Let the holiday baking begin!! What says the holidays are here more than all of those special homemade goodies? So today 50+ bloggers are posting their BEST holiday treat recipes! Get your Pinning button ready and be prepared for the cravings to start!
Everyone has their favorite treats that they like to make every year during the holidays. One of our family favorites is vanilla caramels. When I was in middle school, I gave a demonstration speech on how to make vanilla caramels and since I passed out samples afterward, it was a huge success! These caramels are great because they only require a few ingredients and you can make them in the microwave.
Start with 2 cups of granulated sugar, 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 lb butter and 1 cup of light corn syrup.
Put all of the ingredients into a very large, microwavable bowl. The bowl needs to be large enough for the mixture to boil up. When I was pregnant with Zack, I decided to try making caramels for Christmas. Unfortunately, I tried making them in a plastic bowl. I’m not sure what I was thinking but I blame it on my pregnant brain. As you can imagine, the bowl melted and I started crying. So, after calming me down, my husband surprised me by going to the store and buying me a large GLASS bowl for making caramels!
So, to make the caramels, microwave on high for 5 minutes and then stir. Next, microwave for 5 minutes at 50% power and then stir. Do this two more times so that when you are done the caramels have been in the microwave for 20 minutes total: 5 on high and 15 at 50%. The hardest part of the process is knowing when the caramels are done. My mom is the expert on this. They have to be a dark caramel color. The notes on the recipe say that the caramel should form a ball in cold water. My microwave must be one of the lower wattage one because I had to cook mine 10 minutes longer (5 minutes at 50%, stir and then 5 more minutes at 50%) and they ended up being a little too soft.
Remove from the microwave and add 1 tsp of vanilla.
Pour into a lightly buttered 9×13″ pan. Allow the caramels to cool. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight to completely cool.
Cut the caramels and wrap them in waxed paper. To make them a little more festive, tie pieces of baker’s twine around the ends. These are the.best.caramels.ever! Everyone who tastes them, loves them!
Check out all of these delicious treats!
Hi, I'm Tonia from The Gunny Sack! As a wife and mother of three, I enjoy cooking, creating and capturing it all with my camera! Coffee, with a little chocolate now and then, keeps me happy.
I love that these can be made via microwave. I can’t wait to try making these. Pinned!
I know! How easy is that? Have a great weekend Carol!
YUMMMMMMMM!!!! Pinning to definitely make
Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Kelly!
You marvel! I’d love to both give and more excitedly, get these C:
Thanks Jane! They are definitely gift worthy!
These look so delicious, and easy to make. I might have to use these for teacher gifts!
My mom is the caramel maker in our family, but these look delicious. I just may have to try my hand this year. It must have taken you a while to come up with all those sweet treats…
These look AMAZING and I will be adding them to my neighbor treat plates this year. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! Your neighbors will love them!
These look AMAZING and I will be adding them to my neighbor treat plates this year. Thanks for sharing!
Pinned the poster so others can check out all the desserts.
Bliss
Oh, these look amazing. I love the red & white twine touch. I am pinning, would love to make these as favors for my guests this season. Thanks so much!
Jenna
You know what the problem would be here – there would be none left to giveaway…I love my caramels!
get in mahhhhh belly, delicious caramels! mine never look this good!
hope you’ll find a moment to stop by (if you haven’t already!) and enter a giveaway i am hosting: http://www.hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2012/12/personalized-lovely-giveaway.html
smiles and happy weekend to you.
michele