Caramel (/ˈkærəmɛl/ or /ˈkɑːrməl/) is an orange-brown sweet made by heating various sugars. It can be used as a topping in puddings and desserts, as a filling in sweets and pickles, or as a filling in ice cream and puddings. In the caramelization process, the sugar is slowly heated to approximately 170°C (340°F). As the sugar is heated, the molecules break down and reform into compounds with a distinctive color and flavor. A wide variety of sweets, desserts, fillings and pastries are made with caramel: brittles, nougats, pralines, flans, crème brûlée, crème caramel and caramelized apples. Ice creams are sometimes flavored or contain caramel swirls.