Years ago my friend Shirley sent me a letter, and along with the letter she enclosed a coupon for a new product -- Kraft Caramel Bits, unwrapped caramels for baking. I was pretty excited because one task I do not enjoy is unwrapping 30 or so caramels for a recipe. So these wrapped caramel substitutes were a welcome new product, and I still use them as a substitute for caramel squares.
Where to Find
These days I usually find them on the baking aisle at Target. They're also on Amazon, and reasonably priced in my opinion. They usually appear before the holiday season, which is a good time to stock up. You can freeze them and use them all year round. They're a good substitute for wrapped caramel squares.
Substitute for Kraft Caramels
You can use this information to substitute caramel bits for Kraft caramels.
1 cup of caramel bits is equal to about 25 Kraft caramels. 25 Kraft caramels weigh about 5.5 ounces, therefore 1 cup of unwrapped caramel bits weighs about 5.5 ounces. If a recipe calls for 14 ounces of unwrapped caramels, you will need about 2 ½ cups of bits.
Of course if you own a kitchen scale, you won't have to worry about the math, you can just weigh out the equivalent substitute for caramel squares.
Anna says
Linda, going by what I wrote when I did the experiment "1 cup of caramel bits is equal to about 25 Kraft caramels". So 1/2 cup of caramels should equal 12 1/2 caramels. So basically a scant 1/2 cup should do it.
Linda Hall says
How much caramel bits add up to 12 unwrapped one
Anna says
Hi Sherry! I bought some a few months ago. They are rather hard compared to the caramel candies, but they soften up when you melt them (of course) and work well in recipes. I wouldn't eat them by themselves because they're so hard. To store, I just twist the bag shut and put it in a larger zipper bag. I have not tried freezing them, but it seems like that would be fine. The only problem is if you freeze them they might all stick together in a clump. It's worth trying. You definitely should NOT have to chop them because they are little pellets. That's pretty much the whole reason for their existence is that they are unwrapped and ready to melt. I hope that helps. They really are convenient.
Sherry says
I haven't bought the Kraft Caramel Bits yet and they sound great for saving time, but I have a few questions. Does anyone know, please…
Still sealed in the bag unopened, how long do they stay fresh (soft & squishy)? And how do you store them to keep them that way once the bag is opened & you didn't need to use all of them?
Can they be frozen like other baking chips can, and once defrosted will they go back to being soft again so they could be cut up if needed?
(I have a recipe that calls for caramels to be finely chopped, so would these be small enough to be considered 'finely chopped'?)
THANKS for any input anyone can give me on these questions!
Anna says
Indeed you can. Thank you!
Cindy says
You can get caramel bits on Amazon, if you can't find them in the store.
Anna says
Good find!
Clara says
I found these at WAlmart in Springfield Mo. I am making caramel apple Butter.
Connie says
These caramel bits are wonderful!!!! The recipe on the back of the package for caramel brownies are absolutly scruptious and really easy to make. Does anybody know where to find them when it's not holiday season? Our closest Wal-Mart didn't have them. Help???
Linda says
I've found a recipe on line "Caramel Thumbprint" which are so good. I'll warn you, you need to at least double the recipe - they are that good!
Karen says
Fry's is currently selling these for 62 cents a bag! I am not a caramel fan, but I couldn't pass them up for that price.
On the bag, it says "1 cup caramel bits = 25 Kraft caramels" so hopefully that will help with recipes and conversions.
I'm looking for some baking recipes using these bits...something with just a hint of caramel (perhaps I'll try placing some in the center of a ball of chocolate chip cookie dough and see what happens).
artchick says
got 'em! Schnucks in Germantown TN!!! trying to figure out how to use them.
Jenny says
http://www.cakencrumbs.com - 16 oz bag for $3.95 (plus shipping) for Kraft caramel bits...
Sharyn says
Thank you so much Anna - at least I have a place to start
Anna says
Hi Sharyn,
I think 3 regular caramels = 1 oz.
To get the number of caramel bits needed in ounces, you would take 30 caramels (amount called for in recipe) and divide it by 3 (number of caramels in an ounce).
30 caramels divided by 3 (number of caramels in an ounce) = 10 oz caramel bits needed for recipe.
