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Ina’s Salted Caramels

February 20, 2014

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 Ina's Salted Caramels

First, please vote for my blog for The Kitchn’s The Homies Awards.  I need to place in the top five to make it to the next round.  This would really help my dreams come true and could change my blog and possibly my life.  It would be a dream come true, but I need your help.  Please, even if you don’t leave comments and just like to lurk, please take a moment to click the link, sign up for an account and click the +1 next to Pies and Plots.  You should see the number of nominations go up.  I cannot begin to tell you how much this would mean to me!

Second, don’t forget to enter to win the Hungarian shortbread from Frog Hollow Farm.  I know you will love that little treat!  Now onto your regularly scheduled blog post.

Ina's Salted Caramels

I’m not one to be all fanatical about spoilers.  I realize in the strange world in which we live where most of us don’t watch shows when they actually air and yet feel the need to share all about them on social media, I need to be smart if I don’t want to know who won Top Chef or what happened on Grey’s Anatomy.

When I actually care about avoiding spoilers, I try to watch the show in a timely manner and avoid social media.  I’ve also learned to enjoy shows even when I know what happens.

But the Olympics are killing me.  I can’t get interested in watching twenty bobsled runs or ten ice skating short programs, which I swear are all the same, when I know what happens.  So I’ve been spending my days avoiding spoliers like it’s my job.  Coincidentally it pays about the same as blogging 😉

My local news is great.  They announce when they are going to talk spoliers.  They appear on the screen while they Olympic music plays.  When the music’s over, so are the spoliers.  Awesome.

Ina's Salted Caramels

However, my frenemies over at NBC have a bit of a different tactic, in that they talk spoliers all the time, without warning.  The moment I turn on Today in the morning, they are talking about results.  Ted Ligity this, Bode Miller that.  I love NBC Nightly News and their Olympic stories, but I can’t watch them because I have to turn it on mute and look away before I know who fell while ice skating.  Doesn’t NBC want me to enjoy their Olympic coverage?

Well, at least I definitely enjoyed Ina’s Salted Caramels.  I have a thing for homemade caramels.  I simplified the process here by removing the step of warming the cream and butter before adding to the cooked sugar and these are the best caramels I’ve ever made.  They set perfectly, are super creamy, and have that rich, complex flavor we all want from caramels with that perfect crunch of sea salt.  I say these are gold medalists, no spoiler alert necessary!

Ina's Salted Caramels

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Ina’s Salted Caramels


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  • Yield: 64 caramels 1x
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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Maldon Sea Salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment, leaving overhang for easy removal later.
  2. In a large saucepan, cook sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium-high heat. Without stirring, bring to a boil, and cook until the mixture is a deep amber color. If you need to swirl the pan, you may do so gently.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat once it is the proper color, and add the cream, butter, and vanilla. Place the pan back on the heat and stir until any clumps have dissolved. Stop stirring. Place a candy thermometer in the pan and cook until the mixture reaches 248 degrees F.
  4. Carefully pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with sea salt. Allow to cool at room temperature for about 1 hour. Then cool completely in the refrigerator, about 2 additional hours. Cut into pieces and wrap with parchment or wax paper. Caramels may be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten

Did you make this recipe?

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Filed Under: Candy, Caramel Tagged With: Caramels, Gluten Free, No Bake, Sea Salt, Vanilla

« Fruity Pebbles Breakfast Cookies
Jeni’s Ice Cream Review »

Comments

  1. Kammie @ Sensual Appeal says

    February 20, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    So chewy and sweet 🙂 Such a great treat!

    (I didn’t mean for that to rhyme, haha)

    Reply
    • Tammy Reno says

      December 21, 2024 at 10:38 pm

      I have made this and it is wonderful thank you so much for sharing I love a challenge and especially your Ina thank you again. Tammy Reno from Washington state

      Reply
      • Laura says

        January 17, 2025 at 1:24 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed, Tammy!

        Reply
  2. Sues says

    February 20, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    Today’s ice skating has already been spoiled for me! But it’s my own fault for being on Twitter. I just wish everything happened at 8:00 p.m. at night… But I guess the U.S. just isn’t the center of the world?! Who knew! 🙂

    These caramels look AMAZING! And I’m so voting for you!!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 21, 2014 at 1:24 pm

      No the US isn’t the center of everything, but sometimes it seems like it. A lot of the athletes from other countries train here, most speak English. But I get that the Russians don’t really want to go to the arena and watch ice skating at 1 in the morning 😉 Thank you so much for voting for me – that means the world to me!

