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Who doesn’t love the combination of chocolate and caramel? This tutorial breaks down how to make caramel bars from scratch into 12 simple steps.

With a few simple ingredients like hazelnuts, chocolate, heavy cream, and butter this chocolate caramel bars recipe will show you how to make delicious candy right in your own kitchen.

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 12 image of finished caramel bars - inthekitch.net

Worried about making caramel from scratch? This recipe explains precisely how to cook the sugar and when to add the butter and cream. The bars take a couple hours to set, but once they are done, you will have nutty, rich caramel bars your whole family will love. Just make sure the kids don’t feed any to the family dog!

Step #1. Prep the Ingredients

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 1 image of hazelnuts, sugar and chocolate - inthekitch.net

In this tutorial, we will teach you how to make chocolate and caramel bars. Gather the following ingredients & items:

  • ½ cup hazelnuts
  • 300 grams chocolate, broken into pieces
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tsp. lemon juice, to prevent crystallization

Step #2. Chop the Hazelnuts

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 2 image of hazelnuts being crushed - inthekitch.net

Chop the hazelnuts in small pieces with the mallet.

Step #3. Begin to Melt the Chocolate

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 3 image of chocolate in a bowl - inthekitch.net

Place the chocolate in a metal bowl and over a pot with simmering water (to melt using a double-boiler style).

Step #4. Continue Melting Until Smooth

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 4 image of chocolate melting in a metal bowl - inthekitch.net

When the chocolate is melted, reserve but keep warm (you can lower the heat and keep it in the same pot until it’s time to serve in the mold).

Step #5. Begin to Make the Caramel

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 5 image of sugar in a pot - inthekitch.net

Place the sugar in a deep pot. When making caramel, do not use a metal spoon. Opt for a clean, wooden or silicone spoon to prevent crystallization.

Any debris in the pot or on the utensil could also cause the caramel to crystallize so make sure they are very clean.

Step #6. Add Liquid & Bring to a Boil

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 6 image of sugar boiling in pot - inthekitch.net

Add the water and lemon juice and heat slowly over medium heat until boiling. Give it an initial stir, and then stop stirring! Do not mix anymore as this can promote crystallization.

You can, however, gently swirl the pot to brown the sugar evenly. Once the water evaporates, the sugar will begin to caramelize.

Step #7. Brown the Mixture

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 7 image of sugar turning into caramel in pot - inthekitch.net

Once it begins to brown (you have to be very vigilant as this happens very suddenly), remove from heat carefully and add the butter and heavy cream. Now you can stir until soft. It will bubble and foam at first.

Do not feel discouraged if it didn’t turn out for you on your first attempt. If it does happen to crystallize, you can try to fix the caramel by adding 1/4 cup of water back to the pot and start the process of heating to a boil again.

Step #8. Add a Layer of Chocolate to Loaf Pan

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 8 image of chocolate poured into foiled bread pan - inthekitch.net

Cover a small loaf pan with foil and add half of the chocolate.

Step #9. Add a Layer of Caramel

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 9 of caramel being poured into bread pan - inthekitch.net

Add the caramel to the pan.

Step #10. Sprinkle with Chopped Hazelnuts

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 10 image of sprinkling hazelnuts into pan - inthekitch.net

Sprinkle with half of the chopped hazelnuts.

Step #11. Add Final Layer of Chocolate

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 11 image of pouring chocolate into foiled bread pan - inthekitch.net

Add the rest of the chocolate. Sprinkle the rest of the hazelnuts on top and let it cool (for at least 2 hours or until the chocolate is hard).

Step #12. Cut & Serve

When it’s cool, cut in big pieces and serve.

Are you surprised by how easy that was? The hardest part of this recipe is having to wait the two hours to let the chocolate and caramel set before getting to taste them!

You don’t even need a candy thermometer to follow this chocolate caramel bars recipe.

The hazelnuts add just the crunchy touch this recipe needs. These bars are great for the holidays or any time you feel like surprising your friends and family with a sweet treat. Did you try to make the recipe? Let us know what you think about it.

How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 12 image of finished caramel bars - inthekitch.net

How to Make Caramel Bars

Joss Dyckson
With a few simple ingredients like hazelnuts, chocolate, heavy cream, and butter this chocolate caramel bars recipe will show you how to make delicious candy right in your own kitchen. 
No ratings yet
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cooling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 533 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ cup hazelnuts
  • 10.6 oz. chocolate - broken into pieces
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tsp. lemon juice - to prevent crystallization
  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 2 tbsp. heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • Chop the hazelnuts in small pieces with the mallet.
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 2 image of hazelnuts being crushed - inthekitch.net
  • Place the chocolate in a metal bowl and over a pot with simmering water (to melt using a double-boiler style).
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 3 image of chocolate in a bowl - inthekitch.net
  • When the chocolate is melted, reserve but keep warm (you can lower the heat and keep it in the same pot until it’s time to serve in the mold).
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 4 image of chocolate melting in a metal bowl - inthekitch.net
  • Place the sugar in a deep pot. When making caramel, do not use a metal spoon. Opt for a clean, wooden or silicone spoon to prevent crystallization. Any debris in the pot or on the utensil could also cause the caramel to crystallize so make sure they are very clean.
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 5 image of sugar in a pot - inthekitch.net
  • Add the water and lemon juice and heat slowly over medium heat until boiling. Give it an initial stir, and then stop stirring! Do not mix anymore as this can promote crystallization. You can, however, gently swirl the pot to brown the sugar evenly. Once the water evaporates, the sugar will begin to caramelize.
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 6 image of sugar boiling in pot - inthekitch.net
  • Once it begins to brown (you have to be very vigilant as this happens very suddenly), remove from heat carefully and add the butter and heavy cream. Now you can stir until soft. It will bubble and foam at first.
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 7 image of sugar turning into caramel in pot - inthekitch.net
  • Cover a small loaf pan with foil and add half of the chocolate.
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 8 image of chocolate poured into foiled bread pan - inthekitch.net
  • Add the caramel to the pan.
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 9 of caramel being poured into bread pan - inthekitch.net
  • Sprinkle with half of the chopped hazelnuts.
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 10 image of sprinkling hazelnuts into pan - inthekitch.net
  • Add the rest of the chocolate. Sprinkle the rest of the hazelnuts on top and let it cool at room temperature (for at least 2 hours or until the chocolate is hard).
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 11 image of pouring chocolate into foiled bread pan - inthekitch.net
  • When it’s cool, cut in big pieces and serve.
    How to Make Caramel Bars - Step 12 image of finished caramel bars - inthekitch.net

Equipment

Small loaf pan
Kitchen mallet
Metal bowl and pot (double-boiler)

Nutrition

Calories: 533kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 3gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 81mgPotassium: 213mgFiber: 3gSugar: 59gVitamin A: 320IUVitamin C: 1.2mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1.9mg

Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

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