Fran's Salt Caramels
Fran’s Salt Caramels. Salt caramel photos by Melody Lan.
MENU

 

   

Candy

Main Page
Articles & Reviews

 

Main Nibbles

Articles & Reviews Of Foods
From A To Z

 

Product Reviews

Main Page

Food, Beverages, Books,
News & Mor
e

 

   

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

KAREN HOCHMAN is Editorial Director of THE NIBBLE and a dévotée of salt caramels.

 

 

May 2006
Updated March 2009

Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Candy

The Best Salt Caramels

Page 6: Salt Caramels Recipe

 

This is Page 6 of a six-part article. Click the black links below to view the other pages.

 

Salt Caramels Recipe

Most people who try salt caramel become instant fans. There’s enough variety in this article, from subtly salty to lovely lavender to breakfast spread, that we know they’ll make a fan of you. If you need an immediate fix, try this recipe.

Ingredients

  • Recipe1 cup heavy cream (not ultra-pasteurized)
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt*
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup water

*You can use any sea salt, which is available at fine supermarkets and specialty food stores. If you choose an attractive-grained salt, it will look handsome as a surface decor. Check out our Salt Glossary.

Equipment

  • 8” square baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Candy thermometer (or a deep-fat thermometer)
  • Wax paper for wrapping or paper candy cups

Yield: About 40 caramels.

Preparation

  1. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper and lightly oil the paper.
  2. Bring the cream, butter and sea salt to a boil in a small saucepan; remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Boil the sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, without stirring but gently swirling pan; then cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 248°F, the firm-ball stage.
  4. Carefully stir in the cream mixture—the mixture will bubble up. Simmer, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. The temperature should not go higher than 250°F.
  5. CANDYMAKER TIP: To get the caramel consistency you want, test by dropping a spoonful of caramel into a bowl of cold water. It will form a ball, which you can test with your fingers. Stop cooking when the ball is the consistency that you want.
  6. Pour the mixture into the baking pan and cool 2 hours.
  7. OPTIONAL: You can enrobe your caramels in tempered melted chocolate; sprinkle the top with some grains of sea salt (pretty salts make a difference); or press in some culinary lavender buds.
  8. Cut into 1-inch pieces, then wrap each piece in a 4-inch square of wax paper, folding ends or twisting to close like taffy.
  9. ALTERNATIVE: Pour the caramel into individual candy cups, as shown above.

 

Go To The Article Index Above

 



© Copyright 2005-2024 Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. All images are copyrighted to their respective owners.