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  3. 14 Ways to Cook with Caramel

14 Ways to Cook with Caramel

November 29, 2017
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Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
This salty, sweet flavor combo easily amps up your favorite popcorn and nut mix. When added to cookies, pies, or cakes, it creates a creamy layer of goodness that is worthy of the holidays. But don't save it all for yourself, because these caramel-laden desserts and snacks are too good not to share with friends and family.
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Spiced Rum-Caramel Sauce

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Spiced Rum-Caramel Sauce

Parents, coworkers, and family friends will swoon over this “adult” caramel sauce spiked with rum and warm spices. It makes an excellent final touch to pound cake, vanilla ice cream, or bread pudding. To reheat, microwave the desired amount of caramel in a microwave-safe dish at HIGH 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds until pourable.

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Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Salted Caramel Apple Pie

A quick homemade caramel sauce that’s folded into fresh apple slices and baked in a whole-grain crust takes this classic holiday pie to the next level. A hint of salt in the sauce intensifies the apple flavor and balances the sweetness. Apples contain a natural thickener called pectin; grating some of the fruit will ensure a gooey, cohesive mixture once baked. Crisp, sweet Fuji apples bake beautifully and will contrast the salty caramel. You can also use Cripps Pink or Honeycrisp apples.

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Parsnip Spice Cake with Caramel Icing

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Parsnip Spice Cake with Caramel Icing

We took a look at the original recipe published in 2003 and decided to update it with less sugar and more whole grains. Instead of boiling the parsnips, we roast them to concentrate their sweetness; this allows us to use less added sugar. We also switched from refined all-purpose flour to whole-wheat pastry flour, and simplified the format to a sheet cake. A few tweaks later, we had a moist, tender, tastier spice cake capped with an indulgent caramel-flavored cream cheese icing.

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Salted Caramel Brownies

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Salted Caramel Brownies
Every celebration calls for a decadent brownie, and whether you’re gluten-free or not, this show-stopping recipe should be in your arsenal. Two layers of bittersweet chocolate and a luscious caramel sauce and make this the ultimate salty-sweet indulgence.

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Miso-Caramel-Tamari Popcorn Mix

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Miso-Caramel-Tamari Popcorn Mix

A slightly thicker caramel and the addition of whole roasted almonds turn traditional caramel popcorn into gift-worthy popcorn mix. We use less sugar in the glaze and cut the sweetness with mild white miso (fermented soybean paste) and tamari (a richer, wheat-free soy sauce) for a salty-savory note that makes the snack incredibly addictive.

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Caramel Drizzled-Spiced Nuts

Credit: Photo: Jamie Vespa; Prop Styling: Hannah Burkhalter
View Recipe: Caramel Drizzled-Spiced Nuts

End the holiday meal with a dessert everyone can enjoy, like this spicy-sweet nut mix. This treat has no refined sugar and is drizzled in a simple, 4-ingredient vegan caramel. Clean eating is possible—even at dessert!

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Almond Cherry Oat Balls with Vegan Caramel Drizzle

Credit: Photo: Hannah Burkhalter; Prop Styling: Hannah Burkhalter
View Recipe: Almond Cherry Oat Balls with Vegan Caramel Drizzle

These nutty dessert balls are naturally sweetened by dried cherries, honey, and a vegan caramel drizzle. You have found the perfect alternative to processed-sugar laden cookies and desserts. Trade in the old for a flavorful, lightly sweet and satisfying treat.

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Miso Caramel-Apple Pie

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Miso Caramel-Apple Pie

You've no doubt heard of—and enjoyed—salted caramel. Miso caramel takes that concept one step further, offering the irresistible salty-sweet flavor combo along with a richness that's unparalleled. You may just love this caramel so much that you want to make a big batch for yourself or to give as holiday gifts; we won't blame you. And even though this pie is rather decadent, it still comes in with 12g less sugar than a popular online version of caramel apple pie. Ever been disappointed by an apple pie where the fruit was still just a little crunchy, not tender as you'd hoped for? This recipe makes sure you end up with buttery-soft fruit by first covering the raw apple slices with boiling water to soften them before they even go in the crust.

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Banana Bread Pudding With Caramel Sauce

Credit: Photo: Rachel Johnson
View Recipe: Banana Bread Pudding With Caramel Sauce

Try this recipe the next time you have a leftover French loaf; the texture of bread pudding is better with day-old bread. You can also use fat-free fudge topping in place of the caramel topping.

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Caramel Popcorn Cookies

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Caramel Popcorn Cookies

Experimenting with unusual ingredients can produce an irresistible batch of cookies. In this recipe, caramel and popcorn pieces create the ultimate combination of salty-and-sweet—in cookie form! 

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Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

Here’s a snack for those times when you want salt, sugar, protein, and crunch all in one bite. There’s just enough butter to create a layer of caramel goodness. Peanut butter and sliced almonds provide richness. Make it for yourself or package for gifts. 

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Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa

This season, there's no need to stress or spend hours in the kitchen. Serve this simple sweet treat at your next party or wrap it up beautifully for your friends. The first ingredient in this dark chocolate bark (psst, it’s quinoa) gives this treat loads of crunch. It’s a whole grain, which definitely makes this sweet even sweeter.

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Spiced Caramel Bundt Cake

Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Spiced Caramel Bundt Cake
Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg give this gluten-free cake its signature spiced flavor, and applesauce lends moistness while allowing you to use less oil. A drizzle of golden caramel syrup is the finishing touch, making this the perfect "ta-da!" dessert. 

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Caramel Éclairs Made Light

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

We build the dough from whole-wheat pastry flour and keep it fluffy and light with whipped eggs and egg whites. Instead of whipped cream, we make a vanilla bean custard from half-and-half and fat-free milk, a combo that adds richness and body with far less fat than heavy cream. Brown sugar, bourbon, and a dab of butter caramelize into a delicious glaze that's topped of with a sprinkle of sea salt, which balances the sweetness of the caramel and pastry cream. Forget eating in a flash; with half the calories and all the fluffy, cream-filled, caramel goodness of the original, these treats are meant to be savored.

Classic
467 calories per éclair
30.3 grams total fat
17.7 grams sat fat

Makeover
228 calories per éclair
8.3 grams total fat
4.7 grams sat fat

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Everything in This Slideshow

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1 of 14 Spiced Rum-Caramel Sauce
2 of 14 Salted Caramel Apple Pie
3 of 14 Parsnip Spice Cake with Caramel Icing
4 of 14 Salted Caramel Brownies
5 of 14 Miso-Caramel-Tamari Popcorn Mix
6 of 14 Caramel Drizzled-Spiced Nuts
7 of 14 Almond Cherry Oat Balls with Vegan Caramel Drizzle
8 of 14 Miso Caramel-Apple Pie
9 of 14 Banana Bread Pudding With Caramel Sauce
10 of 14 Caramel Popcorn Cookies
11 of 14 Peanut Butter Caramel Corn
12 of 14 Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa
13 of 14 Spiced Caramel Bundt Cake
14 of 14 Caramel Éclairs Made Light

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14 Ways to Cook with Caramel
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