National Caramel Day Date in the current year: April 5, 2024

Caramel is a confection made by melting and browning sugar at a high temperature. It is believed to have been discovered by the Arabs around 1000 AD. They boiled sugar in water to create chewy candies. Caramel quickly became popular after its introduction to Europe because it was relatively easy to make and required only one ingredient. In the 19th century, confectioners discovered that adding milk or cream and butter to sugar resulted in a soft, chewy candy or a sweet sauce that can be used as a topping. This is how modern-day caramel was born.

When cooked at high temperatures, sugar turns brown and acquires a characteristic sweet nutty flavor. This process is called caramelization. Different types of sugar start to caramelize at different temperatures. In addition, the rate of caramelization depends on other factors such as humidity (sugar won’t begin to caramelize until all water evaporates from it) and acidity level.

As a result, caramel can be liquid, soft and chewy, or hard and brittle depending on the type of sugar used to make caramel, the temperature it is being prepared at, and the presence or absence of additional ingredients such as cream or butter. The confection can be made with various flavorings such as vanilla, liquor, fruit puree, and even salt (salted caramel was popularized by French confectioner Henri Le Roux in the 1970s). Any flavorings are added when caramel is fully cooked because they might interfere with the caramelization process or burn off due to the high temperature.

Caramel is a very versatile confection that has a wide range of culinary uses; no wonder it is so popular and beloved. It can be used to make sugar candy, as an ingredient in various desserts and confections (bonbons, brittle, candy bars, caramel apples, caramel corn, caramel custard, crème brûlée, flan, nougat, praline, etc.), as a topping for ice cream, pancakes, pies, brownies and other desserts, and as a flavoring and food coloring in commercially produced food and beverages (including cola).

As we’ve already mentioned, the origins of National Caramel Day are unclear, but it shouldn’t stop you from observing this amazing holiday! There are many ways to celebrate it: you can top your pancakes or dessert with caramel, enjoy your favorite caramel treats, eat caramel straight from the jar, make your own caramel and share it with friends, and spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #NationalCaramelDay and #CaramelDay.

National Caramel Day isn’t the only holiday for caramel lovers. Other caramel-related food holidays include National Caramel Popcorn Day on April 6 (yes, you can indulge in caramel two days in a row!), National Chocolate Caramel Day on March 19, National Caramel Custard Day on October 3, and National Caramel Apple Day on October 31.