A bag of bits weighs 11 oz, so I'd just use the whole bag.
This is a guestimation on my part. I'm actually not sure how many caramels there are in one ounce, but I'm pretty sure it's 3.
If it's 4, the math would be 30/4=7.5 ounces needed for recipe which means you'd use "most" of the bag.
I don't think you have to be too precise with caramels.
Sharyn says
Does anyone know how many caramel squares would be in one package of caramel bits? My recipe calls for 30 caramel squares and I am not sure how to compare?
Help
Sharyn
Bug says
I got them at my local Safeway in Portland Oregon a week ago. They were in the holiday baking section. I've already used them. What a relief!!
Debbie says
I bought them at Stater Bros in Southern California. In the produce section near (surprise) the apples. Great idea!
Anna says
Well, I found them!
I also found a whole new shopping center. This area not too far from my house which I hadn't visited in a while has suddenly grown into this big shopping center (Southpark Meadows). Now there's a Super Target and they had the caramel bits. Of course the problem with Target is I went in to buy caramel bits and spent $70 on "stuff".
Kristi B says
Anna,
We have them at our Super Target here in Colorado. They are in the grocery part where they put the "special stuff". It would be where the $1 stuff is on the non grocery side. It was on an end cap. Hope you can find them!
My daughter wants me to make 29 caramel apples for her birthday party at school! Hope those will work!
Tracy says
Hooray! I hate unwrapping caramels. I haven't seen them in Rochester yet, but I sure will keep an eagle eye out for those!
Paige says
I'll second Joe! I saw them in the local apple/produce display of my grocery store here in NY.
Therese says
Hello!
Well, I only had 4 brownies....they were awesome!!!! Chocolatey and chewy around the edges.
I will have to check for the carmels bits at Target and or Walmart. I wonder if they have them here in Wisconsin???
Jenny Flake says
Hi Anna,
Love, love, love your blog. I look forward to reading all of your creations. I just started a recipe blog too, I've got a way to go. Check it out if you'd like.
http://www.pickypalate.blogspot.com
Joe says
We actually found these stocked by the fresh apples and not with the other actual cubes!
Anna says
Heather, I'm glad you are just hearing about these as well. I sort of feel like I'm the last one on the block to get the news ;).
Kellie, I didn't notice the Reese's or Almond Joy mixes. Interesting. And now we know the caramel bits can be found at Publix.
Emilie, I guess a bunch of people got the coupon and there was a mad rush on unwrapped caramel bits at Wal*Mart.
Allie, keep looking. Kraft seems to sell quite a few products in Canada.
Joe, thanks for the heads up. I am behind due to my trip. Maybe these were on grocery stores shelves and I just missed them???? Or maybe not. Sounds like Austin's source is Wal&Mart and I haven't been in Wal&Mart in ages. I'm going to check H.E.B. tomorrow. I'm positive that if my H.E.B. doesn't have them, they will order some.
Brenda, I hope you find them where you are.
Kraft, THANK YOU!!!! And why didn't you make this product sooner?
Brenda says
Joe beat me to it! I twas going to say he used them the other day in a recipe. I think I will look for them tomorrow when I go shopping.
Joe says
PS - we put some pictures up when we talked about them a few days ago if you want to see what they actually look like. They are squishy and are about the size of mini chips - too bad they melt into little puddles and not keep their cute shape!
Joe says
Yep, we have got a couple bags in the cupboard along with some of the new jet-puffed chocolate marshmallows!
allie says
I would love to get my hands on that product. Do you think it is available in Canada?
Kelly says
I have seen them at both publix and walmart in florida and georgia. Have you seen the limited edition reeses and almond joy no bake bar mixes??? I am looking forward to trying them!
Heather says
Thanks for the heads up! With the holidays coming unwrapped caramels will come in very handy!
Anna says
I always feel like I'm cheating on Target when I go to Wal*Mart, but I'll check Wal*Mart. That is, if my regular H.E.B. doesn't have them.
Wendy says
I've seen them Austin already. I bought some at the Walmart at 620 and 183.. so there are here. I found them with the holiday baking stuff. Yummy! I can see turtle cookies already! Now I have to find time to use them =)