Aunt Kathleens Caramels Recipes

AUNT GISELE'S CARAMEL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 1-inch jelly roll pan; set aside.
• Combine the butter, yolks, sugar, cinnamon and flour and mix until you form a cohesive ball of dough. Spread the dough onto the prepared jelly roll pan and bake for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile cook the almonds, sugar, butter, honey and milk, stirring on occasion, until the mixture is light golden.
• Remove baked dough; spread almonds mixture over the top and bake for 15 to 20 minutes longer until dark golden. Cool and cut into squares or rectangles (be sure to cut the cookies before they turn too hard.)

AUNT GISELE'S CARAMEL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 1-inch jelly roll pan; set aside.
• Combine the butter, yolks, sugar, cinnamon and flour and mix until you form a cohesive ball of dough. Spread the dough onto the prepared jelly roll pan and bake for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile cook the almonds, sugar, butter, honey and milk, stirring on occasion, until the mixture is light golden.
• Remove baked dough; spread almonds mixture over the top and bake for 15 to 20 minutes longer until dark golden. Cool and cut into squares or rectangles (be sure to cut the cookies before they turn too hard.)

AUNT BILL'S BROWN CANDY

Steps:

• Butter a 9x13 inch dish and a medium, heavy saucepan.
• In the buttered saucepan, combine 4 cups sugar and the cream. Have ready.
• In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, pour the remaining 2 cups sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar begins to melt. Place the saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Continue to cook and stir the sugar in the skillet until it is completely melted and light brown. Pour the melted sugar very slowly, in a thin stream, into the lightly simmering cream, stirring constantly (This step may take five minutes, and works best if someone strong pours the melted sugar v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y.)
• Heat now, without stirring, to 242 to 248 degrees F (116 to 120 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a firm but pliable ball. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda (mixture will foam). Drop the butter into the foaming mixture and let rest without stirring 30 minutes.
• Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon and continue to stir vigorously until mixture loses its gloss, 10 to 15 minutes. Then fold in pecans and quickly turn candy into the prepared 9x13 inch dish. Let cool until just warm and cut in 1 inch pieces.

AUNT PITTYPAT'S CARAMEL ICING

Steps:

• Combine sugars and milk and bring to the boil, stirring gently.
• Boil without stirring, until a little mixture forms a very soft ball when dropped in cold water.
• Add butter, remove from heat and cool until lukewarm.
• Beat at medium speed until thick, creamy, and of a consistency to spread.
• If necessary, place over hot water to keep soft while spreading, or beat in a little milk.
• This will fill and frost a 2-layer 9 inch cake.

AUNT ELIZABETH'S CARAMELS

Steps:

• Butter a 9 x 13-inch pan.
• Combine all ingredients EXCEPT CREAM in a heavy saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• As soon as mixture starts to boil, add the cream.
• Stir occasionally until a good firm soft ball.
• Pour into buttered pan.
• Cool. Cut into bite-sized squares.
• You can wrap individually or dip in chocolate.
• For variety, you can omit pecans, add walnuts, or 2 tablespoons cocoa.

AUNT KATHLEEN'S CARAMELS

Steps:

• Put butter, sugar, brown sugar, and Karo into pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it starts to boil.
• After it starts to boil, turn down to med-low heat, and let boil for 10 minutes, stirring constantly so it doesn't stick or burn on the bottom of the pan.
• Remove from heat, and add condensed milk. Stir well.
• Put back on stove, and bring the temperature to the hard ball stage (250 degrees on your candy thermometer), (about another 10 minutes). (The brown sugar addition adds moisture to the molasses, so this is why the recipe needs to reach the hard ball stage instead of the firm ball stage, that most caramel recipes require).
• Remove from stove, and add nuts and vanilla. Mix well.
• Pour into a buttered pan (I use a 9x13" cake pan).
• Cool completely, and then cut with a sharp knife.
• Cut wax paper into 2x2" squares.
• Wrap each caramel in wax paper and twist ends.
• Refrigerate in a plastic container.