Creamy Caramels

Creamy Caramels

Makes approximately 2lb

Ingredients

2 c sugar

2 c corn syrup

1/2 c butter or margarine

2 c evaporated milk or cream

1 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

Place sugar, salt and corn syrup into 3-4 qt saucepan. On Med to med high heat. heat to boil and boil to firm ball stage (245*), stirring occasionally. Gradually add butter and milk. Do not let mixture stop boiling. Continue to cook rapidly with constant stirring  to med ball stage (242*). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into butterd 9 by 13 metal pan. Let cool, then remove from pan, cut, and wrap in wax paper. 

The first part of this goes pretty quick, it doesn't take very long for the intial sugar mixture to get to firm ball stage. It is important to not let the mixture stop boiling. I cute up the butter and had the cream sitting on the counter. My mom even goes as far as melting the butter before hand.  I add a little at a time, the whole adding process took me about 5 to 10 min, just a little at at time to make sure it doesn't stop boiling. It came close a few times, but it picked up its rapid boil again quickly. it sounds harder then it really is. Once you add the cream it is important to stir in constantly because the cream is easily burnable. but as long as you stir it constantly and no higher then med high heat it will be fine. Once you add the cream it takes a lot longer to get to med ball stage. i use a candy thermometer. If I remember right it seemed like it was almost 20 min on Friday just stirring constantly. My mixture was at 125* for most of the time, but once it started heating up it was about 5 min more until it got to 245* and I let it cook there for about a min just to insure that it was really at that stage and wouldn't be too soft. i also put some in a cup with ice water to check the stage. i also like it as a little treat because it is delicious. Once it gets to that point, I quickly add the vanilla and then pour into the pan. You should pre butter your pan and get everything ready so that once you add the cream you don't have to go searching for anything else, until the caramel is poured into the pan. 

I love making these and I hope you enjoy