      Reply
  3. Christina @ Sweet Pea's KItchen says

    February 20, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    Homemade caramels are the best aren’t they!? Unfortunately, I would probably end up eating all 64 of them in one sitting! Ha! 😉

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 21, 2014 at 1:22 pm

      Yeah, it’s kinda hard not to eat them all. Especially when I was cutting and wrapping them – it was like wrap two, eat one 😉

      Reply
  4. miss messy says

    February 20, 2014 at 7:39 pm

    These look beautiful and delicious.. wish i could get corn syrup here

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 21, 2014 at 1:21 pm

      You could try Lyle’s Golden Syrup or even honey.

      Reply
  5. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says

    February 20, 2014 at 7:54 pm

    I’m the same way! I hate when I haven’t watched some show and then they talk about it on The Soup before I can watch. 🙂 Love these caramels – SO good!

    Reply
  6. Julia | JuliasAlbum.com says

    February 20, 2014 at 10:59 pm

    Laura, I just had dinner and I am craving your salted caramels now! I wish I had one to chew on as I am watching the Olympics! 🙂

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 21, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      These are a great Olympics snack!

      Reply
  7. Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen says

    February 20, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    These caramels look amazing and soft and chewy!! I want!!

    Reply
  8. Johlene says

    February 21, 2014 at 7:15 am

    Never made caramel candies before, thanks for the recipe!!! I checked the recipe and it seems to be pretty much the same as when you make a caramel sauce but after adding your cream etc you cook it further.. am I right?

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 21, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      Basically. The proportions might be a little different, but what makes them solidify is cooking them to soft ball after the cream is added. These set up really well; some of the others I’ve made haven’t, but they still tasted good.

      Reply
  9. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says

    February 21, 2014 at 11:25 am

    Yes I could eat these by the pound! Yummy!

    Reply
  10. Danielle @ TheCharmItSpot says

    February 21, 2014 at 12:42 pm

    I love salted caramel. These look and sound great! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 21, 2014 at 1:19 pm

      Thanks, Danielle, and thanks for visiting 🙂

      Reply
  11. Deb says

    February 21, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    Oh my, the caramels are just dripping with voluptuous flavor! A very appealing treat!

    Reply
  12. vanillasugarblog says

    February 21, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    I actually got into the winter olympics.
    The snowboarding and figure skating was quite good.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 22, 2014 at 10:16 am

      Totally agree. The snowboarding is addicting. It’s a bummer we won’t really watch these sports again for four years.

      Reply
  13. Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says

    February 21, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    These caramels are definite winners!! I love how perfect and creamy and sweet n salty and just MMM! these look!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 22, 2014 at 10:14 am

      Thanks, Kayle, and thanks for sharing the post!

      Reply
  14. Joanne says

    February 22, 2014 at 7:50 am

    Doesn’t NBC realize that the more they spoil, the less people will have incentive to watch?! Sheesh.

    Oooohhhh I want these caramels. Big time want.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 22, 2014 at 10:14 am

      That is what I’m saying. Brian Williams is all like this is what happened in ice staking, but watch it in prime time in an hour. Really???

      Reply
  15. Debbie Eccard says

    February 22, 2014 at 9:14 am

    You know caramels are Scott’s fav…. Olympics are great to watch….

    Reply
  16. Zainab @ Blahnik Baker says

    February 22, 2014 at 2:26 pm

    i’ve had the same issue with NBC. Worst place to be watching the games. I have been skipping the evening news just to avoid spoilers lol!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 23, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Yeah, I’ve been trying to watch Nightly News and turn it off before the evening’s coverage is ruined.

      Reply
  17. sue/the view from great island says

    February 22, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    These look soooo good, andif they are Ina’s, they have to be perfect. Good luck in the Homies race!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 23, 2014 at 10:21 am

      Thanks, Sue, and thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  18. Lily (A Rhubarb Rhapsody) says

    February 22, 2014 at 10:59 pm

    Spoilers are a major pet peeve for me. Especially when you tell someone that you haven’t watched it yet and they just keep spilling the beans. ARGH!

    On a happier note, these caramels look so smooth and rich- just the way they should be! So much better than store bought. <3

    Reply
  19. John@Kitchen Riffs says

    February 23, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    Salted caramels are great. We made a batch this weekend, and they went in a flash! Yours look wonderful — thanks.

    Reply
  20. ATasteOfMadness says

    February 23, 2014 at 10:38 pm

    I love caramel!! This looks fantastic, I have got to make some sometime!

    Reply
  21. Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen says

    February 24, 2014 at 11:19 pm

    I have been wanting to make these for forever! Yours came out so great!!

    Reply

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