Indulge Caramels, an artisan endeavor in Portland, Oregon, has made a specialty of flavored caramels—currently nine varieties plus a chocolate-dipped option for every flavor. They’re worth taking note of, and are so affordable that they can be enjoyed as a daily indulgence—just one is quite satisfying. They’re delicious with coffee or tea, and are a gluten-free food.

Making caramels that won’t crystallize requires practice. The recipe is deceptively simple when you look at the ingredients: just sugar, cream, butter and flavoring (vanilla, coffee, sea salt, etc.), along with corn syrup to prevent crystallization.

Follow this recipe and you get a soft, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth caramel. Scrimp on the recipe—substitute margarine or oil for the butter, for example—and the product changes.

Mass marketed products only approximate what a real caramel is. Your eyes will widen when you see the ingredients lists of two top products in the full review.

They may also widen when you pop the first Indulge Caramel into your mouth. These small indulgences are so affordable that you can try all the different flavors.

Indulge caramels are made in 9 flavors;
all can be had chocolate-dipped, as well.
Photo by Evan Dempsey | THE NIBBLE.

• Find more of our favorite caramels in our Gourmet Candy Section.
• Take our Caramel Trivia Quiz.