Key Difference – Caramel vs Salted Caramel
Caramel and salted caramel are both well-loved confections with caramel having a longer history than its salted counterpart. The main difference between the two is in their ingredients, with caramel made primarily from sugar while salted caramel consists of caramel and sea salt.
What is Caramel?
Caramel is a confectionery product resulting from the heating of sugar, a process known as caramelization. It ranges in color from beige to dark brown and has traditionally been used as a filling for chocolate candies. Nowadays, caramel is utilized in various ways, such as a flavoring in puddings and desserts, a topping for ice cream and custard, or as a filling in bonbons. It is also a key ingredient in food items like nougats, crème brûlée, crème caramel, brittles, and caramel apples. Additionally, caramel is often used to flavor ice creams, and caramel candy or toffees are made by heating a mixture of milk or cream, sugar, and butter.
Caramel is created by heating sugar slowly to approximately 340°F for liquid caramel. As the temperature increases, sugar molecules break down and re-form into compounds. However, the soft caramel candy mixture is only heated up to a firm-ball stage.
What is Salted Caramel?
Salted caramel is produced by sprinkling sea salt on top of caramel confections. Its popularity has surged in recent years due to the appealing blend of flavors that enhance the taste sensation. In the right amounts, salt can stimulate our taste buds and create a pleasurable sensory experience.
Salted caramel’s origins can be traced back to France, where French chocolatier Henri Le Roux came up with the idea of salted butter caramel in the late 1970s. French chef Pierre Hermé later popularized salted caramel when he invented the salted caramel macaron (an almond meringue cookie with a salted caramel filling) in the 1990s. American chefs then started experimenting with the combination of caramel and salt, resulting in a variety of sweets. Today, salted caramel products can be found in popular establishments like Starbucks and McDonald’s. Some examples of salted caramel products include salted caramel sundae, salted caramel candies, and salted caramel hot chocolates.
Key Takeaways
- Main Ingredient: Caramel is primarily made from sugar, while salted caramel consists of caramel and sea salt.
- Ingredients: Liquid caramel is made from sugar and butter, while caramel candy is made from sugar, butter, milk or cream. Salted caramel is produced using sea salt and caramel candy or liquid caramel.
- History: Caramel has a longer history than salted caramel, which is a relatively new discovery.
