5-Minute Microwave Caramel Sauce { & 55 things you can do in 5 minutes }

As a challenge to both myself and you, I’m pairing this awesome 5-minute microwave caramel sauce recipe (from the phenomenal Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake) with 55 fun things you can do in 5 minutes or less a day.

Ready? Let’s begin.

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  1. Meditate somewhere in the quiet outdoors, and dressed as an all-natural owl
  2. Listen to this incredible video of Harrison Craig from The Voice Australia 2014 singing “You Raise Me Up”
  3. Eat an entire caramel apple by yourself
  4. Write a thank-you card telling someone you appreciate them
  5. Hug a dog/cat (or a stuffed animal if a live one is in short supply)
  6. Make a 15-second silly video of yourself doing Gangham Style and post it on Instagram
  7. Reread your favorite picture book
  8. Dance around your room belting out your current favorite song into a dilapidated hairbrush
  9. Make yourself a cup of hot tea to enjoy
  10. Send a text message saying “hello!” to ten friends you haven’t seen in a long time
  11. Watch this hilarious Bad Lip Reading of The Hunger Games
  12. Catch up on at least two BBC World News videos
  13. Buy a cup of coffee for the next person in lineMicrowaveCaramelSauce4--031515
  14. Do one of these super-random five-minute crafts, like tattooing a banana
  15. Find out which Pixar movie you are
  16. Hold a lively discussion about goldfish safety with your imaginary friend, Bob Gutterson
  17. Try to discover the meaning of life (may require additional 5-minute sessions)
  18. Make your own list of 5-minute activities and commit to finishing one per day for fun
  19.  Look up 5 local restaurants you have never tried and save them for your next outing
  20. Write a haiku about cheese, or your mother-in-law, or both
  21. Create a to-do list of all the things you will need to accomplish when you become World Conquerer
  22. Find a cute new wallpaper for your desktop background
  23. Write down 5 things that made you really happy this week
  24. Create a pyramid-tower out of leftover toiler paper rolls
  25. Waste your insanely valuable time on this Impossible QuizMicrowaveCaramelSaucegif2
  26. Draw a map of what the world would look like if it was filled only with unicorns, rainbows, and sprinkles, in that order
  27. Speak in a heavy English accent to the next person you meet, and keep it up for the entire conversation until they ask you where you’re from. Then respond: The Isle of British Antarctica.
  28. Think of as many nouns as you can–then verbify them
  29. Dream about how the world would look if you saw everything upside-down
  30. Read this really important Buzzfeed post about 31 Times Tumblr Had Serious Questions About Disney
  31. Find your very favorite movie scene on Youtube and watch it as many times as you can
  32. Doodle a picture of what you would look like if you were suddenly transformed into an animal
  33. Create a superhero/supervillain alter-ego for yourself, including your super-name, superpower, and super-costume ideas
  34. Enjoy these very necessary 29 Things More Important Than Work Right Now
  35. Create a Neopets account. If you have one, check on your pets for the first time in 5 years and make sure they aren’t dead (yet)
  36. Count the number of times you can clearly and quickly repeat the word “babble” before you mess up
  37. Look out the window (or around you) and simply take everything in
  38. Stare into someone’s eyes for four minutes without breaking eye contact (and please, make sure they know what you’re doing and agree to participate first)
  39. Skip around a room
  40. Construct a blanket fortMicrowaveCaramelSauce8--031515
  41. Play an impromptu game of hide-and-go-seek with everyone around you
  42. Throwback to a good old game of M.A.S.H.
  43. Recreate and photograph your favorite painting, celebrity photo, or other iconic setting
  44. Sample every flavor of dessert in your kitchen
  45. Find 3 new blogs to follow
  46. Do a random act of kindness
  47. Write up your favorite quote on a large sheet of paper and post it on a wall where you will see it every morning
  48. Do your best Marlon Brando impression in the mirror. I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.
  49. Reread the first 5 glorious pages of your favorite book
  50. Search for Intelligent Life right from your home computer
  51. Compose a parody song about your life based on a popular song chorus. For example, “Oops, I Farted Again…”
  52. Consider what topic you would write about if you had only one blog post left to publish
  53. Do something over-the-top with your hair. Hopefully nothing you will regret after 5 minutes
  54. Invent the craziest recipe you can imagine, even if it isn’t feasible/sounds terrible in theory. And finally….
  55. Make this 5-minute microwave caramel sauce! Like, please!

