Group · Sweet foods
Caramel sweets
Caramel sweets are soft or firm confections made by cooking sugar with milk, butter and sometimes cream, until they take on their characteristic amber colour and rich flavour. They come in many forms: soft caramels individually wrapped, hard caramels for sucking, salted butter versions, vanilla flavoured or chocolate-coated ones. At around 415 kcal per 100 g, they are a sugary food that is rich in carbohydrate (79.1 g) and relatively energy dense. In a balanced diet, they remain an occasional pleasure, to be enjoyed in small amounts rather than an everyday food.
Macronutrient breakdown
Nutrition table per 100 g
| Calories | 415 kcal |
| Kilojoules | 1750 kJ |
| Protein | 2,3 g |
| Carbohydrate | 79,1 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fibre | 0,2 g |
Micronutrients per 100 g
All measured nutrients, ranked by share of the daily reference intake.
- Vitamin B931,8 µg16 %
- Iodine22,2 µg15 %
- Calcium95,6 mg12 %
- Vitamin B60,16 mg11 %
- Phosphorus77,4 mg11 %
- Vitamin B20,14 mg10 %
- Potassium154 mg8 %
- Magnesium17,4 mg5 %
See the other 8 nutrients
- Iron0,55 mg4 %
- Vitamin B50,23 mg4 %
- Vitamin B120,08 µg3 %
- Zinc0,3 mg3 %
- Omega-6 LA0,17 g2 %
- Vitamin B30,15 mg1 %
- Total omega-30,02 g1 %
- Omega-3 ALA0,01 g1 %
Anses Ciqual 2025. Source: Anses, 2025, Ciqual food composition table
Tips
Caramel sweets are above all an indulgent treat. To enjoy their flavour benefits without upsetting your balance, it is best to have them in moderation: one or two caramels (about 10 to 15 g) are enough to satisfy a sweet craving. As they melt slowly in the mouth, take the time to savour them, which naturally helps you eat fewer.
Nutrition facts and profile: carbohydrate is by far the main nutrient (79.1 g per 100 g), mostly as fast sugars, which explains the high glycaemic index. The fat (9.98 g) comes from the butter and milk, and the protein content (2.23 g) is modest. The absence of fibre means the sugar is absorbed quickly. They are therefore a source of concentrated calories, without real nutritional density.
- When to eat them: at the end of a meal or as a snack alongside something else, to avoid a blood sugar spike on an empty stomach.
- Pairings: a caramel with a coffee or a tea prolongs the pleasure. You can also slip some into a homemade cookie recipe.
- Storage: keep them in an airtight tin, away from heat and moisture, otherwise they turn sticky and soft.
- Varieties: hard caramel, soft caramel, salted butter or chocolate-coated versions, each with its own texture.
If you like this indulgent world, you can compare them with classic caramel, salted butter caramel or other treats in the sugary foods family.
Tip for athletes: thanks to its fast sugars, a caramel sweet can help out as an express energy boost before short, intense exercise, or during a long session. Be aware, though, that it does not replace a proper hydration strategy or suitable snacks. For recovery and protein intake, choose protein snacks that are better designed for exercise.
Weight control: because of its calorie density and sugar content, the caramel sweet falls into the category of empty calories. If you are trying to lose weight, limit yourself to a small amount and make up for it by choosing filling foods for the rest of the day. To put this food in context alongside others, see the calorie table. Pleasure is still possible, as long as you stay moderate.