Caramel Recipes
From LoveToKnow Recipes
Caramel Recipes
Did you know caramel is booming again? It seems it's one of the most popular types of candy today, and just about everyone is jumping on the caramel bandwagon, from candy makers to Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Their "Karamel Sutra" flavor is one of the company's most popular.
Basically, caramel is just cooked sugar. You can cook the sugar by itself in a pan until it reaches a boil, or you can mix it with a liquid, such as water, milk, or cream. When you boil the mixture it becomes a sugar syrup and the other liquid eventually evaporates, leaving you with a rich, creamy caramel. (Adding milk makes the concoction lighter in color and creamier.) If you use a candy thermometer when you cook your caramel, you should avoid some of the problems some cooks have with the candy. You should cook it to 340 to 350 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Tips
The biggest problem with making caramel is the high heat it takes, and the problem with sugar crystallizing rather than boiling and converting properly. To avoid crystallization, make sure your pan and spoon are absolutely clean. Don't stir the sugar after it boils, and when it is the thick consistency you'd like, take it off the heat and let the pan cool in a pan of cool water. You can stir the sugar to help it dissolve, but once it boils – hands off!
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