Salted Caramels with Orange Scented Sugar

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CRAFT: Celebrate the Season

By Katie Goodman
Caramels are another fun and delicious treat to make for gifting this time of year, though they can be tricky. You will rely heavily on a candy thermometer, so make sure that is working before you start. You will need to monitor the temperature closely. You can go from soft caramels to hard candy very quickly, so choose a time to make these when you won’t be distracted. In other words, don’t make these when you’ve got two kids playing loudly in the background or you might have to make a second batch. Just sayin’, not that I would know anything about that.
Before you start this project you will also need find out what your elevation is and adjust the temperatures accordingly. For every 1,000 feet above sea level, you will need to subtract 2 degrees. For example, I live at 5,000 ft. above sea level, so I subtract a total of 10 degrees from each of the indicated temperatures.
If you would like a stronger orange flavor, adjust the extract accordingly. These aren’t meant to be orange caramels, but just have a small hint of flavor in the background.


Salted Caramels with Orange Scented Sugar
Adapted from Helen of Tartelette

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup light corn syrup (honey may be substituted)
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus extra for sprinkling on top
2 cups heavy cream
Zest of one large orange
1/8 teaspoon orange extract
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks

Directions

Line the bottom and sides of a metal 9×13 inch pan with foil. Grease the foil. Set aside.
Saltedcaramels Orange
Zest the orange and combine it with the sugar. Run through a food processor until the zest is very fine and the sugar is fragrant.
Saltedcaramels Addcornsyrup
In a heavy 3 1/2-quart sauce pan combine the corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon or head resistant spatula until the mixture starts to bubble around the edges, stirring regularly. Add the butter and stir in until melted.
Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan – careful not to let it touch the bottom of the pan — and cook, without stirring, until the sugar mixture reaches 305 degrees F.
Saltedcaramels Warmcream
Meanwhile, warm the cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Once simmering, turn heat off and set aside.
After the sugar mixture has reached 305 degrees F, turn the burner off. Slowly stir in the cream, about 1/3 of it at a time. The mixture will bubble wildly, so be carefully not to burn yourself or overflow the pan.
Saltedcaramels Addcream
After you’ve whisked in all of the cream, return to medium-high heat and allow the mixture to boil rapidly. Stir until mixture is smooth. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, to 245 degrees F. Then cook, stirring constantly to 260 degrees for soft, chewy caramels or 265 degrees F for firmer caramels.
Saltedcaramels Pourinpan
Turn the heat off and stir in the orange extract. Pour the caramel into the prepared pan. After about 5 minutes, sprinkle the top with a dusting of fine sea salt. Allow the caramels to sit for 5 hours, or until firm.
Saltedcaramels Removefoil
Remove the caramel from the pan and peel away the foil. Spray a plastic cutting board with cooking spray and place the caramel on top. Then, spray your knife with cooking spray.
Saltedcaramels Cubes
Cut the caramels into bite sized pieces. A good size is a 1×1 inch cube or a 1/2 inch x 1 inch rectangle. Individually wrap the caramels with wax paper. Makes approximately 70-80 caramels, depending on the size.
Saltedcaramels Test
Note: The best way to test the consistency of your caramels once the thermometer starts to read close to the goal temperature is to drop a spoonful into a bowl of cold water. Then, pull the caramel out with your finger to test. If it is just right, you can stop cooking. If it is not yet firm enough, keep cooking and test again every couple of degrees.

About the Author:
author_katiegoodman2.jpg
Katie Goodman resides in New Mexico with her husband and two children (a 4-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl). Learning in the kitchen, eating, trying new recipes, and sharing them with friends and loved ones are some of Katie’s favorite things to do. She wholeheartedly believes that part of the goodness in life is enjoying good food with good friends and family, and goodLife {eats} is a place for her to share what she finds good in the kitchen.


12 thoughts on “Salted Caramels with Orange Scented Sugar

  1. Brookelynn says:

    I think the photos you took for this project are amazing, especially the bubbling mixture! I have always wanted to make these myself, and am resolved to try! Thanks for this post!

  2. Anonymous says:

    This looks and sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe! But I will wait, since I’m coming off a Christmas-baking jag.

  3. Lori says:

    I’ve tried caramels twice this Christmas season already and both times ended up with toffee. I am determined to not let them get the better of me so I think I’ll give your recipe a go. Thanks for the tip about the sea level adjustments in temperature.

  4. jen says:

    these look so delish that i had to try the recipe, but i wound up with very, very hard caramels that were impossible to cut or chew. i will try again because i want to get it right. i’m guessing that for some reason, cooking to 265 was too hot. some of the candy charts i’ve looked at recommend cooking caramels no higher than 250. i’ll probably shoot for 245 next time with your recipe and see if that works.

  5. Candy Is a Sweet Way to Kick Off the Holidays says:

    […] anyone can say no to the sweet taste of caramel. These salted caramels with orange scented sugar will be gone in a flash, they’re so […]

  6. Home made treats Will Put You into the Holiday Spirit says:

    […] its way to the top of many people’s “favorite candy” lists. Adding a bit of orange scented sugar makes it even more delicious. 2. Peppermint popcorn is another fabulous sweet ‘n salty snack […]

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