Caramel Fudge Sundaes Recipes

CARAMEL-POPCORN HOT-FUDGE SUNDAES

Steps:

• Caramel popcorn: Coat 2 rimmed baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add popcorn and cover. Cook, shaking pot frequently, until corn has finished popping. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in peanuts.
• Heat butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted, 5 minutes. Continue to cook until mixture reaches 290 degrees on a candy thermometer, then remove from heat and quickly stir in vanilla and baking soda, making sure soda is dissolved fully. Drizzle half of caramel over popcorn mixture; pour remainder onto one baking sheet and let cool. Quickly toss popcorn to coat, then transfer to other baking sheet; let cool completely. Break caramel popcorn into bits. Popcorn can be stored in a resealable plastic bag at room temperature up to 5 days.
• Caramel-chunk ice cream: Finely chop sheet of cooled caramel. Working in 2 batches, soften ice cream with an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat half of chopped caramel into each batch until thoroughly combined. Freeze until firm, 2 hours.
• Hot-fudge sauce: Heat brown sugar and cocoa in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisking to combine. Add cream and corn syrup and whisk until smooth. Cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in chocolate, butter, vanilla, and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until chocolate and butter are melted and sauce is smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool slightly. Sauce can be stored in refrigerator up to 5 days; reheat over low heat before serving.
• To serve, layer ice cream in glasses with warm hot fudge and caramel popcorn.

SALTED CARAMEL FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
• Combine sugar, butter, and evaporated milk in a 2-quart saucepan; cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 245 degrees F (118 degrees C), about 10 minutes. Add caramel to milk mixture; cook until temperature returns to 245 degrees F (118 degrees C), about 10 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat and stir marshmallow creme and vanilla extract into caramel mixture. Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish, evenly spreading into the dish. Sprinkle salt over the fudge. Lightly swirl fudge using a butter knife to slightly submerge the salt into the fudge. Cool fudge completely before cutting into squares.

ASIAN PEAR CARAMEL SUNDAES

Steps:

• Place the sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until it has melted and begins to bubble, 1 to 2 minutes. Continue cooking until it turns light amber in color, 1 to 2 minutes longer, making sure to watch very closely to prevent burning. Immediately add the butter and cream and whisk until combined (it will bubble and boil, but just keep whisking!).
• Add the diced Asian pear to the caramel and cook until the pear is al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the vanilla and salt and serve over your favorite ice cream with a dollop of whipped cream.