 A saucer of liquid caramel | |
| Course | Dessert or snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Europe |
| Created by | Various |
| Main ingredients | Sugar |
| Variations | Brittles, pralines, crème brûlée, and crème caramel |
Caramel (/ˈkærəmɛl/ or /ˈkɑːrməl/[1][2]) is an orange-brown confectionery product made by heating a range of sugars. It is used as a flavoring in puddings and desserts, as a filling in bonbons or candy bars, or as a topping for ice cream and custard.
The process of caramelization consists of heating sugar slowly to around 170 °C (340 °F). As the sugar heats, the molecules break down and re-form into compounds with a characteristic colour and flavour.
A variety of candies, desserts, toppings, and confections are made with caramel: brittles, nougats, pralines, flan, crème brûlée, crème caramel, and caramel apples. Ice creams sometimes are flavored with or contain swirls of caramel.[3]
- ^ New Oxford American Dictionary (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. 2010. p. 260.
- ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2011. p. 278.
- ^ "Salted Caramel Ice Cream". Epicurious.com. 15 July 2009. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2013.