What To Do With Leftover Caramel?

You have enjoyed caramel flan, then realized you had a large amount of redundant homemade caramel syrup. What to do with Leftover Caramel? Don’t throw it away! It’s a tasty ingredient that can be used in many different ways.

Here’s some suggestions for you to make use of your leftover caramel.

How to Use Leftover Caramel

Below are some simple and tasty ideas I usually apply to use the leftover caramel at home:

Desserts and Sweet Dishes

Caramel can be a wonderful addition to your desserts. The slight bitterness from burnt sugar makes it different from maple syrup and corn syrup. You can:

• Make Caramel Ice cream or yogurt. Pour it over a scoop of ice cream or yogurt for a sweet treat.
• Add to Brownie batter. Mix it into your brownie or cake batter to add a caramel twist to your baked goods. You can even replace granulated sugar in brownie with caramel syrup.
• Make a Caramel Fruit Bowl. Top it on your fruits bowl. It’s really tasty when matching with tangy fruit such as strawberry, rasberry, grapes, apple, clementine and with nuts and seeds such as chia seeds, cashew nuts, almond, walnuts, etc.
• Spread it on toast, pancakes or a sweet dessert. you can substitute it for honey to drizzle on breaskfast toast and pancakes. Your morning’s French Toaste would be perfect with a bit caramel sauce on it.
• Make caramel popcorn. It’s super easy: mix caramel syrup with popcorn evenly, that’s it.
• Make salted caramel syrup. Add a pinch of salt to your leftover caramel to enhance its flavor. It matches well with ice cream, popcorn or drinks.

Sweeten Your Beverages

Caramel can turn your ordinary drinks into something extraordinary. Try:

• Drizzle on a cup of coffee/chocolate. Adding it to your morning coffee, both hot and iced coffee, chocolate, milkshake… for a cozy and sweet caramel flavor.
• Make bubble tea: Mix caramel syrup with cooked tapioca pearls, then add milk tea in. My favorite!

Surprising Savory Dishes

Caramel can also find its way into savory dishes. You can:

• Make caramel glaze: Create a caramel glaze for meat or vegetables, adding a hint of sweetness and depth to your dishes. I love to make caramelized pork and eggs with caramel syrup so much. Braised Pork Belly with Chestnut is another great dish to make use of the leftover.
• Make a savory-sweet sauce: Mix caramel into your barbecue sauce for a unique and savory-sweet flavor.

These are just a few simple ideas to get you take advantage of caramel. Leftover caramel is a useful ingredient that can add to a wide range of dishes, both sweet and savory.

How to store caramel

Storage Tips

Properly storing your leftover caramel ensures that it stays fresh and delicious for future use. Here are some straightforward tips to help you make the most of your caramel:

• An Airtight Container. Transfer your leftover caramel sauce into an airtight container. This helps prevent air from getting in, which can cause the caramel to harden or develop an undesirable texture.
• Refrigeration. While storing caramel at room temperature is still possible for a short time, it’s best to refrigerate it for longer use. The cool temperature will help maintain its consistency and flavor.
• Labeling. Always label your container with the date when you stored the caramel. This way, you can keep track of its freshness and use it before it goes bad.
• Avoid Moisture. Ensure that there’s no moisture inside the container, as it can cause the caramel to become grainy or separate.
• Reheating. If your caramel becomes too thick or hard after storage, gently reheat it at low to medium heat. You can do it in a microwave on on stove. Remember to heat and stir it evenly until it reaches your desired consistency.

By following these simple storage guidelines, you can keep your leftover caramel in the best condition. Enjoy this wonderful sweetness whenever you want, and don’t throw any of leftover caramel!

P/s: In case you need to make more caramel syrup, you can follow my caramel syrup recipe here. It’s very easy.