Homemade Salted Caramel Candies
Hi Everyone! It's Nicole, Annette's web-manager and friend, and like many of you, I am counting down the hours until Christmas vacation. This year, thanks to the pandemic, I was hoping to lean into a relaxing holiday season. Ironically, while parties and gatherings have been canceled, I have still found myself wrapped-up in the usual holiday bustle. I'm truly hoping that by next week, I can take a welcome break from my computer, settle in with some holiday movies, and relax.One of the things that I'm hoping to do during my holiday nesting is bake something...anything. As a cookbook author and entertaining expert, Annette has a ton of recipes in her repertoire. I asked her for a suggestion, and she sent over Martha Stewart's homemade salted caramel candies, a recipe she has successfully made before.I love this suggestion for two reasons: caramels will last well beyond the expiration date of a cookie, cake or pie, and I can also package them up for friends and neighbors. Who doesn't love a sweet porch surprise?! I'm hoping to try these homemade salted caramel candies next week. Let me know if you do too!xo Nicole
Homemade Salted Caramel Candies
You will need:
- Vegetable oil, for baking sheet
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 1/4 cups sugar- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 1/4 cups light corn syrup- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
To prepare:
Lightly brush bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with oil. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides; lightly brush parchment with oil.Bring cream, sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramel reaches 248 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes.Immediately remove caramel from heat, and stir in salt and vanilla. Pour caramel onto baking sheet, and let stand, uncovered, at room temperature at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.Lifting by parchment overhang, transfer caramel to a large cutting board. Cut into 3/4-by-1 1/4-inch pieces; wrap each piece in waxed paper or cellophane. Recipe by Martha Stewart.Photo by Heidi Geldhauser