Old Fashioned Caramels

Growing up, cooler weather meant candy making. This is my mom’s recipe for old-fashioned caramels that is one of my favorite holiday treats.

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Old Fashioned Caramels

My mom's from scratch recipe for a delicious caramel candy.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Chilling Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 200 pieces

Equipment

• 1 12×17 rimmed baking pan doesn't need to be exact, but changes in pan dimensions will change thickness of caramel squares.
• 1 wide bottomed saucepan

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup butter
• 1 ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 15 oz can sweetened condensed milk ~ 1 ⅓ cup
• 1 cup light corn syrup such as Karo
• ¼ tsp salt omit if using salted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

 

• Grease a rimmed baking pan with butter and set aside.
• Melt butter in a wide bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
• Add brown sugar, salt, sweetened condensed milk, and corn syrup. Stir until combined.
• Stirring constantly heat mixture over medium heat for 12-15 minutes. Should have gentle bubbles and not be over boiling or popping. Test for firm ball stage (see notes).
• Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.
• Pour into buttered baking pan, ideally your mixture would be 1/2 inch thick.
• Cool completely, slice and wrap as preferred. (Typically 1 inch squares)

Notes

• Firm ball stage testing with ice bath method-
  • Fill a bowl with ice water, and add a small drizzle/spoonful of heated caramel to the water.
  • Carefully roll the caramel into a small ball and test with fingers for consistency, as well as test for taste.
  • Caramel will continue to cook in the pan if not immediately moved to a fridge or chill room to cool, so anticipate that the finished and set caramel would be slightly firmer than your ice bath test.
  • Once you have reached your desired consistency, remove from heat and proceed.
• For chocolate caramels, add 2 oz unsweetened chocolate after stirring in the sweetened condensed milk.

Keyword candy, caramel