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.
So today, let me share something truly magical: sea salt maple caramels those buttery, soft, melt-in-your-mouth bites that feel like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a cool fall evening. I still remember the first time I made sea salt maple caramels in my tiny American apartment. I had just come home from a chilly morning farmers market with a jug of pure maple syrup so fragrant I swear it perfumed the whole car ride back. One taste and I knew instantly: This syrup deserves greatness.
Growing up in Paris, caramel was a treat my maman made only on special occasions which made it feel like edible gold. When I moved to the U.S., I discovered maple syrup in a whole new way, and combining it with caramel became my little love letter to both my worlds. These sea salt maple caramels are silky, rich, and perfectly balanced with that delicate crunch of flaky sea salt. They’re the kind of treat that makes people close their eyes after the first bite.
If you’ve been craving a simple, comforting, and deeply flavorful candy, you’re in the right place. Let’s make sea salt maple caramels that taste like autumn, coziness, and a tiny bit of heaven. 💛
⏱️ Time
- Prep: 10 minutes
- Cook: 25–30 minutes
- Cooling: 2 hours
- Total: About 2 hours 40 minutes
🛒 Ingredients



Here’s what you’ll need to make a perfect batch of soft, chewy sea salt maple caramels:
- 1 cup pure maple syrup (Grade A dark amber for the best flavor)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Flaky sea salt for topping
- Candy thermometer (very helpful!)
These simple ingredients transform into something extraordinary — trust me.
👩🍳 Instructions


1. Prepare your pan
Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, making sure it overhangs the sides for easy lifting. Lightly butter the paper.
2. Warm the cream
In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over low heat until warm but not boiling. This helps prevent the caramel from seizing later.
3. Cook the maple syrup
In a larger heavy-bottomed pot, add your maple syrup. Bring it to a gentle boil over medium heat and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. It should darken slightly and smell like roasted sugar dreams.
4. Add sugar & butter
Stir in the granulated sugar and butter. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to bubble vigorously.
5. Add warm cream
Slowly pour in the warm cream while stirring. Be careful it will bubble up! This is normal and oh-so satisfying.
6. Bring to caramel temperature
Attach your candy thermometer. Cook the mixture until it reaches 245°F (soft-ball stage), stirring often. This is where the magic happens the mixture thickens, glosses, and turns irresistibly velvety.
7. Add vanilla & fine salt
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and fine sea salt. The aroma here is pure indulgence.
8. Pour & cool
Pour the caramel carefully into your prepared pan. Let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes, then sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt.
9. Chill
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until fully set.
10. Cut into squares
Lift the caramel slab from the pan and slice into small squares or rectangles. Wrap pieces individually in wax paper if you like it makes them perfect for gifting!
Serving Suggestions
Sea salt maple caramels are wonderful on their own, but if you want to elevate the experience:
- Serve with a cup of hot coffee or tea
- Pair with a cheese board (surprisingly delicious with sharp cheddar!)
- Sprinkle chopped caramels over ice cream
- Wrap as homemade holiday gifts
- Melt a few pieces to drizzle over warm apple pie
📝 Notes
- Use high-quality syrup. The flavor of the maple syrup shines through, so pick a good one.
- Dark amber syrup gives the deepest maple flavor.
- Avoid stirring too much once the caramel starts boiling it can cause crystallization.
- Store in an airtight container at room temp for 1 week or in the fridge for 3 weeks.
- For firmer caramels: cook to 248°F.
- For softer caramels: stop at 242°F.
🍽️ Nutrition (Approx. per caramel)
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 4g
- Carbs: 10g
- Sugar: 9g
- Protein: 0g
Values will vary based on size and ingredients used.
Recipe Card
📛 Sea Salt Maple Caramels
⏱️ Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
🍬 Makes: 40–50 small caramels
🍁 Flavor: Sweet, buttery, maple-rich with a salty finish
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- Flaky sea salt (for topping)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Line an 8×8 pan.
- Warm the cream.
- Boil the maple syrup 5 min.
- Add sugar & butter.
- Slowly add cream.
- Cook to 245°F.
- Add vanilla & salt.
- Pour, cool, sprinkle sea salt.
- Chill 2 hours.
- Cut & enjoy!
Conclusion
There’s something enchanting about making candy at home especially these sea salt maple caramels. They’re the perfect little fusion of my Parisian caramel memories and my American love affair with maple syrup. Every bite is soft, cozy, and irresistibly sweet with that lovely pop of sea salt on top.
And trust me once you make them, you’ll want a stash in your kitchen at all times. Whether you’re gifting them, sharing them at a gathering, or sneaking one after dinner (like I always do), they’ll become one of your favorite homemade treats.
If you try these beautiful sea salt maple caramels, I’m sending you a big bisous and a proud chef’s smile. Bon appétit, my friends! 🍬💛