Pomegranate Caramels take ordinary caramels up a notch or two. Think chewy, creamy caramel with a fruity touch. These easy to make sweets are a festive treat and make wonderful gifts.
Why you’ll love this recipe
This week was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It is a time of celebration, reflection, and renewal. Traditionally, family and friends gather to celebrate and often there are foods served that are symbolic of our New Year’s wishes.
Apples are dipped in honey in the hope of a sweet New Year. My Honey Applesauce Cake, Apples and Honey Cookies, Honey Lollipops, and Honey Jumbles all incorporate those traditional flavors.
The pomegranate is also a traditional Rosh Hashanah fruit. The many seeds represent our merits and the hope is to increase our merits in the year to come.
The number of seeds in each pomegranate is said to correlate with the 613 commandments, or good deeds, of the Torah. The pomegranate also represents knowledge, learning, and wisdom. Pomegranate Caramels embody all of those hopes and wishes along with deliciousness.
A few years ago, I invested about $20 in a good quality, digital candy thermometer. I’d never made candy in my life, but I had become obsessed with creating homemade marshmallows and a thermometer was required for success.
When my marshmallow phase passed, I thought I would never use the “gadget” again, but I was wrong. A candy thermometer is a great tool to have in the kitchen.
I’ve used it to temper chocolate, make lollipops, create nut-free toffee bits, and stir together popcorn topping. Now I’ve learned that with a candy thermometer at the ready, homemade caramels are quick, simple, and addictive.
I adapted this recipe for Pomegranate Caramels from one that uses frozen juice concentrate for flavor. Pomegranate juice doesn’t come in frozen concentrate, that I am aware of, but making your own concentrate adds less than 15 minutes to the recipe.
Ultimately, the recipe requires ¾ cup of juice concentrate. Starting with 3 times that amount (2 ¼ cups), the juice is simmered to evaporate the liquid and concentrate the flavor until ¾ cup of juice remains.
I had excellent results with both the Pom brand (refrigerated) and the Trader Joe’s brand ( shelf stable) of pomegranate juice.
For a lovely, soft, chewy consistency, Pomegranate Caramels should be stored at room temperature. However, for easy cutting and wrapping, I recommend chilling the caramel (for about 15 minutes) to temporarily harden.
Waxed paper can be cut in squares (4”x 4”) for wrapping with twisted ends or can be purchased pre-cut. For celebrations and gift giving, cellophane or foil wrappers provide sparkle.
I first wrapped my Pomegranate Caramels in thin strips of waxed paper (hand cut) as extra protection from sticking, though my foil wrappers are labeled “anti-stick candy wrappers”. Then I covered each caramel in foil, folding the foil just as I would wrap a package.
Wrapping on a flat surface (rather than holding the caramel in your hand) helps keep the candy from warming and the foil from wrinkling.
So far, no one has been able to eat only one Pomegranate Caramel. The first is always devoured so quickly that a second is required to savor the flavor.
Some tasters have required more savoring! Be sure to pin this recipe. Pomegranate Caramels are ideal for holiday gifting to family, friends, teachers, and coworkers!
More Rosh Hashanah gift ideas
This Rosh Hashanah Gift Guide is full of great ideas for New Year gifts and recipes!
Honey Applesauce Cake is a year round favorite. This moist, flavorful loaf is ideal for gifting and snacking.
Biscotti are a welcome gift any time of year. With flavors like Honey Biscotti and Apple Biscotti, they are perfect for High Holy Day sharing.
You may be surprised to find that the apples and honey combination is fabulous on crunchy Apples and Honey Popcorn and in Apples and Honey Chocolate Bars!
If you enjoyed making and sharing these caramels for Rosh Hashanah, don’t miss Golden Chocolate Coins for Hanukkah, my family’s favorite Hamantaschen Recipe for Purim, and Passover Mandel Bread!
Wishing everyone a healthy, happy, and peace-filled New Year. L’Shana Tova!
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Pomegranate Caramels
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups pomegranate juice
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 14 ounce sweetened condensed milk canned
Instructions
- In a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, bring the pomegranate juice to a boil. Lower temperature and simmer uncovered until the juice is reduced to ¾ cup (about 15 minutes). Set aside.
- Line an 8” x 8” baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
- Add sugar, corn syrup, salt, condensed milk, and reduced pomegranate juice. Stir continually until the mixture reaches 248° F on a candy thermometer.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Allow to cool at room temperature.
- For easier cutting, refrigerate for 15-30 minutes until quite firm. Lift the caramel out of the pan using the overhanging parchment paper as handles. Place on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the caramel into individual pieces (approximately 1” x ¾”).
- Wrap caramels in wax paper then decorative foil.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- For a lovely, soft, chewy consistency, store at room temperature. However, for easy cutting and wrapping, I recommend chilling the caramel (for about 15 minutes) to temporarily harden.
- Waxed paper can be cut in squares (4”x 4”) for wrapping with twisted ends or can be purchased pre-cut. For celebrations and gift giving, cellophane or foil wrappers provide sparkle.
- Wrapping on a flat surface (rather than holding the caramel in your hand) helps keep the candy from warming and the foil from wrinkling.
Nutrition
First Published: September 23, 2017. Last Updated: March 14, 2022. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.
Miz Helen
What a great recipe for Caramels! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
Miz Helen
The Monday Box
Thanks, Miz Helen! This was my first time making caramels and I am hooked. I’m already planning batches for holiday presents! 🙂 Thanks for hosting Full Plate Thursday!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert
I love my kitchen thermometer and like you, find so many uses for it. This recipe sounds fantastic – and I love my pomegranate molasses so may have to give that a try!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Tricia! I am hesitant to add another “gadget” to my overflowing drawer of cooking tools, but my candy thermometer has been indispensable! Pomegranate molasses is stronger than the reduction I used, so if you use the molasses in this recipe, I suggest using just a bit so as not to overwhelm. 🙂
B
My caramels did not harden 🙁 what did I do wrong? Maybe here need to put some agare powder?
Wendy Sondov
Hi. Sorry to hear you are having a problem with this recipe.I’m not sure why your caramels didn’t firm ( they never get hard, just chewy). Agar powder is definitely not needed. Maybe you used too much liquid? Did you reduce the liquid to 3/4 cup as explained in step 1? Did you use a candy thermometer to ensure that the mixture was the right temperature ? I hope this helps.
Siobhan
Could one use pomegranate molasses as a substitute for the juice reduction?
The Monday Box
Hi, Siobhan! Yes, I am sure that pomegranate molasses can be used, but I think 3/4 cup would be way too strong. I haven’t tried it, so I can’t tell you the exact amount. The reduced juice basically is somewhere between pomegranate juice and molasses.