Best Martha Stewarts Classic Caramel Candies Recipes

GOLDEN CARAMELS

Steps:

• Spray an 11 3/4-by-16 1/2-inch baking pan (this is a half-sheet pan) with vegetable-oil spray. Set aside in a spot where it will not be moved. In a 2-quart saucepan, combine cream and sweetened condensed milk; set aside.
• In a heavy 6- to 8-quart saucepan, combine corn syrup, 1 cup water, sugar, and salt. Clip on candy thermometer. Over high heat, cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring with a wooden spoon, 8 to 12 minutes. Brush down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to remove any sugar crystals.
• Stop stirring, reduce heat to medium, and bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until temperature reaches 250 degrees (hard-ball stage), 45 to 60 minutes. Meanwhile, cook cream mixture over low heat until it is just warm. Do not boil. When sugar reaches 250 degrees. slowly stir in butter and warmed cream mixture, keeping mixture boiling at all times. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until thermometer reaches 244 degrees (firm-ball stage), 55 to 75 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Immediately pour into prepared pan without scraping pot. Let stand uncovered at room temperature for 24 hours without moving.
• To cut, spray a large cutting board generously with vegetable-oil spray. Unmold caramel from pan onto sprayed surface. Cut into 1-by-1 1/4-inch pieces, or other shapes. Wrap each in cellophane or waxed paper.

MIXED NUT AND THYME CARAMEL CANDIES

Steps:

• Lightly brush bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with oil. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides; lightly brush parchment with oil.
• Bring cream, sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramel reaches 248 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes.
• Immediately remove caramel from heat, and stir in salt, vanilla, nuts, and thyme. Pour caramel onto baking sheet, and let stand, uncovered, at room temperature at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Lifting by parchment overhang, transfer caramel to a large cutting board. Cut into 3/4-by-1 1/4-inch pieces; wrap each piece in waxed paper or cellophane.

MAPLE WALNUT SPICE CARAMEL CANDIES

Steps:

• Lightly brush bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with oil. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides; lightly brush parchment with oil.
• Bring cream, sugar, butter, maple syrup, and corn syrup to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramel reaches 248 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes.
• Immediately remove caramel from heat, and stir in salt, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cayenne pepper, and walnuts. Pour caramel onto baking sheet, and let stand, uncovered, at room temperature at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Lifting by parchment overhang, transfer caramel to a large cutting board. Cut into 3/4-by-1 1/4-inch pieces; wrap each piece in waxed paper or cellophane.

CANDIED-ORANGE CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL TART

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Pulse wafers in a food processor until finely ground. Add butter, sugar, and fleur de sel; pulse until evenly moistened. Press evenly into the bottom and up sides of a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Bake until firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Candied orange: With a vegetable peeler, remove orange zest in strips (leaving white pith behind); finely slice. In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Add zest; reduce heat to medium and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and strain, reserving syrup (you should have about 1/2 cup).
• Transfer zest to a large plate and spread in an even layer; let cool completely. Toss with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Zest can be stored up to 1 week in an airtight container at room temperature.
• Caramel and ganache: Combine cream and orange zest in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then remove from heat, cover, and let steep 1 hour. Strain. Measure 6 tablespoons; refrigerate the rest.
• Bring reserved orange syrup, sugar, 2 tablespoons water, salt, and cream of tartar to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook, gently swirling pan occasionally, and washing down sides with a wet pastry brush (to prevent crystals from forming), until mixture turns deep amber, 9 to 11 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly add reserved 6 tablespoons infused cream (mixture will bubble and steam). Stir in butter until smooth. Pour caramel into cooled crust; let cool 15 minutes. Refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours or, covered, up to 2 days.
• Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring 1/3 cup reserved infused cream (saving any remainder for another use) to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour over chocolate and let stand1 minute, then stir until smooth. Remove tart from refrigerator and spread ganache over caramel to edges with an offset spatula. Return to refrigerator until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
• Remove tart from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature 15 to 30 minutes. Chop 2 tablespoons candied zest and sprinkle over chocolate. Sprinkle with fleur de sel and more chopped candied zest; remove from pan, slice, and serve.

ORANGE ESPRESSO CARAMEL CANDIES

Steps:

• Lightly brush bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with oil. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides; lightly brush parchment with oil.
• Bring cream, sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramel reaches 248 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes.
• Immediately remove caramel from heat, and stir in salt, vanilla, espresso power, and orange peel. Pour caramel onto baking sheet, and let stand, uncovered, at room temperature at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Lifting by parchment overhang, transfer caramel to a large cutting board. Cut into 3/4-by-1 1/4-inch pieces; wrap each piece in waxed paper or cellophane.

DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

Steps:

• Spray an 11 3/4-by-16 1/4-inch baking pan with vegetable-oil spray. Set aside in a spot where it will not be moved. In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, combine 2 cups cream, corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Clip on candy thermometer. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, 15 to 20 minutes. Wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to remove any sugar crystals.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until temperature reaches 220 degrees, 6 to 8 minutes; watch so mixture doesn't boil over. Continue stirring, and add chocolate and butter; keep mixture boiling, and slowly add remaining 2 cups cream. Cook, still stirring, until temperature reaches 240 degrees (soft-ball stage), about 60 minutes, keeping mixture at a low boil.
• Without scraping pot, pour mixture into prepared pan. Let stand uncovered at room temperature for 24 hours without moving.
• To cut, spray a cutting board with vegetable-oil spray. Unmold caramel onto sprayed surface. Using a large knife, cut into 1-by-1 1/4-inch pieces or other shapes. Wrap each piece in cellophane or waxed paper.

CLASSIC CARAMEL APPLES

Steps:

• Insert sticks into tops of apples. Prepare an ice-water bath.
• Bring cream, sugar, corn syrup, and butter to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Clip a candy thermometer to pan, and continue to cook until mixture reaches 245 degrees, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Place pan in ice-water bath to stop the cooking. Dip bottom of each apple in caramel. Using a spoon, coat apple halfway to three-quarters of the way up sides. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes (or overnight).

CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; butter parchment, and set aside. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, and food coloring, if using. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-high. Insert candy thermometer and continue to boil until temperature reaches between 300 degrees and 310 degrees (hard crack stage), about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple, pushing about halfway through; set aside. When mixture reaches temperature, immediately remove from heat. Working quickly, dip apples in sugar mixture until completely coated. Transfer to prepared baking sheet; allow to cool.