Awards for Best Caramels of 2023 Announced by the International Chocolate Salon

We are proud to present the results of the 2023 CARAMEL AWARDS Competition.

The International Chocolate Salon Awards for the 2023 CARAMEL AWARDS are based on the combined total number of votes received by each entrant from the Judging Panel.

The Judging Panel consists of National and Regional Magazines, Newspaper and Blog Editors, plus Topic Experts, Local Chefs and Food Gurus.

The award winners below have the honor of being able to display and use the Official Award Winner title and award logos, as well as use items (such as the Award Winner lapel pin), as well as use Custom Award Certificates, and logo award merchandise.

Sonoma Chocolatiers Cinnamon Tart Apple with Candied Walnut
Panache Chocolatier Rosemary Fig Caramel
Panache Chocolatier Smokehouse Nut Caramel
Kansas City Caramels Cayenne Cinnamon Caramels
Kansas City Caramels Raspberry dipped in Dark Chocolate
Panache Chocolatier Cranberry Orange Caramel
Crafted Caramel Winter Spice
Crafted Caramel Bourbon & Pecan
aL chocoLat Boutique Beer Caramel
Delysia Chocolatier Truffle Sampler: Espresso
La Petite Occasion Salted Dark Chocolare
Virtuoso Confections Whiskey Maple Pecan Caramel
Delysia Chocolatier Truffle Sampler: Candied Butterscotch
La Petite Occasion Butter Caramel with Flake Salt
Crafted Caramel Salted

JUDGES' FAVORITES

There were SO MANY excellent entries this year it is hard to choose one favorite. Kansas City Caramels’ Cayenne Cinnamon was an unexpected delight and their Raspberry Caramel was very good too.
Panache Chocolatier’s Rosemary Fig Caramel was delicious and I enjoyed the caramel riff they did on their Smokehouse Nut Bar. Crafted Caramel’s Bourbon & Pecan was a great combo in a good caramel. aL chocoLat Boutique continues to impress me with delicious and interesting confections — I loved all 3 of their entries. And Michael’s Chocolates again displayed Michael’s masterful mixing of chocolate and spirits. What a competition!
Delysia continues to impress in flavor, presentation, and overall deliciousness.
There were many top-notch caramels, but aL chocoLat Boutique's Beer Caramel stood out to me as attractive delicious and unexpected.
KWOKA Caramel
There was such a high level of quality among the caramels. There were several that melted in my mouth and I could sit back and just enjoy. Kwoka, Michale's and Delysia were my top three.
I will pick Kwoka, but I could waver and pick any of the others.
tie - Michael's Chocolates Spiced Pear Old Fashioned & Delysia Chocolatier Truffle Sampler: Caramelized Black Truffle
I loved the amazing burst of flavorful passion fruit from aL chocoLat Boutique Passion Caramel.
Carted Caramel hit it spot on with their Winter Spice caramel bringing a warm and flavorful mouthful of winter holiday enjoyment.
Virtuoso Confections' Whiskey Maple Pecan Caramel is an exceptional blend and balance of flavors and textures leaving you wanting more.
It's hard to balance heat from chili with sweets, but Kansas City Caramels' Cayenne Cinnamon Caramels was perfection.
There were many in this group that were well made and delcious, but I especially enjoyed the butteriness and classic creamy caramel taste of Kansas City's caramels, Kwoka's peanut-chocolate caramel, and Crafted Caramel's bourbon and pecan caramels were also excellent. In the flavored range, the Doug Fir was interesting, as was aL Chocolat's beer caramel.
Al Chocolat Passion Caramel + Delysia samplers + Kwoka
Virtuoso Confections Whiskey Maple Pecan

JUDGES' COMMENTS

Love Michael's Spiced Pear Old Fashioned! AL Carrot...vegetables for after dinner!
Kwoka was perhaps my favorite but Delysia really has it down to a science
Kwoka your caramel stole my taste buds. Melt in my mouth fantasy delicious. Delysia All three of your caramels were outstanding and leave me with tasty memories. Michael, the spliced pear lulled me to just let it sit on my taste buds until there was nothing left. Panache, the Rosemary fig is a winner. The texture and flavors are well matched. aL ChocoLate y9our carrot caramel was such a glorious and delicious surprise. Can I eat my carrots this?
Panache, you have a delicious and memorable blend of fruit and chocolate.
aL chocoLat Boutique Beer Caramel beautifully crafted with an earthy, hoppy flavor I can relate to beer; aL chocoLat Boutique Carrot Caramel Beautifully crafted, filling too sweet and grainy, nice idea; aL chocoLat Boutique Passion Caramel beautifully crafted, very liquid center, very pure, balanced flavors; Crafted Caramel Bourbon & Pecan firm and chewy ,Bourbon comes through, not complex; Crafted Caramel Salted Very salty, overwhelms the caramel which only shows on the finish; Delysia Chocolatier Truffle Sampler: Candied Butterscotch delicate flavors, a better chocolate than toffee;
Delysia Chocolatier Truffle Sampler: Caramelized Black Truffle gourmand all the way, savory truffle, balanced, unique, I would serve this to guests ; Kansas City Caramels Cayenne Cinnamon Caramels the heat builds here very quickly, not possible to enjoy other flavors after sampling; Kansas City Caramels Raspberry dipped in Dark Chocolate tender bite, raspberry jam dominates, more like pate de fruits;
Kwoka caramel Salted caramel with peanuts and chocolate tender with a fantastic texture, loved the layered effect with the nuts between the chocolate and toffee;
La Petite Occasion Butter Caramel with Flake Salt firm, salt is balanced with the sweet;
La Petite Occasion Salted Dark Chocolare quite soft, fudge-like, rich and satisfying;
Michael's Chocolates Spiced Pear Old Fashioned like a seasonal, craft cocktail; utterly charming and sophisticated; Panache Chocolatier Cranberry Orange Caramel delicious flavor combination, beautifully crafted; Panache Chocolatier Rosemary Fig Caramel unique, delicate flavors, needed more umph; Panache Chocolatier Smokehouse Nut Caramel not particularly smoky but rich with a nice texture; Sonoma Chocolatiers Cinnamon Tart Apple with Candied Walnut loved this combination of flavors and textures, a favorite; Sonoma Chocolatiers Pumpkin Spice Salted Caramel
Sonoma Chocolatiers Salty Dark Chocolate
Virtuoso Confections Butterscotch Caramel simple, classic;
Virtuoso Confections Whiskey Maple Pecan Caramel firm, excellent classic flavor combination, lovely finish; Winans Coffee and Chocolates GIn and Juice Caramel sticking to the wrapper, I can detect the gin, lacks complexity;
Yeti Chocolates Doug Fir Caramel utterly unique, delicate and complex, gourmand, I would serve this;
Kwoka Caramel - would have liked the nuts toasted more to bring out a more nutty flavor.
Crafted Caramel - would have liked the pecans toasted a little longer and more punch with the bourbon.
Delysia's batch this time didn't seem as fresh-tasting as in the past, and their Candied butterscotch chocolate truffle might appeal to truffle lovers, but was way off for my taste.
Happiness = Caramels
Yeti Chocolates was very courageous and bold to make a Douglas fir confection. Having formerly lived in Oregon, which has many such trees, I really appreciated this idea and would never before have even imagined such a combination myself! ... Also: Delysia is always wildly original, but this time it was especially bold and courageous in using black truffle — with excellent results!