Vegan Caramels

Cocomels Caramels

Original

Upon my first bite, I said to myself, no way is this dairy free. It tastes just like caramel! Cocomels coconut milk caramels are deliciously smooth and chewy like real caramel. Although made from coconut milk you don’t taste the coconut but instead what is similar to dairy cream. These delicious caramels are vegan, gluten free and also non-GMO. Besides the original flavor, Cocomels also comes in a variety of other flavors:

Sea Salt

Though I like sea salt, I prefer the original since it’s smoother. By contrast, the sea salt ones are saltier and have a gritty texture because of the crystalized sea salt.

Coconut Sugar

While the original and sea salt flavors taste like milk caramels, the coconut sugar tastes like coconut and is sweeter than the other two. However, this is not a negative because it tastes like a sweet coconut candy.

Espresso

This is perfect for coffee lovers with its creamy café con leche taste.

Cocomel Bites Chocolate Covered Coconut Milk Caramels

I reviewed this candy in my vegan chocolate post. The first ingredient in these round bites is bittersweet chocolate, which also describes the taste because it is very bittersweet. However, the caramel center has a mild vanilla taste which offsets the bittersweet chocolate flavor well <https://liveglutenanddairyfree.com/dairy-free-chocolate-bars-and-bites/2/>.

AvenueSweets Vanilla Caramels

If Cocomels was chocolate, it would be Hershey’s, and AvenueSweets would be Godiva. Both are good chocolates but in very different classes based on price and taste. AvenueSweets is also made with coconut milk, is vegan and gluten free. It is hand crafted and slow cooked in copper kettles. To repeat myself, I don’t know how these brands magically turned coconut milk into caramel. Like Cocomels, they taste like real caramel and are soft and chewy. However, AvenueSweets tastes more like traditional caramel – nostalgically reminding me of the old-fashioned caramels in Wisconsin Dells.

AvenueSweets’ taste and package scream gourmet. AvenueSweets caramels are individually wrapped and resemble cubed, old-fashioned caramel chews. With two packs of caramels placed inside a gold box and wrapped in a yellow ribbon, it would make a perfect gift.

Like Cocomels, they also come in a variety of flavors:

Sea Salt

I prefer this sea salt flavor to Cocomels since the sea salt perfectly balances out the sweetness of the caramel and is smooth and not gritty.

Sea Salt Chocolate

This flavor has a subtle chocolate taste with sea salt. This is the perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Conclusion

Both Cocomels and AvenueSweets taste like real dairy caramel. Whereas I’d say Cocomels is for everyday eating, AvenueSweets is fancier and tastes more like dairy caramel. It is perfect for indulging or giving an impressive gift.

Fun Food Facts

Cosmos Creations broke the world record for baking the largest puffed caramel corn ball. Weighing in at 6,780 pounds, “Carl” the corn ball measured over 8 feet tall and 20 feet in circumference and took over 100 hours to make.

Did you Know?

The caramel apple was created by Kraft Foods employee Dan Walker by accident. He was experimenting with leftover Halloween inventory, melting the caramels together with different fruits. https://www.wockenfusscandies.com/blog/five-little-known-facts-caramel/

Quote

“Coconut milk is the only thing on this planet that comes identically to mother’s milk.”  Dick Gregory