3 cups sugar (21 ounces by weight)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 pint heavy cream
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon fine fleur de sel, plus extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper, allowing it to drape over 2 sides, then brush the paper lightly with oil.
Combine the water, sugar and corn syrup and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat (lid on). Boil until the mixture is a warm golden brown. Don’t stir, just swirl the pan. Don’t let it get too dark, even a medium brown will taste somewhat strong in the finished caramels.
In the meantime, in a small pot, bring the cream, butter and salt to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat and set aside.
When the sugar mixture is done, turn off the heat and slowly add in the cream mixture. Be careful — it will bubble up violently. Cook over medium-low heat for about 15 – 25 minutes, until the mixture reaches 247° F on a candy thermometer. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Pour the caramel into the prepared pan and sprinkle the top with additional fleur de sel. Refrigerate for a few hours, until firm. Cut the caramel into pieces and wrap in glassine or waxed paper. Makes 70 – 80 pieces.
Store in the refrigerator and serve the caramels chilled.
Adapted from Ina Garten’s recipe for The Food Network
2022
Gingerbread Caramels
Add 1/4 cup molasses with the cream. Towards the end when the caramels reach 240°, add:
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/8 tsp (or more) ginger
- 3/8 tsp groung nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cloves
Only use 1/2 tsp vanilla
Use the equivalent of 3/8 tsp table salt
2018
Nutmeg Caramels
Use 3/4 tsp table salt instead of sea salt. Do not salt the surface of finished caramels.
Add 2 tsp ground nutmeg when the caramels reach 240°. Continue cooking to 247°.
2022
Coffee Salted Caramels
Add to the cream and butter mixture:
2 or more packages instant Starbucks VIA coffee, approximately 1 tbsp.
Use 3/4 tsp table salt instead of sea salt. Do not salt the surface of finished caramels.
2022 Used 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, it needed more so I sprinkled the tops with kosher salt and it was fine. Used 3 servings of Starbucks decaf coffee, very good. 2024 – used 4 packets of Starbucks VIA Columbian and it was way too strong for my taste!