Caramel

Caramel (/ˈkærəmɛl/}^[1] ) is a beige to dark-brown sweet food. It is made by heating sugars. It is used to add flavour to puddings and desserts. It can also be as a filling, like is done in bonbons, and as a topping for ice cream, custard and coffee.

Simple sugar (Sucrose) starts to melt at about 135 °C (270 °F), without changing its color. The process called caramelisation starts when sugar is heated to at least 150 °C (300 °F), and more often to around 170 °C (340 °F). As the sugar heats, the molecules break down and turn into compounds with the colour and flavour of caramel.

Many candies and desserts are made with caramel. Some of these are caramel apples, pralines, nougats, brittles, crème caramel, and crème brûlée.

Caramel candy

Caramel candy is a soft, dense, chewy candy. It is made by boiling a mixture of milk or cream, sugar(s), butter, and vanilla flavouring. The sugar(s) are heated separately to reach 170 °C (340 °F). This turns them to caramel before the other ingredients are added.^[2] Another way of doing this is to cook all ingredients together. This way, the milk turns to caramel but the sugars do not. This type of candy is often called "milk caramel" or "cream caramel".

Caramel coloring

Caramel coloring is a dark bitter-tasting liquid. It is what is made after near-total caramelisation. It is then bottled to be used for other things. It is used as food coloring and in beverages like cola.

Caramel sauce

Caramel sauce is made from heating water and caster sugar at a low to medium temperature. This is done until the sugar dissolves and "caramelises". This changes its colour to golden brown.