Chewy Caramel

Chewy Caramel ~ butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, light corn syrup, a pinch of salt and vanilla extract and you have the best homemade caramels. ever.

Adding the main ingredients.

I couldn't find organic (non-gmo) corn syrup, so we used brown rice syrup. By itself, the stuff is nasty, (Dylan doesn't think so) but thankfully you couldn't taste the rice syrup when all was said and done. {Update: this also works with agave nectar!}

Our alternative to readily available GMO corn syrup.

Bringing it to a boil.

The longer you boil it, the harder the caramel will be.

We have never had a candy thermometer, but this old fashioned trick works.

Dylan (to whom we owe the credit for making these) is spooning some of the caramel into a bowl of ice cold water. Once it forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water, we cook it for 2 more minutes.

While waiting for it to cook, one of us stirred while the other buttered the pan.

Then when it is ready, we pour it in and let it cool.

Perfect caramels every time.

Especially loaded with chopped pecans.

I can't stay away from them. We started making these a few years ago. Dylan won a blue ribbon at the fair for his "Chewy Vanilla Caramels" and I have to agree, they are a winner!