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You are here: Home / Recipes / Desserts / How to Make Homemade Salted Caramels and Holiday Cookies at Home

Desserts

How to Make Homemade Salted Caramels and Holiday Cookies at Home

What is your favorite candy? My all-time favorite is salted chocolate caramels. I adore the rich flavors and salty-sweet combo, but you don’t need me to tell you that they can be a tad pricey! I felt sure I could make my own, and thanks to Ghirardelli Melting Wafers, I was right! Since this candy coating is made by San Francisco’s premium chocolate maker, you know these salted caramels are going to be good!

Homemade Salted Caramels and Valentine's Cookies #BakeWithGhirardelli #sponsored

Easy Homemade Salted Caramels Recipe

You would never know these tasty candies weren’t store-bought, and you can make about four dozen of them for around $10! All you need is a 12 oz. bag of Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers, a bag of individual caramel squares, and some coarse sea salt. (I bought a jar of salt with an adjustable grinder, which was included in my $10, but you might already have some on hand.)

Homemade Salted Caramels and Valentine's Cookies #BakeWithGhirardelli #sponsored

How to Make Homemade Salted Caramels: STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL

Simply unwrap your caramels (if individually wrapped), and melt your wafers in the microwave according to the package directions. Mine took about 75 seconds, stirring twice during heating, but microwaves are all different. I suggest melting your candies in a wide glass or glass measuring cup if you have one instead of a bowl so your melted wafers aren’t too shallow for dipping.

Layout a sheet of parchment or waxed paper to hold your dipped caramels, and have a couple of dozen toothpicks ready. Now you are ready to make your very own candy-coated salted caramels!

Insert a toothpick into the top of the caramel, and dip it completely in the melted wafers.

Hold it over the glass or bowl for a few seconds to allow the excess coating to drizzle off. You can tap the toothpick on the side of the glass to help this process along.

Homemade Salted Caramels and Valentine's Cookies #BakeWithGhirardelli #sponsored

Place your gorgeous candy on the parchment, and use another toothpick to help gently remove the first one. Admire the delicious sheen for a few moments before moving on. I dipped these two at a time to make it go more quickly.

When you have about six candies dipped and waiting on the parchment, sprinkle your desired amount of coarse sea salt over the top. (Be sure to do this step before the coating hardens, not after you have dipped them all.)

Your candies will harden and be ready to eat pretty quickly, in about a half-hour.

Homemade Salted Caramels and Valentine's Cookies #BakeWithGhirardelli #sponsored

How to Make Homemade Holiday Cookies

Now, I said you could make around four dozen candies with these supplies, but I just made a sample batch. I used about half the bag of wafers and dipped 15 caramels, leaving me with melted wafers just waiting to coat something. You don’t need me to tell you that there aren’t many things that aren’t delicious dipped in chocolate-flavored candy coating.

I could have raided the kitchen for potato chips, pretzels, strawberries, and countless other things to make some tasty treats. Instead, I grabbed some prepared shortbread cookies, animal crackers, and heart sprinkles and set to work.

Homemade Salted Caramels and Valentine's Cookies #BakeWithGhirardelli #sponsored

Dip the cookies just like the caramels, and top them with festive sprinkles instead of salt. These candy-dipped holiday cookies turned out to be so delicious and cute!

My boys were really excited to have these treats waiting for them after school, and I might make up more for them to take to their friends and teachers on Valentine’s Day. I especially loved the animal crackers. They are so crisp and lightly sweet that the candy coating really shined.

What will YOU dip in your Ghirardelli Dark or White Melting Wafers? Get creative, or check out some of their recipes!

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44 Comments

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Comments

  1. EB says

    October 22, 2015 at 10:15 pm

    What an inspiration. I will make them. :)

    Reply
    • Andi Gleeson says

      October 28, 2015 at 9:48 pm

      Glad you like this one, EB. They are really fun to make!

      Reply
  2. Misty says

    December 23, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    I made these today for one of our Christmas candies and they are as easy as they sound and very yummy. They look like they came straight out of the candy store in Cambria, CA. You know the ones you pay 50 cents a caramel for? I’d love to feature these on my blog, with your permission.

