Caramel ( or ) is a beige to dark-brown confectionery product made by heating any of a variety of sugars. It is used: as a flavoring in puddings and desserts as a filling in bonbons as a topping for ice cream and custard The process of caramelization consists of heating sugar slowly to around . As the sugar heats, the molecules break down and re-form into compounds with a characteristic color and flavor. A variety of candies, desserts, and confections are made with caramel: brittles, nougats, pralines, crème brûlée, crème caramel, and caramel apples. Ice creams sometimes are flavored with or contain swirls of caramel.
