Homemade Caramels

The perfect treats for Christmas

Today’s recipe - homemade caramels - will be especially sweet. It took me several attempts to make these delicious treats. However, eventually I found an easy mouth-watering recipe that you too can enjoy. It’s especially relevant now as you can use it to make a DIY Advent Calendar or DIY Christmas Crackers! If you’re not sure what to put inside, these homemade caramels are a wonderful choice!

Homemade Caramels Recipe

Preparation Time: approx. 30 minutes (+ cooling time)

Ingredients:

• 100 ml of cream
• 100g of unsalted butter (plus a teaspoon to butter the tray)
• 500g of raw cane or caster sugar
• two table spoons of honey
• two table spoons of water
• a large pinch of salt
• baking paper (for lining and to wrap the toffee sweets into)
• Christmas theme twine
• a mould or a tray

Instructions

Preparing the toffee mixture

Put the sugar, water and honey into a sauce pan and melt over medium heat. The mixture will slowly turn light brown colour. You will see the bubbles form and the consistency thicken. Continue to stir thoroughly for about 10 minutes to prevent the sugar from sticking to the sides.

When you see the sugary mixture getting creamy thick and brown, add the cream and butter. If the cream you add is cold, be careful not to steam your hands above the mixture. The clash of temperatures will make the toffee boil excessively for a moment and it may splash on you. Boil for further 5 minutes mixing thoroughly.

Pouring into the mould and cutting

Now you can begin preparing the homemade toffee caramels. Choose a deep approx 10x10cm tray and line it with alluminium foil. Make sure the foil is the shiny side down and lightly coated with vegetable oil to prevent the sticking. Place the tray somewhere cold and allow to cool down. The mixture will form one large chewy toffee bar.

To make individual caramels simply cut the bar into small pieces with large knife. You can then wrap each one into a small square of baking paper. They are perfect for Handmade Advent Calendars, Christmas crackers or to give as gift in handmade origami box! Enjoy!