How to Make Caramel Candies

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup light corn syrup
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter, unsalted, softened
1 teaspoon salt

Equipment
Heavy-bottom saucepan
Candy thermometer
Heat-resistant rubber spatula
9 x 13-inch metal baking pan

Directions

Soft caramels may be the most popular chocolate in any box; they always seem to be the first to disappear. These caramels can be flavored many different ways and can be dipped in chocolate or wrapped without dipping.

1. Lightly butter a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
2. Combine the water, sugar, vanilla bean, condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter in a heavy-bottomed 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly with a heat-resistant rubber spatula.
3. Continue stirring while cooking until the batch reaches 245 degrees F. This is a good estimation of the required temperature. When the thermometer reads 240 degrees F, begin testing the caramel using the spoon technique.
4. Spoon Technique: Place a small bowl of ice water next to the saucepan of cooking sugar. As the sugar boils, spoon small samples of the syrup out of the saucepan and immerse the spoon holding the syrup in the ice water. Allow the syrup to cool for several seconds, then remove the spoon from the water. Take the cooled sample of syrup between your thumb and forefinger and squeeze it to evaluate the consistency. The cooled piece on the spoon should be firm but not hard when the caramel is properly cooked.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt. Pour into the prepared pan and remove the vanilla bean using a fork.
6. Allow to cool completely to room temperature, at least 2 hours.
7. Remove the sheet of caramels from the pan. Cut into the desired size pieces using a sharp chef's knife.
8. The pieces may be dipped in tempered chocolate or compound coating, or may be wrapped individually in cellophane or waxed paper if they are not going to be used within a day or two.

Makes one 9 x 13-inch slab.

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