making the ingredients (caramels)

I had a friend whose birthday was today.  Her two favorite flavors are caramel and chocolate.  I decided to combine the two in a brownie.  My Dad makes caramels so I followed his recipe.  I think next time I would make his caramel sauce for ice cream to use instead but this was decadent.

Caramels

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup Karo syrup (you can use a 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup Karo syrup (light corn syrup))

2 teaspoons vanilla

a pinch of salt

In a heavy sauce pan, mix corn syrup, sugar, and 1/2 cup whipping cream.

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves.  Bring to a boil and cook slowly to 234 degrees.

Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup whipping cream.  Return to heat and cook to 234 degrees.  Remove from heat and add remaining 1/2 cup whipping cream.

Return to heat and cook to 246 degrees.  

Remove from heat and add the vanilla and salt.

Pour into a buttered pan or pan lined with parchment paper.

Cut into pieces once firm.  I am living someplace where it was a 100 degrees today, so I actually put the caramels in the freezer to cool.

I took a small container of caramels to work.  I was told that Thursdays was now homemade candy day.  It made me smile.