Caramel is a great homemade holiday gift idea with a very easy recipe. I got this one from a friend who got it from their grandmother. You will see these proportions in nearly every caramel recipe you find because they are in a very precarious balance - do not eyeball these measurements. There are a few variations but the basic recipe is as follows:
1 cup butter
16 0z brown sugar (~ 2.25 cups)
1 cup light corn syrup
14 oz sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
1 tsp vanilla
dash of salt
Generously butter 9x9x2" pan.
In a heavy 3 quart saucepan melt butter, add sugar and a dash of salt. Stir thoroughly.
Stir in corn syrup, gradually adding milk while stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat until thermometer read 245 degrees F. Less or more temperature can result in a completely different candy. Add vanilla, pour into pan, let cool, then cut.
***A note on thermometers: A thermometer is vitally necessary for the success of this recipe! Back in the day they used other tricks to tell when the sugar mixtures had been heated enough but unless you are VERY familiar with those tricks, use a candy thermometer. A candy thermometer is important because meat thermometers do not have the same temperature ranges. They are available at the Dollar Tree and countless other places. Get one that you can actually distinguish small temperature changes on and pay very close attention to when it gets to be 245 degrees.
VARIATIONS
For a darker caramel use all or combination of dark corn syrup and/or maple syrup
For a lower sodium twist the salt can be omitted
If you are out of brown sugar, you can substitute white sugar and add about a tablespoon of molasses to the cup of corn syrup (so it's one cup total).
If vegan substitute is desired, use light coconut milk with sugar added to taste, use coconut (or other desired oil) in place of butter, and grease pan with any desired oil.
If you don't like vanilla, try using any other extract flavor for a totally new kind of caramel.
DO NOT substitute molasses in any other way - it will result in a drastically different texture
