Thank you to Ghirardelli for sponsoring these Homemade Salted Caramels and Holiday Cookies.
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!
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.)
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. Lay out a sheet of parchment or waxed paper to hold your dipped caramels, and have a couple dozen toothpicks ready. Now you are ready to make your very own candy-coated salted caramels! Insert a toothpick into the top of a 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 drizzle off. You can tap the toothpick on the side of the glass to help this process along.
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.
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.
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 Valentines’ 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!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
EB says
What an inspiration. I will make them. :)
Andi Gleeson says
Glad you like this one, EB. They are really fun to make!
Misty says
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.
Andi says
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!
Misty says
Absolutely! Thank you!
Meghan @ Freezer Friendly Moms says
Love this idea! Super simple and what a great holiday gift for neighbors and coworkers! Can’t wait to try it out. Thanks!
Andi says
Thank you so much, Meghan!
SJ “Mrs Chasing the Donkey” Begonja says
YUM, YUM… YUUUUM
Did I say YUM already? (stopping by from SITS)
Andi says
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!
Alyssa// Runway Chef says
You have some yummy looking recipes on your site, but these definitely are my favorite! Can’t say no to chocolate and caramel! #SITSBlogging
Andi says
Thanks, Alyssa! I’m looking forward to checking out more of your recipes too :)
Kyomm (Vow. Move. Live.) says
oh gosh, perhaps strawberries, I hear they are lovely with chocolate! #SITSBlogging
Andi says
Hi, Kyomm. Yes, this would be perfect for strawberries! Thanks so much for stopping by :)
amy says
Oh I should make these tonight with my step daughter… Her and her daddy LOVE caramel! #SITSBlogging
Andi says
That will be perfect for Valentine’s Day tomorrow! I hope you have a fun evening. Thanks so much for stopping by :)
Nancherrow says
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
Andi says
Mine too! Thanks so much for stopping by and for the pin. Have a nice Valentine’s Day!
[email protected] is How I Cook says
I could get into big trouble if i made these. Sorry for missing the link up. Been a bit overwhelmed the last few weeks!
Heather says
Love how easy those caramels would be! I’ll have to make them!
Stopping by from the SITS challenge!
http://www.hgifford.blogspot.com
Jennifer/MealDiva says
Brilliant. I LOVE this! They look so yummy!
Andi says
Thanks, Jennifer! I’m glad you like the idea :)
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
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!
Andi says
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!
Joy @ Yesterfood says
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! :)
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
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!
Andi says
Thank you, Ashley! These did not last long in our house. I need to make more!
Bea Long says
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!
Andi says
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!
Stacey Evans says
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!
Andi says
Thank you, Stacey! These ARE really easy, and I think they will make perfect gifts. Thanks so much for your comment :)
[email protected] Cooking on the Front Burner says
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!
Andi says
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!
Kelly says
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 :)
Andi says
Thank you so much, Kelly! I don’t know how I lived a full life before the salted caramel craze came along ;)
Natashalh says
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!
Andi says
Too bad we don’t live close enough to trade treats. Your homemade Oreos sounds amazing!
Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy says
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!
Andi says
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 ;)
ELF says
Wow, that looks fantastic, and relatively easy. Thanks so much for sharing, just what I (didn’t) need to tempt me, lol.
Andi says
Thank you, ELF! I know what you mean about not needing temptation, but we all need to indulge a little ;)
Liz says
oooooooohhhhh! Those are lovely, Andi :-) Divine! Did your boys enjoy?
Andi says
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!
Maria Rizalyn Pauig says
I super love chocolates and caramels This is going to be an awesome treat for me this Valentine’s day. Thank you so much.
Andi says
You are so welcome, Maria! I think you will have fun making them and even more fun eating them :)
Jane Rausch says
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
Andi says
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!