Old Fashioned Brown Candy Recipes

OLD FASHIONED BROWN CANDY

Steps:

• Pour 1 cup of sugar into heavy pan and place over low heat.
• Begin stirring with wooden spoon and keep sugar moving; it will take about 15 minutes to completely melt all sugar and it should be the color of light brown sugar syrup.
• Pour remaining sugar, together with 1 cup milk, in heavy kettle and set over low heat to cook slowly while you are melting sugar.
• As soon as the sugar is melted, begin pouring it into kettle of boiling milk.
• Pour slowly, continue cooking and stirring just until mixture is 238 degrees to 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Turn out the fire and immediately add baking soda, stirring hard as it foams up.
• As soon as soda is mixed, add butter; it will melt as you stir.
• Set pan of candy off the stove for 20 minutes until lukewarm.
• Add vanilla and begin beating using a wooden spoon.
• Beat until mixture is thickened and glossy.
• Add broken nuts and mix.
• Turn into a buttered pan.

AUNT BILL'S BROWN CANDY

Steps:

• Butter a 9x13 inch dish and a medium, heavy saucepan.
• In the buttered saucepan, combine 4 cups sugar and the cream. Have ready.
• In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, pour the remaining 2 cups sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar begins to melt. Place the saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Continue to cook and stir the sugar in the skillet until it is completely melted and light brown. Pour the melted sugar very slowly, in a thin stream, into the lightly simmering cream, stirring constantly (This step may take five minutes, and works best if someone strong pours the melted sugar v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y.)
• Heat now, without stirring, to 242 to 248 degrees F (116 to 120 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a firm but pliable ball. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda (mixture will foam). Drop the butter into the foaming mixture and let rest without stirring 30 minutes.
• Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon and continue to stir vigorously until mixture loses its gloss, 10 to 15 minutes. Then fold in pecans and quickly turn candy into the prepared 9x13 inch dish. Let cool until just warm and cut in 1 inch pieces.

AUNT BILL'S BROWN CANDY

Steps:

• Butter 8x8x2-inch metal baking pan. Combine 2 cups sugar and half and half in heavy large saucepan. Stir occasionally over low heat until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
• Bring remaining 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; continue boiling without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing sides of pan with wet brush and swirling pan, about 8 minutes.
• Immediately pour caramel syrup into half and half mixture in large saucepan (mixture will bubble). Stir constantly over medium-low heat until caramel dissolves. Attach candy thermometer to side of pan. Increase heat to medium. Continue cooking and stirring until mixture registers 244°F, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in baking soda (mixture will foam slightly). Add butter and stir to melt. Let stand without stirring until mixture cools to 160°F, about 20 minutes. Mix in vanilla.
• Using large wooden spoon, stir constantly until candy begins to thicken and loses its gloss, 4 to 5 minutes. Mix in nuts (candy will be very stiff). Scrape candy into prepared pan. Using wet fingertips, press candy firmly into pan. Cool completely, then cut into 30 squares.