It’s sticky, it’s gooey, and it’s oh so loved: sweet, sweet caramel! Drool-inducing only to think about it.

Caramel comes to us in many forms. From sauces to candies, cookies to toppings — the gooey treat delights taste buds of all ages.

Most people know that caramel is essentially just sugar that has been melted and browned. The ingredients vary depending on whether the caramel is hard, gooey, or soft, but two ingredients remain king: milk and sugar.

A less-known fact about this multifaceted substance is its history. The first recorded type of caramels were hard candies that date back to the mid-1600s. Early American settlers cooked sugar and water together to make quick treats for their children. The ingredients were simple and affordable, making caramel a staple in many early households.

RTL

Caramel or toffee apples yet to become a hype in Luxembourg. / © ThermoBlog

Today, one of the better known caramel treats - though somehow not very popular in Luxembourg - are toffee apples. These are whole apples covered in a layer of caramel and sometimes rolled in nuts or other small confections.

Fun fact: the creation of this delicacy was not planned! Kraft Foods employee Dan Walker was supposedly experimenting with leftover Halloween inventory, melting them together. Following his intuition, he dipped a sour apple in the mixture and the toffee apple was born. Since then, the preferred apples are tart-tasting ones with a crisp texture such as Granny Smith.

So, how are you going to celebrate International Caramel Day? Caramel cookies, popcorn, or - if you’re feeling crazy - maybe a double-blended caramel frappuccino with whipped cream and extra caramel sauce on top? Whichever it is, today is the day for indulgence.