Evolution of an obsession
Earlier this year I lucked out and got mailed an entire case of FREE Haagen Dazs ice cream. Five pints of their newest flavors. My favorite was the salted caramel, a flavor I'd never tried or considered. Yum!
Fast forward a few months and I was in San Francisco discussing places to eat with my resident foodie friend and learned about Bi-Rite ice cream and their famous salted caramel ice cream. Yum!
Skip ahead to last weekend when I arrived home from vacation with a sudden compulsion to make caramel and found this recipe for Fleur de Sel Caramels (aka salted caramel). OH MY GOODNESS they are yummy.
I took the suggestions from many of the comments and added a scant teaspoon of vanilla to the cream mixture and increased the salt (I used kosher) to a heaping teaspoon. I also sprinkled a little pinch of salt on top. These were really good (if I do say so myself). I'm thinking Christmas gifts or Christmas party favors or yummy mid-July snack for me. I found the recipe very easy and pretty forgiving; I'll definitely make it again.
One tip, I stored them overnight in a plastic ziploc (we have ants) and noticed they took on a plasticy taste that they didn't have when I was just storing them in a bowl (in the microwave).
And finally, I love Ross (the store). I decided I needed a mini cake stand (you know, to display caramels for myself in my microwave and then take their photo as any good blogger would do) and Ross had the perfect one for just $5. Hooray!
Mmmm, those sound good. And the cake stand makes the picture look professional! :)
Posted by: Richelle F | July 23, 2008 at 05:15 AM
Oooo, I MUST try these! I love salt-sweet. And that cake stand: it is perfect! I must get one too, if I'm going to make the caramels.
Posted by: Swistle | July 23, 2008 at 10:24 AM
I tried them! They're way yummy! I scalded myself just a TEENSY bit when adding the cream mixture to the sugar mixture (I think I had the sugar mixture too hot, because it let loose a TON of hot steam when it bubbled up), but WELL WORTH IT.
I was surprised at how PROFESSIONAL they end up looking.
Posted by: Swistle | July 24, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Okay, I'm trying to avoid sweets but I printed out the recipe anyway. I love, love, love caramel so I'm going to have to try them. Perhaps I too can blame the internet for making me fat.
www.tvdesigns.blogspot.com
Posted by: Taryn | July 25, 2008 at 09:30 AM
mmm...that sounds yummy. How do I get on your Christmas gift list?!
Posted by: Amy Cluck | July 25, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I made this exact caramel recipe for Christmas gifts like 4 years ago and they were such a hit that people have demanded them every year since. They are so impressed by my culinary skills that I don't have the heart to tell them how easy they are to make. I save jelly jars and sauce jars and pretty cookie tins all year to distribute them in. Excellent low-cost high-wow-factor gift.
Posted by: pseudostoops | July 25, 2008 at 08:43 PM