The sweet gooey sugary brown liquid popularly known as caramel makes a great topping and is also a tasty ingredient for chocolates, puddings, pastries, candies, milkshakes and so much more!
People all over the world prepare a variety of dishes using this confectionery for festivals and holidays like Christmas and Easter. Some people even prepare caramel when there isn’t a holiday in sight because it just tastes so good. Caramel takes the routine and makes it revelatory.
History Of Caramel
Caramel was first known to be prepared by the Arabs. It is purported that people in the Arabian peninsula began making caramel around 1000 A.D. They did this by crystallizing sugar in boiling water. Over the centuries a multitude of people in a variety of countries have made hard caramels. In the United States, caramel has been a large part of the cuisine for many centuries. Since the middle of the 17th century, American settlers made hard caramel candies in large copper kettles.
In the 1880s, to make these hard candies softer, butter, milk, or cream was added to the molten sugar, transforming it into the soft and sweet caramel that we know today.
Types Of Caramel
There are 2 different ways in which one can prepare caramel sauce. Let’s take a look at the 2 ways and what makes them different from one another.
1. Wet Caramel
When cooking with wet caramel, first sugar is added along with some water to a pot and then cooked until it caramelizes. This caramel is more liquid and malleable in texture.
2. Dry Caramel
Dry caramel is made when sugar is caramelized without the assistance of water. This type of caramel is a little thicker in consistency than wet caramel.
It is very important to cook the caramel using the right temperature. Uncooked caramel appears syrupy and light in color, while overcooked caramel looks and tastes burnt. You need to be very vigilant when making caramel to achieve the desired texture and flavor. Using a well calibrated digital thermometer will help you know exactly what temperature you’re at.
Health Benefits Of Caramel
If caramel is had with some hot water or even with black tea half an hour before a meal, it signals your brain to eat less, and hence you would be less hungry. It also absorbs calcium and vitamin B.
Caramel is often used in body lotions too as it helps fight off-dry and dull skin. Research also shows that heating sugars at high temperatures contain beneficial antioxidant properties.
Culinary Benefits of Caramel
The most famous caramel dish is caramel pudding. This sweet and salty dish is a perfect dessert prepared and enjoyed by people all around the world. It is a perfect way to complete your meal.
Another popularly made dish is caramel pancakes. This makes a perfect Sunday morning breakfast. Adding caramel sauce to the pancakes makes the pancakes extremely saturated with sweetness in every bite. You can also add blueberries and strawberries to enhance the flavor of the dish.
To go along with the pancakes you can also bake some bacon with caramel sauce. It gives it a nice sweet and savory taste. Caramel also enhances the flavor of some classic dishes like eggnog creme brulee.
If you are looking for a go-to healthy snack, caramel granola with oats, almonds, and coconut is a perfect option for you. The caramel binds together all these ingredients making it more flavorful.
Looking out for some quick granola bars and krispies recipes? Look no further.
Caramel apple pies and caramel pumpkin muffins are two other sweet and delicious dishes that you can prepare for your family or for yourself when you want to indulge in something sweet. Try out our sticky buns recipe which you’ll surely relish!
If you are looking for a caramel drink, then a caramel chai latte is something you should try! Add some milk, cinnamon, tea bags, and heavy cream, and enjoy this drink on a summery day. And yes, you don’t have to order it from your corner coffee shop; caramel chai can be easily prepared at home by yourself! This caramel and hot chocolate drink is surely going to make your day!
Storage
Caramel sauce starts to harden when exposed to colder temperatures. You can leave it on your kitchen counter for a few days. It is advised to keep it refrigerated in a proper container.
You can refrigerate it for 2-3 weeks and then reheat it in a microwave. You can also store it in an airtight plastic container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Feature Image: WikimediaImages from Pixabay