    Reply
    • Andi says

      December 23, 2014 at 9:40 pm

      I’m so glad you liked them, Misty! I’d love for you to feature them, but can you please link to me with a no-follow link? Thanks so much, and have a great holiday!

      Reply
      • Misty says

        December 25, 2014 at 8:50 pm

        Absolutely! Thank you!

        Reply
  3. Meghan @ Freezer Friendly Moms says

    December 4, 2014 at 2:39 pm

    Love this idea! Super simple and what a great holiday gift for neighbors and coworkers! Can’t wait to try it out. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      December 6, 2014 at 8:57 am

      Thank you so much, Meghan!

      Reply
  4. SJ “Mrs Chasing the Donkey” Begonja says

    February 16, 2014 at 11:59 am

    YUM, YUM… YUUUUM
    Did I say YUM already? (stopping by from SITS)

    Reply
    • Andi says

      February 16, 2014 at 9:46 pm

      Hi! I feel the same way about salt+caramel+chcocolate ;) Thanks so much for coming over! I’m still catching up on my SITS comments but will be over to your neck of the woods shortly!

      Reply
  5. Kyomm (Vow. Move. Live.) says

    February 13, 2014 at 1:15 pm

    oh gosh, perhaps strawberries, I hear they are lovely with chocolate! #SITSBlogging

    Reply
    • Andi says

      February 13, 2014 at 3:12 pm

      Hi, Kyomm. Yes, this would be perfect for strawberries! Thanks so much for stopping by :)

      Reply
  6. Nancherrow says

    February 13, 2014 at 8:43 am

    Salted chocolate and caramel is just about my favorite combination. These look fabulous and so easy to make. Pinned them! Stopping by from #SITSBlogging!

    Alison
    Nancherrow

    Reply
    • Andi says

      February 13, 2014 at 9:33 pm

      Mine too! Thanks so much for stopping by and for the pin. Have a nice Valentine’s Day!

      Reply
  7. Heather says

    February 13, 2014 at 7:15 am

    Love how easy those caramels would be! I’ll have to make them!
    Stopping by from the SITS challenge!

    Reply
  8. Jennifer/MealDiva says

    February 10, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    Brilliant. I LOVE this! They look so yummy!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      February 10, 2014 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks, Jennifer! I’m glad you like the idea :)

      Reply
  9. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says

    February 7, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    Andi, those salted chocolate caramels look amazing!!!! Totally need to do this next time I made a gift for friends. They are so simple, love it! Pinned and can’t wait to try girl!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      February 7, 2014 at 10:38 pm

      Thank you so much, Krista! They are so easy and great for gifts. I might make some more this weekend. Thanks so much for the pin!

      Reply
  10. Joy @ Yesterfood says

    February 5, 2014 at 8:00 am

    Andi, the chocolate and caramel combo has always been a huge favorite of mine, and also Ghirardelli, of course (Milk Chocolate Caramel Squares and Dark Chocolate Caramel Squares!), so you know I was thrilled about the idea of making my OWN chocolate covered caramels! I am so glad you brought these to Treasure Box Tuesday! PINNED! :)

    Reply
  11. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says

    February 4, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    Oh, I need to make these ASAP! I have a weakness for chocolate caramels and these look so easy! Love the little dipped shortbread cookies too!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      February 4, 2014 at 7:31 pm

      Thank you, Ashley! These did not last long in our house. I need to make more!

      Reply
  12. Bea Long says

    February 3, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    WOW Andi, this is really neat little idea. Kudos to you for this! I always make my own caramels but this is a great idea for my Sister who has to do everything yesterday..lol..maybe now I can get her to make candy finally!! Thanks for being my friend and trying to help me with my website!! I appreciate it, more than you know!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      February 4, 2014 at 7:35 pm

      Thank you, Bea! I’m so sorry I haven’t been more helpful. I wasn’t sure where to start to since I’m on the sidelines and can’t see how you log in, etc. I have a sick 2-year-old at home this week and have been caught up in my own stuff, but I’ll take another look and see if I can help!

