Is There Milk in Caramel?

Have you ever wondered what caramel is made with and whether it contains milk?

This sweet treat is very popular, but more and more people are looking for milk-free dessert options, so is caramel among them?

Caramel is usually made with cream or butter rather than milk, which means it still contains dairy. If it doesn’t have dairy added to it, it tends to be brittle and may be very hard rather than soft and silky. Many manufacturers, therefore, add dairy of some form, but it may not be milk.

Does Caramel Contain Milk?

Caramel does not always contain milk because it is made with butter or cream. 

It is made by boiling sugar and vanilla together and then adding butter, cream, or sometimes both.

The butter or cream cools the mixture down and helps it to solidify without becoming brittle.

In some cases, all of the ingredients are heated at the same time, although this is usually referred to as cream caramel or milk caramel, according to Wikipedia. 

If caramel is made without any dairy, it will harden into a toffee-like substance that breaks easily and is very hard to bite.

Some caramel recipes call for milk instead of butter or cream, so it depends on the source of your recipe.

According to BrightEyedBaker, even 1 percent milk can result in delicious and rich caramel, although many recipes will call for full fat or semi-skimmed milk.

Can You Make Caramel Without Dairy?

You can make caramel without dairy.

Try a recipe like this one from Simply Whisked, which incorporates coconut milk and vegan butter into the mixture instead of dairy products.

It involves heating all ingredients together, but it’s a great way to make smooth, creamy caramel without any milk.

You could try it with something like coconut milk, which is a great way to minimize the allergens in your caramel.

I also love this quick and simple vegan caramel sauce from Pinch of Yum!

Can You Make Caramel With Plant Milk?

It’s a good idea to find a reliable and reviewed recipe before making caramel with plant milk because it can be a little finicky.

However, it’s perfectly possible to do this successfully with all kinds of plant milk, including things like rice milk, almond milk, and soy milk.

Oat milk may thicken if you don’t follow a recipe, as it sometimes responds unpredictably when heated, so be careful.

Oat milk is also high in calories, which may not be ideal for an already calorie-packed treat.

Conclusion

Caramel usually contains some dairy, but it may take the form of butter, cream, or milk, so it doesn’t necessarily have milk in it.

If you want to make caramel without dairy, consider swapping the cream for plant-based milk instead.