Sesame Caramels Recipes

SESAME BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
• Combine sugar, honey, and water in a small, thick bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until a smooth slurry forms, about 3 minutes. Stir in raw sesame seeds.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until mixture turns an amber-caramel color, 5 to 10 minutes. A candy thermometer should read 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla extract. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet.
• Cool until hardened, 15 to 20 minutes. Break into pieces.

SESAME CANDY

Steps:

• Toast the sesame seeds in a medium pan by stirring at low heat for almost 6-8 minutes. When they are golden brown and give off their fragrance, immediately remove the pan from the heat as they can pop and jump out of the pan like popcorns. They can also easily burn with the heat of the pan. Set aside. Alternatively, you can toast them in the oven by placing them on a baking sheet at 350°F(177°C) until they are golden brown and give off their fragrance.
• Place the sugar in a big pan and let it melt at med-low heat. Don't stir but swirl the pan to avoid crystallization. When some parts of the sugar melt and become liquid and some parts don't melt, use a long heat proof spatula and put the melted sugar on top of unmelted sugar. This step helps melted sugar not to burn but unmelted sugar to melt. Swirl the pan and if there are still some unmelted pieces, start stirring, they will melt shortly.
• As the sugar melts and turns to amber color, remove the pan from the heat immediately and add the toasted sesame seeds and stir. Make sure sesame seeds are mixed with melted sugar evenly. After they all mixed, place the caramelized sesame seeds on to a parchment paper and spread it with a spatula. Be careful as the mixture is very hot. Put another parchment paper on top of the caramelized sesame seeds and level it with a rolling pin. Cut into pieces as you like with a sharp knife while it is still warm.

CRUNCHY SESAME SEED CANDY

Steps:

• Coat a 9-inch-square baking pan or dish with oil or non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
• Put the sesame seeds into an ungreased 10-inch skillet (preferably one with a non-stick surface) and stir them over medium-high heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until they are lightly browned and aromatic.
• Temporarily transfer the seeds (they will be hot) to a bowl, making sure that none are left in the skillet; set aside.
• Put the honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger into the skillet and mix them well.
• Slowly bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• As soon as the entire mixture comes to a full rolling boil, cook it vigorously for exactly 2 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and immediately stir in the sesame seeds until well mixed.
• Quickly turn out the hot mixture into the prepared pan and use a metal spatula that has been dipped into cold water to press the candy into a very smooth and even layer.
• Cool the candy in the pan for l5 minutes, or until it is solid but still lukewarm.
• Run the spatula around the edge of the candy to loosen it.
• Then turn out the whole slab of candy onto a wooden board or other cutting surface.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the large square of warm candy into very small squares, diamonds, or rectangles.
• Cool the candies completely; then store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
• If a professional look is desired, roll each cooked candy in a small piece of stiff cellophane and twist the ends.

SESAME CANDY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Spread the sesame seeds on a rimmed baking sheet, and place it in the oven. Toast the seeds until light golden, shaking them on the baking sheet occasionally, about 8 minutes. Let the seeds cool on the sheet.
• Put the sugar, honey, butter, and 2 teaspoons water in the saucepan, and set it over medium-low heat. Stir with a wooden spoon frequently as the butter melts and the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a boil. Simmer until the syrup is a deep-caramel color, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, brush a nonporous work surface (such as granite or stainless steel) with olive oil; coat the metal spatula with olive oil as well. When the caramel is done, turn off the heat, and stir in the sesame seeds, almonds, citrus zests, and cinnamon. Pour (and scrape) the molten candy from the pan onto the work surface, and quickly spread it into an even rectangular layer, about 1/2 inch thick. Allow it to cool and firm up for a minute or two, to firm up but not harden.
• With a serrated knife and a straight edge, slice the sheet of candy into 1-inch strips. Then cut diagonal slices 1 inch apart. Divide the strips into diamond-shaped pieces. With a metal spatula separate the pieces, and arrange them in a single layer, not touching, on trays lined with parchment or wax paper, and let them harden completely. Store them in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between the layers.