Caramel Chocolate with Salted Macadamia Nuts

These salty caramel chocolate pralines have an irresistible macadamia crunch and are full of milk and dark chocolate! So heavenly good, it's a gourmet treat for anyone.

I have a habit of eating something sweet after dinner. There is this craving for chocolate that I just can't resist!

For me, these caramel chocolates are the perfect sweet snack. Good quality chocolate, fudgy caramel and salty macadamia nuts, are a match made in heaven!

Making your own chocolates is easier than it seems. If you have tried making our grand marnier chocolate truffles you will find this caramel chocolate recipe just as good, if not better.

Good news is - the recipe makes about 48 chocolate pralines and if stored correctly, they last up to a month. If you love chocolate and caramel, this recipe is a must try!

Why we love these caramel chocolates

What is there not to love!! They are:

• gluten free
• soft in texture, almost fudgy
• a great snack eaten out of the fridge
• loved by the whole family
• makes a delicious gift for Christmas or in fact any occasion

Need anymore reasons?? Okay here is one more reason to make you jump right into it- the recipe is easy to follow too😉

What you need

Chocolate I use ⅓rd milk chocolate and ⅔rd dark chocolate. Quality is key, but I understand not everyone has access to French valhrona chocolate. Living in Australia, my go-to brand is lindt.

Macadamia nuts salted macadamia nuts work best for this recipe. They can be replaced with hazelnuts, walnuts or cashew.

Cream use full fat cream for best results.

Sugar & Salt white caster sugar works best for a caramel. The salt adds intensity to the caramel and the final chocolate.

Cocoa powder to dust the chocolates.

The recipe makes about 48 chocolate caramels but if you know for certain, that you will not be able to eat or gift them all (which I seriously question😂), then I would half the recipe.

How to make them

For you to better understand the process of making these chocolate caramels, I recommend first reading the steps and looking at the images below.

the chocolate

for the ganache, the chocolate needs to be melted completely. Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a heat resistant bowl.

the macadamia nuts

half the macadamia nuts and set aside.

making the caramel

To make the caramel, add sugar to a heavy bottom pan and place on medium heat. Meanwhile, heat cream in a seperate pot and bring to a simmer. Once the cream has simmered, set aside.

Wait for the caramel to start melting, stir occasionally. Once the caramel has taken on a dark amber colour, add the macadamia nuts with a pinch of salt.

Keep caramelizing, while stirring for another 2-3 minutes and finally add the still warm cream. Be careful, as the cream and caramel might splatter which could burn your skin.

Let the caramel completely melt again and combine well with the cream. We want a thick caramel sauce like consistency.

Now, remove the pot from the stove and let it cool slightly.

making the ganache

Bring a pot of water to a simmer on the stove. Place the bowl with the chocolate pieces on top and stir until the chocolate has fully melted.

Add the caramel with the macadamia nuts to the chocolate ganache and stir until well combined (see note below). Pour the chocolate mix into a form lined with baking paper and chill in the fridge for 24 hours.

Note: Make sure the caramel is not too hot otherwise the chocolate can split.

cutting and storing

The next day, the caramel chocolate would have turned into a solid block. Place it on a cutting board and cut into squares measuring about 2.5cm x 2.5cm (1 inch x 1 inch).

Dust with cocoa powder and keep in an airtight container stored in the fridge for upto a month.

And since chocolates freeze well too, they can be stored frozen for upto 3 months.

Homemade chocolate gifts

Making a big batch of these caramel chocolates will come in handy when the festive season is approaching.

Homemade gifts are often the best gifts we’ll receive – and that goes double if they’re chocolate! What better way to show someone you care than with gifting homemade chocolates, and especially, when they are as delicious as these ones!

More chocolate recipes

You will come across many chocolate recipes on our blog as we strongly believe there's no such thing as too much chocolate! So when you need something chocolatey to turn your day around, give any of these recipes, a go:

• chocolate ganache tart
• dark chocolate mousse with coffee granita
• coffee walnut brownie slice
• chocolate bavarian cream
• white chocolate pavlova
• chocolate chia pudding

Remember, Chocolate is one of the greatest flavours on earth, and for a good reason - it makes people happy😊 So, go all out and treat yourself to these caramel chocolate pralines!