The Rednecks Best Caramels Recipes

THE REDNECK'S BEST CARAMELS

Steps:

• Butter a square pan and line it with foil. Butter the foil as well.
• Combine ingredients in a heavy pan except vanilla. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture reaches 248 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into the pan and set on a wire rack. Cool completely. Turn out and cut into squares and wrap in waxed paper.
• For caramel apples: Wash and dry apples completely (air dry is best) and stick the sticks into the BOTTOM of the apples. They will sit better if you stick them from the bottom instead of the top. Make the caramel and dip the apples and sit them on buttered waxed paper. I tried parchment paper and it didn't work as well as I'd hoped. I always eat any excess caramel with a spoon~a yummy treat for the hard-working chef!

SOFT-AND-CHEWY CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan.
• Generously coat foil with cooking spray; set aside.
• Melt 1 cup butter in a 3-quart sauce-pan over low heat.
• Stir in brown sugar, condensed milk, and corn syrup until smooth.
• Bring mixture to a boil.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until a candy thermometer registers 235°.
• Remove mixture from heat; stir by hand 1 minute or until mixture is smooth and no longer bubbling.
• Quickly pour mixture into prepared pan; let stand 3 hours or until cool.
• Note: cook time does not include 3 hour cooling time.
• Lift foil and caramel out of pan.
• Cut caramels into 1-inch pieces with a buttered knife.
• Wrap each piece with plastic wrap.