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Seriously though, this caramel could not any easier! Just pop the ingredients into the microwave, stir at regular intervals, and make sure you keep a close eye on it as it can quickly turn from perfect to burnt. It tastes exactly like the store-bought kind, and even better than stovetop caramel because it only requires five minutes of your precious time.

So what are you waiting for? Your caramel carriage is awaiting!

Your turn! Which fun five-minute activity will you be trying today? (I know one of them will be this caramel, right??)
Ala

5-Minute Microwave Caramel Sauce { & 55 things you can do in 5 minutes }

5-Minute Microwave Caramel Sauce { & 55 things you can do in 5 minutes }

Five minutes are all you need to make this super-easy microwave caramel sauce! The ingredients are super simple, and there is no slaving over the stovetop involved. Just make sure you keep a close eye on the caramel--it burns quickly! Original recipe courtesy of That Skinny Chick Can Bake.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/8 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup hot heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a medium to large microwave-safe bowl, mix together sugar, corn syrup, water, and lemon juice. (You'll need a fairly large bowl for the next step, since the mixture will bubble profusely.)
  2. Microwave on high at 1-2 minute intervals to start with, until the mixture takes on a pale amber color (about 4-5 minutes in). When it reaches this stage, immediately remove (very hot!) bowl from oven--it will continue cooking in the bowl as it cools, so you don't want to overcook it. Allow it to continue bubbling until it reaches a darker amber, caramel color.
  3. Add hot heavy cream one tablespoon at a time, allowing the mixture to bubble and then simmer down between each spoonful. Then stir in butter and vanilla.
  4. Allow caramel to cool slightly before serving, or store in refrigerator for up to a month.

 

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12 Replies to “5-Minute Microwave Caramel Sauce { & 55 things you can do in 5 minutes }”

  1. Oh, boy, I’m SO glad you tried this!! Isn’t it amazing (once you get the timing down!)?? And, once again, you have the most interesting, want to read every word post!!! xo

    1. YES!! Thanks so much, Liz–this was the highlight of my week! xoxo

  2. Oh I love #6 and we need to make it viral. But for now, let’s focus on #55. 5 minutes of my day is more spectacular with this caramel sauce.

    1. Hehe agreed, Linda! 5 minutes a day keeps the spoon and jar of caramel close by 😉 I don’t even need it to rhyme.

  3. Oh gosh!!! I love this list. I totally NEED this caramel sauce and do a lot of these. I am listening to the voice australia link right now hahha and I LOVE the BBC World News recaps. It’s usually the only way I find out about things going on outside the US that does not affect the US lol! Like african news.

    1. hehe omg did you enjoy Harrison Craig as much as I did?! I totally need to practice as I preach…I hardly watch the news at all anymore, except at the gym 🙁 it’s the only way I get myself to go, really.

  4. Hey! I read this in 5 minutes! I guess I passed, huh? 🙂 Fun stuff — thanks.

    1. I think you pass 😉 happy Saturday, and thanks!

  5. Haha this list is awesome! Never thought about how many fun things we could do in 5 minutes or less but I think my favorite one is making this caramel sauce 🙂 It looks heavenly!

    1. Hehe, thanks a bundle, Kelly! Hope you’re having a wonnnnderful Sunday 🙂 go make that caramel!

  6. I have made this caramel before and love it! So easy! I love your list way more though. So many great ideas – thank you notes, hugs, paying it forward, just looking outside. I needed this today. Kind of having a crap day and I felt better just reading your post.

    1. Aww, I’m so glad, Laura! Your comments and thoughtfulness always inspire me. I hope your week feels loads better!

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