Add condensed milk slowly.
- Cook to 238–242°F, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.
- Pour into pan; cool 2 hours.
- Cut into squares and enjoy!
📝 Notes
- For salted caramel, sprinkle flaky sea salt before cooling.
- Wrap individually for gifting.
🍽️ Nutrition
Approx. 110 calories per square.
Conclusion
Making classic chewy caramel squares always takes me back to those joyful Parisian childhood moments the warm kitchen, the sweet aromas, the anticipation of that first irresistible bite. Now, living in America, I love sharing that nostalgia with my friends and readers. There’s something magical about taking simple pantry ingredients and turning them into golden, melt-in-your-mouth treasures that make people light up with happiness.
Whether you’re gifting them, sharing them, or savoring them quietly with a cup of coffee, I hope these caramels bring sweetness into your home the way they always do in mine. Merci for cooking with me, mon ami and until next time, keep your kitchen warm and your heart even warmer. 💛