      Reply
  13. Stacey Evans says

    February 2, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Hi Andi, I love salted caramels. These look amazing and so easy. I can’t wait to try them, I will make these for all my friends and family on Valentines day. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      February 3, 2014 at 12:49 pm

      Thank you, Stacey! These ARE really easy, and I think they will make perfect gifts. Thanks so much for your comment :)

      Reply
  14. [email protected] Cooking on the Front Burner says

    January 31, 2014 at 8:53 am

    Andi, I absolutely love the caramels! they look easy to make and covered in chocolate is perfect…. great photos also! Hope you have a great weekend… Pinning!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      January 31, 2014 at 8:16 pm

      Thank you so much, Deb! I have been waiting a while to make these, so I was very excited the opportunity with Ghirardelli came along. They are really fun to make and GOOD!

      Reply
  15. Kelly says

    January 31, 2014 at 3:34 am

    These look incredible Andi! I love salted caramel treats and they look heavenly dipped in the chocolate! Stunning photos, makes me want to reach right in and grab a few! The shortbread cookies look so pretty with the sprinkles – so festive and perfect for Valentine’s Day! Pinning! Love these :)

    Reply
    • Andi says

      January 31, 2014 at 8:20 pm

      Thank you so much, Kelly! I don’t know how I lived a full life before the salted caramel craze came along ;)

      Reply
  16. Natashalh says

    January 30, 2014 at 11:24 am

    We will finish up both my homemade Oreos and our biscotti today. I think my fiancé will be demanding these chocolate-dipped caramels if I show him this post!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      January 31, 2014 at 8:28 pm

      Too bad we don’t live close enough to trade treats. Your homemade Oreos sounds amazing!

      Reply
  17. Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy says

    January 30, 2014 at 7:06 am

    WOW. Those caramels. Swoon. We need to be neighbors so I can eat all the yummy things you make! I can’t get over your pictures, they’re beautiful! P.S. Love the red nails! :) Pinning, Andi!

    Reply
    • Andi says

      January 30, 2014 at 10:44 am

      Thank you, Jen! I don’t usually have red nails, but I went for mani/pedi while my MIL was here last weekend and decided to get fancy ;)

      Reply
  18. ELF says

    January 29, 2014 at 9:43 pm

    Wow, that looks fantastic, and relatively easy. Thanks so much for sharing, just what I (didn’t) need to tempt me, lol.

    Reply
    • Andi says

      January 30, 2014 at 10:42 am

      Thank you, ELF! I know what you mean about not needing temptation, but we all need to indulge a little ;)

      Reply
  19. Liz says

    January 29, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    oooooooohhhhh! Those are lovely, Andi :-) Divine! Did your boys enjoy?

    Reply
    • Andi says

      January 30, 2014 at 10:41 am

      Thank you, Liz! They liked the cookies the best. Maybe because I didn’t exactly share the caramels with them… I’m going to make more though!

      Reply
  20. Maria Rizalyn Pauig says

    January 29, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    I super love chocolates and caramels This is going to be an awesome treat for me this Valentine’s day. Thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Andi says

      January 30, 2014 at 10:41 am

      You are so welcome, Maria! I think you will have fun making them and even more fun eating them :)

      Reply
  21. Jane Rausch says

    January 29, 2014 at 7:15 pm

    I try to take the time to sign up or at least look at the OTHER cookers & bakers (& even a few candlestick makers) for all the recipes, old & new, they have to offer. Sometimes if I’m just cruising I even send to Pinterest the different ways the various meal planners or bakers have made the same items but with just a smidge of a difference here & there. Anyone would think I am crazy IF they didn’t KNOW exactly what I’m talking about!!! But, those of who do know do take the time & today I’m glad I found YOU. Thanks, Jane

    Reply
    • Andi says

      January 30, 2014 at 10:29 am

      Hi, Jane. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment and for reading and pinning the recipes you visit. I know I speak for all bloggers when I say that we really appreciate your support!

      Reply

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