Apple cider caramels
Source: allie’s cottage — apple cider caramels, shared by Jill.
- Line 9×13-inch pan with parchment
- Attach candy thermometer to large saucepan
| 1 lb (454 g) salted vegan butter sticks, plus a little for greasing | Grease pan; melt butter over medium heat | Stir in brown sugar and salt | Stir in corn syrup | Gradually incorporate condensed coconut milk | Stir constantly until 245°F (118°C) | Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, spice | Wait about 1 min | Carefully stir in reduced cider | Pour into prepared pan | Optionally sprinkle with flaky salt | Cool completely; lift out, cut and wrap |
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| 2 cups (400 g) brown sugar | |||||||||||
| Dash of salt | |||||||||||
| 2 cups (480 ml) light corn syrup (e.g. Karo) | |||||||||||
| 396 g sweetened condensed coconut milk | |||||||||||
| 1 tsp vanilla extract | |||||||||||
| 1 tsp apple pie spice (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves) | |||||||||||
| 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider | Simmer over medium 12–18 min; reduce 2–3 tbsp | Cool slightly off heat 1–2 min | |||||||||
| Optional flaky sea salt | |||||||||||
Vegan adaptation / shopping notes
Shopping option found by Matt (September 5, 2026): Andre Prost sweetened condensed coconut milk — $3.33 at Walmart in Mount Prospect, aisle A14. Can size: 11.6 oz / 330 g. Buy TWO cans ($6.66 at Matt’s observed price); use 396 g total = one full can plus 66 g from the second. Do not use both full cans.
Replace the dairy butter with vegan baking sticks and the dairy condensed milk with sweetened condensed coconut milk. This is a proposed adaptation of the creator’s dairy recipe, not a tested vegan recipe; texture and setting may differ. The caption says “1 can (15 oz / 396 g)”; these measures conflict (396 g is approximately 14 oz). Use the stated 396 g weight as the working assumption. Nature’s Charm sweetened condensed coconut milk is sold in 320 g cans: buy TWO and weigh out 396 g (one can plus 76 g). Choose the regular sweetened product, not unsweetened coconut milk, evaporated coconut milk or sugar-free condensed milk. Meijer availability was not confirmed. Product suitability checked September 5, 2026: Andre Prost product listing. The cane sugar, water, coconut cream and xanthan gum formula is suitable for this vegan substitution. Retailer ingredient lists differ, so compare the can’s label. Allergy Awesomeness’s tested chewy vegan caramels specifically use Andre Prost sweetened condensed coconut milk with vegan butter, corn syrup and brown sugar. This supports using this brand for caramel, but does not validate the exact apple-cider recipe’s proportions or final texture. Use vegan-labeled brown sugar if sugar processing matters to your vegan preference.
Equipment
Mainstays Candy Thermometer — Walmart: $10.26, Mount Prospect Supercenter, aisle BK2; showed pickup available September 5, 2026. Pot clip; 100–400°F range covers the recipe’s 245°F target.
Candy thermometer, large 3–6 qt saucepan (allow room for bubbling), small pot, silicone spatula, 9×13-inch pan, parchment, wax paper wrappers, knife/bench scraper.