I finally made the second part of the daring baker's challenge as it was optional so no need to rush! Beside the fire, the taste is divine here is the recipe with my changes notes
GOLDEN VANILLA BEAN CARAMELS- makes eighty-one 1-inch caramels -
Ingredients
1 cup golden syrup I used corn syrup and a splash of water because golden syrup is impossible to find except maybe at whole foods but that is an hr drive and I am NOT gonna do that :)
2 cups sugar
3/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pure ground vanilla beans, purchased or ground in a coffee or spice grinders, or 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract didn't use
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks, softened
use a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil and grease the foil. Combine the golden syrup, sugar, and salt in a heavy 3-quart saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, until the mixture begins to simmer around the edges. Wash the sugar and syrup from the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water. Cover and cook for about 3 minutes. (Meanwhile, rinse the spatula or spoon before using it again later.) Uncover the pan and wash down the sides once more.
Attach the candy thermometer to the pan, without letting it touch the bottom of the pan, and cook, uncovered (without stirring) until the mixture reaches 305°F.
Meanwhile, combine the cream and ground vanilla beans (not the extract) in a small saucepan and heat until tiny bubbles form around the edges of the pan.
Turn off the heat and cover the pan to keep the cream hot.
When the sugar mixture reaches 305°F, turn off the heat and stir in the butter chunks. Gradually stir in the hot cream; it will bubble up and steam dramatically, so be careful. or possibly boil over and catch on fire so really do be careful!!Turn the burner back on and adjust it so that the mixture boils energetically but not violently. Stir until any thickened syrup at the bottom of the pan is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, to about 245°F. Then cook, stirring constantly, to 260°f for soft, chewy caramels or 265°F; for firmer chewy caramels.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract, if using it. I didn't use any.Pour the caramel into the lined pan. Let set for 4 to 5 hours, or overnight until firm, or just until cool enough that your tongue doesn't burn off and stick a spoon in it.
I also sprinkled some thick chunky sea salt over the top before it cooled.
3) Cross out any of them that you'd never ever eat.
4) Consider anything that is not bold or crossed out your "To Do" List.5) Optional: Post a comment here linking to your results--or just post a comment letting us know how many you've tried, or what you're going to try next!
