Old Fashioned Caramels Recipes

GRANDMA'S OLD-FASHIONED CREAM CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-inch pan with aluminum foil so that the foil goes up the sides of the pan. With a paper towel, coat the foil with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Set aside.
• In a 4-quart or larger heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and corn syrup. Stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil, about 5 minutes. Wash the sides of the pan down 2 times with a pastry brush dipped in warm water to prevent the sugar from crystallizing.
• Place a candy thermometer in the pan with the hot sugar, and increase the heat to medium-high. Continue to cook the candy without stirring until it registers 305° F on the candy thermometer, about 15 minutes.
• While the hot sugar cooks, heat the cream in a separate small saucepan or in the microwave until it's hot. Set aside.
• Remove the sugar mixture saucepan from the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of the butter until it's melted in. Return the pan to medium heat, and add the remaining tablespoon butter a little at a time, keeping the mixture boiling.
• Slowly and carefully add the hot cream to the caramel sugar mixture. Be careful as the mixture will bubble up and steam and can cause burns. Stirring continuously, cook the caramel until the mixture reaches 250° F on the candy thermometer, about 10 - 15 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat, and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the ½ teaspoon salt and vanilla. Pour the caramel into the prepared foil lined pan, and let sit for at least 8 hours at room temperature.
• After the caramel has rested, coat a cutting board and the blade of a chef's knife with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
• Invert the foil-lined pan of caramel onto the cutting board, and peel the foil off of the caramel.
• Cut the caramel into bite sized pieces.

OLD-FASHIONED CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line an 11x7-in. pan with foil; grease with 1 tablespoon butter and set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and remaining butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; boil gently for 4 minutes without stirring. , Remove from the heat; stir in cream. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage), stirring constantly., Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla and pecans if desired. Pour into prepared pan; cool. Using foil, lift candy out of pan. Gently peel off foil; cut candy into 1-in. squares.

OLD FASHION CARAMELS

Steps:

• 1. In a large pan melt butter, add corn syrup, sugar and half of the cream,stir to keep from burning, bring to a boil (I cook on medium high) but I know my stove and have been making these caramels for many years) when candy starts to boil, slowly add the rest of the cream stirring all the time cook til candy reaches 245*F then take off burner and add vanilla and chopped nuts.
• 2. Pour into a buttered 9X13 pan, let cool then cut into bit sized pieces and wrap in wax paper, my caramels don't last too long so some times they don't get wrapped.

OLD-FASHIONED DIVINITY CANDY

Steps:

• In a heavy, 2 quart saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, hot water, and salt. Cook and stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil. Then cook to hard ball stage without stirring, 250 degrees F (120 degrees C.) Frequently wipe crystals forming on the sides of the pan, using a pastry brush dipped in water. Remove from heat.
• Just as the syrup is reaching temperature, begin whipping egg whites: In a large glass or stainless steel mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Pour hot syrup in a thin stream over beaten egg whites, beating constantly with the electric mixer at medium speed. Increase speed to high, and continue beating for about 5 minutes. Add vanilla; continue beating until the mixture becomes stiff and begins to lose its gloss. If it is too stiff, add a few drops hot water.
• Immediately drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. For a decorative flair, twirl the top with the spoon when dropping. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

OLD-FASHIONED CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line 9-inch square pan with foil, extending foil over sides of pan. Lightly butter foil.
• Melt butter in 3-quart saucepan. Add brown sugar; mix well. Stir in corn syrup. Cook over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves and mixture is well blended.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Cook over medium heat for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring constantly, until candy thermometer reaches firm-ball stage (244°F.).
• Remove saucepan from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into buttered foil-lined pan. Cool 30 minutes.
• When candy has completely set, carefully remove from pan by lifting foil. With thin bladed knife, cut candy into pieces, using a light sawing motion. Wrap individual pieces in waxed paper. Store in refrigerator.

OLD-FASHIONED CARAMELS

Steps:

• Mix butter, sugar, molasses and milk in a heavy sauce pan.
• Bring mixture to a boil.
• Add chocolate and stir until the chocolate is melted.
• Cook to soft ball stage (234°-240°F on candy thermometer), or until mixture forms a soft ball when a small amount is dropped into cold water.
• Mix in the vanilla and nuts and pour mixture into a greased 8x8x2 inch pan.
• Cool, and when fairly firm, cut into small squares.

OLD FASHIONED CARAMEL PIE

Steps:

• Leave oven on from baking pie shells. Whisk together the 1-2/3 cups sugar and cornstarch in a large (at least 2 qt.) microwaveable bowl until there are no more lumps from the cornstarch. Pour the milk into the sugar mixture and whisk together until smooth. Add the butter to the top of the mixture.
• Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Whisk thoroughly. Microwave for 3 more minutes, whisk again. Have the egg yolks in a separate bowl. Beat them slightly. Add a tablespoon full of the hot mixture at a time to the egg yolks, stirring well after each addition. Do this until the yolk mixture is warm. (This will keep it from getting lumpy.) Then add the yolk mixture to the cooked mixture. Microwave in one minute increments, whisking each time, until the mixture is of pudding consistency. Whisk in the vanilla. Set aside.
• Put the 2/3 cup sugar into a small iron skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, on high until brown and bubbling. It will look like it's going to boil over. Pour IMMEDIATELY into cooked filling and whisk thoroughly. Divide between the 2 pie shells.
• Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar (if using) until foamy and slightly holding shape. Turn beaters on low speed. Add the 3/4 cup sugar. After sugar is mixed in, turn beaters on high again. Beat until meringue is hard to shake off a spoon (or it stays on beater when you turn off mixer and pull beaters out of bowl). Spread meringue onto filling all the way to the edges.
• Bake about 10 minutes or until brown. Watch closely. Turn off oven, open oven door slightly, and let pies cool in oven for 1 hour. Let pies cool completely on counter. Spray plastic wrap with Pam, cover pies and refrigerate.

OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Steps:

• Grease an 8x8 inch square baking pan. Set aside.
• Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Do not stir again.
• Place candy thermometer in pan and cook until temperature reaches 238 degrees F(114 degrees C). If you are not using a thermometer, then cook until a drop of this mixture in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball. Feel the ball with your fingers to make sure it is the right consistency. It should flatten when pressed between your fingers.
• Remove from heat. Add butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Beat with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen. Do not under beat.
• Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Cut into about 60 squares.