Caramel

Caramel (/ˈkærəmɛl/ and /ˈkɑrməl/ and /ˈkɑrəmɛl/) refers to a range of confections that are beige to dark brown in color, derived from the caramelization of one or several types of sugars, often occurring in the traditional cooking method of a sweet. Caramel can provide the flavor in puddings and desserts, a filling in candies, or a topping for custards and ice creams.

Caramel is made by heating sugar slowly to around 170 °C (338 °F). As the sugar melts and approaches this temperature, the molecules break down into volatile compounds with a characteristic caramel color and flavor. A variety of candies, confections, and desserts are made with caramel and its products: caramel apples, barley sugar, caramel with nuts (such as praline, nougat, or brittle), and caramel with custard (such as crème caramel or crème brûlée).

Caramel coloring in contrast is a dark unsweetened liquid, the highly concentrated product of near total caramelization that is bottled for commercial and industrial use. Beverages, such as cola use caramel coloring, and it is also used as a food colorant. On labels in the EU, it is called E150.

Caramel candy

Caramel candy

Caramel also refers to a soft, dense, chewy, caramel-flavored candy made by boiling milk, sugar, butter, vanilla essence, water, and glucose or corn syrup. Caramel candy is not heated above the firm ball stage, i.e. no more than 120 °C (248 °F). This is not high enough to cause more than negligible caramelization. This type of candy is often called milk caramel.

Incorrect Usage

Caramel is commonly referred to as carmel mistakenly. Such usage is so widespread that the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably but in some cases carmel may be refer to a brand or product name rather than the caramel process.

See also

• Caramel apple an apple dipped in a soft caramel, sometimes coated in nuts
• Carambar, a brand of caramel candy bar
• Dulce de leche, caramelized sweetened condensed milk
• Dodol a caramelized coconut milk confection
• Butterscotch a hard candy with a different flavor than caramel
• Toffee a hard, sometimes chewy candy often made with nuts

bg:Карамел

da:Karamel de:Karamell es:Caramelo eo:Karamelo fr:Caramel he:קרמל ur:محروق it:caramello nl:Karamel ja:キャラメル pl:Karmel pt:Caramelo ru:Карамель th:คาราเมล fi:Sokerikulööri sv:Karamelluk:Карамель