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    TaraTeaspoon » Holidays + Celebrations » Easy Christmas Recipes

    This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure.

    Published: · Modified: Aug 31, 2020 by

    Vanilla Bean Salted Caramels + Video

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Pinterest image for Vanilla Bean Salted Caramels with text

    Vanilla Salted Caramels are a classic candy, perfect for gift giving, and sneaking from the cupboard!


    Tara Teaspoon Buttery Vanilla Caramels

    Salted caramel started as a food trend. Something fancy chefs devised in restaurant kitchens. It made its way into fine chocolate shops, magazines, cookbooks, regular awesome restaurants and now, well, everywhere! (thank goodness!)

    In cooking, salt is a preservative, a yeast inhibitor but also a flavor enhancer. The reason we put salt in baked goods is simply to enhance or bring out the flavors of all the other ingredients. It brings out buttery flavors, the caramels of brown sugar, enhances chocolate's subtle flavors and balances each bite.

    Tara Teaspoon Buttery Vanilla Caramels Wrapping

    These caramels are super easy, thanks to a combo of sweetened condensed milk and corn syrup that speed up the process of homemade caramels by at least half! Use a candy thermometer (order it here) to get just the right consistency.

    There's a bit of extra salt (sea salt for a lovely flavor) in the caramel itself, but I also sprinkled gorgeous sea salt crystals on top of each piece before wrapping. Find the pretty cellophane candy wrappers here, or at specialty candy stores.

    The salt on top gives you a burst of that flavor enhancing power and immediately makes the butter, vanilla and caramelized sugar flavors explode in your mouth!

    Watch my video for a glance at how simple they are to make. And check out the Buttery Black Licorice Caramels recipe in the demo for another amazing flavor.

    Vanilla and licorice caramels in blue bowl

    Vanilla Bean Salted Caramels

    Tara Teaspoon
    I used a vanilla bean paste so I get flecks of beautiful vanilla seeds in the caramel. You can just use vanilla extract if you'd like.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Calories 5914 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
    • 1 ½ cups light corn syrup
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
    • cellophane wrappers or waxed paper

    Instructions
     

    • Line a 9-by-13 inch pan with parchment and spray with cooking spray.
    • Using some butter, coat the inside of a 4 qt heavy saucepan. Add the sticks of butter, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium-high heat until butter is melted, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium.
    • Insert a candy thermometer into the pan and continue stirring constantly until the temperature is 244ºF (for sea level. check local temperature adjustments according to your elevation), or medium firm-ball stage. Remove from heat.
    • Stir in vanilla bean paste and pour into prepared pan. Pan will be hot. Transfer to a flat surface and let cool overnight. When caramel sets after a few hours you can wrap the pan in plastic wrap to rest overnight.
    • Transfer caramel to a clean cutting board and remove any parchment. Cut with a sharp knife into desired sizes. I cut mine about ½ inch deep and 1 ¼ inches long. You will get over 100 pieces.
    • Sprinkle each piece with flaked sea salt before wrapping well in cellophane or waxed paper. Will keep for up to 2 weeks.

    Notes

    There's a bit of extra salt (sea salt for a lovely flavor) in the caramel itself, but I also sprinkled gorgeous sea salt crystals on top of each piece before wrapping.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 5914kcalCarbohydrates: 1011gProtein: 33gFat: 219gSaturated Fat: 138gCholesterol: 622mgSodium: 2011mgPotassium: 1523mgSugar: 1010gVitamin A: 6730IUVitamin C: 10.3mgCalcium: 1246mgIron: 1mg
    Want to watch videos to show you how to cook?Check out our Youtube and try this recipe and more.

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    About Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.

    Find out more!

    Recipe by Tara Bench. Photography Tara Bench. Videography and editing Melanie Donahoo

    « Gingerbread Caramel Sauce and Apple Dip
    Buttery Black Licorice Caramels + Video »

    Filed Under: Candy + Treats, Christmas, Food Gifts Tagged With: butter, candy, caramel, caramels, diy, gift, gifts, holiday, salted caramel, treats, vanilla bean, vanilla caramels

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary Bench says

      July 18, 2018 at 11:48 am

      For more traditional caramels, I omit the vanilla bean paste and sprinkled salt. Both are lovely!

      Reply
      • Melissa Myers says

        October 26, 2018 at 1:23 pm

        Just made these. They turned out perfectly! Great recipe!!

        Reply

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