Skip to main content

These Homemade Salted Bourbon Caramels are the Perfect Holiday Gift

We never truly tire of receiving bottles of booze when friends come over for a dinner or party. We don’t get sick of giving them, either. But as the holidays approach and our calendars fill with more festive gatherings, we’re trying to think of fun, creative ways to say thank you for a night of revelry in someone’s home. And really, nothing says you care like a handmade gift, especially one that is edible and delicious.

Natasha Breen/Getty Images

Enter the salted bourbon caramel. Chef Donald Wressell of the Guittard Chocolate Company created this recipe for The Manual, just in time for holiday gift-giving season. These little morsels are simply irresistible, thanks to the addition of bourbon and flaky sea salt that adds a sweet-savory flavor punch. These are perfect for serving at your next holiday soiree, and they make a great gift for even the most discerning party host. Give them to mom, your boss, your kid’s school teacher, or even the mailman to bring some festive cheer. Just try not to eat them all yourself (trust us, it will be difficult).

Recommended Videos

When it comes to the bourbon to use, you have some options as well. High rye bourbons will impart spicy notes while wheated bourbons will contribute to a softer bourbon flavor. Finally, with a bourbon that is heavy on the barley, you’ll find toffee and cereal notes. All of these will change the flavor profile of the final product slightly (allowing you more room to experiment as well). If you need some options, check out this list of affordable whiskies.

(Note: 10 grams is equal to around .33 ounces.)

Arx0nt/Getty Images

Salted Bourbon Caramels

Ingredients:

  • 35 g water
  • 150 g bourbon, divided
  • 225 g sugar
  • 33 g corn syrup
  • 135 g unsalted butter
  • 215 g heavy cream
  • 1.5 g sea salt (such as Jacobsen Salt Co.’s Flake Salt)

Method:

  1. Combine water, 60 grams of bourbon, sugar, and glucose in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring to a simmer on high heat until color appears, and continue cooking on medium-low heat to a deep amber caramel. Stir carefully as color deepens to ensure even cooking from middle to center of pot.
  3. Add butter when amber color is reached, stir in until fully emulsified.
  4. Add pre-warmed cream slowly to the pot while stirring with a long-handled whisk. Continue cooking on high while stirring continuously until 120 degrees Celsius is reached.
  5. Add remaining bourbon very slowly while stirring, followed by the salt. Return to 120 degrees Celcius (248 degrees Fahrenheit).
  6. Remove from heat and hand blend until smooth.
  7. Pour into an 8-inch-by-8-inch pan that has been greased lightly, lined with parchment, and then greased lightly again.
  8. Allow to cool for several hours or overnight before unmolding and cutting into squares to wrap in cellophane.
  9. For gifting, place a chocolate bar, such as the Guittard Chocolate 72 percent Quetzacoatl Bar, in a small paper or cellophane bag and fill around the bottom with the individually wrapped caramels. Tie off with a bow or a piece of twine for a simple present.
Amanda Gabriele
Amanda Gabriele is a food and travel writer at The Manual and the former senior editor at Supercall. She can’t live without…
Topics
Columbia River Gorge travel guide: Where to eat, what to do, and where to stay
So much to dine on and do in this PNW wonderland
Columbia River Gorge.

It's pretty amazing that you can be entering the Columbia River Gorge from downtown Portland, Oregon in just about 30 minutes. The scenic expanse feels worlds away—a wonderland of waterfalls, towering cliffs, evergreens, and a massive river in between. Here exists the ideal balancing act between premiere outdoor adventure opportunities and exceptional food and drink.

Spring and summer are the best times to visit this stunning landscape. During the former season, you get every imaginable shade of green, with wildflowers to boot. During the latter season, warm days beg for a plunge into one of the countless creeks and rivers, followed by a refreshing beer and a sound meal.

Read more
This award-winning chef says the secret to better BBQ is relaxing more
How to level up your grill this season
Grilling

Chef Charlie McKenna has a long history in the world of BBQ,  learning very early on about the art of authentic Southern BBQ from his Grandma Lillie. Chef McKenna has won two Memphis in May victories and a variety of other awards on the competitive BBQ circuit, teaching him a thing or two about the art of grilling. Just in time for grilling season, Chef McKenna shares his best tips and tricks you can implement right from home -- from the best BBQ sauces to the underrated tips every backyard barbecue should know. Here's what he shared.
Tips for backyard grillers

As a chef, Charlie McKenna is under a lot of pressure when competing in BBQ competitions. However, his best tip for backyard grillers is to relax and focus on having fun in the process of grilling and smoking. " Too often, people get wrapped up in trying to make everything perfect and forget to enjoy the process. We’re not curing cancer — we’re cooking food for our friends and family to enjoy. When you're having a good time, that energy translates into the food. You’ll experiment more, learn more, and ultimately serve better barbecue. If it ever feels stressful, take a step back, crack a cold one, and remember why you started grilling in the first place," he shares.

Read more
New Riff is launching a pair of ten-year-old whiskeys
New Riff is launching two decade-old whiskeys
New Riff

If you believe a decade is the sweet spot for aging in whiskey, you're in luck. The distillers at Newport, Kentucky's New Riff just announced the release of not one, but two ten-year-old whiskeys—a bourbon whiskey as well as a rye whiskey.
First Decade Whiskeys

They're called the First Decade Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and First Decade Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, and they are the first ten-year-old whiskeys produced by the popular distillery. They're the newest additions to the distillery's High Note limited-edition lineup for spring 2025 and will be available only through the New Riff Whiskey Club.

Read more