Name: Smoked Cinnamon Salted Caramels
Yield: approx. 19 dozen
Ingredients: 1 pound unsalted butter (454 g); 2 pounds light brown sugar (907 g); 2 tsp kosher salt (preferably Diamond Crystal brand) (7 g); 16 oz light corn syrup (prefer Karo) (473 ml); 2 - 14 oz cans sweetened condensed milk (prefer Eagle brand) (794 g); 2 tsp high quality vanilla extract (10 g); 2 Tbsp bourbon or dark rum (32 g); 1 Tbsp Smoked Cinnamon N18 (10g); Flaky salt (like Maldon)

Growing up in Minnesota there were always endless potlucks, sports team get-togethers, and social occasions that required bringing a dish to share, or something for the hosts. At the time I was a teenager a reliable home cook’s cookbook for finding recipes that would be crowd pleasers was Always on Sunday by longtime St. Paul Pioneer Press food writer Eleanor Ostman. Somewhere in the latter pages of that book was a recipe this recipe is modeled after, for “Kathy Fox’s Caramels” and as a lover of the soft homemade confection I had to give it a go.

In true Minnesota fashion I made them for the holidays and handed out these sugar bombs as gifts that my friends and family fawned over so much that I’ve made them nearly every year (25!) since. Over time I’ve tinkered and modified it, but the best iteration, and the one that sticks is when I added Smoked Cinnamon from La Boîte. The subtle smokiness coupled with the buttery caramel and crunchy sea salt is akin to curling up in front of a fire with your favorite, the essence of the holidays in candy form.

Smoked Cinnamon Salted Caramels

Molly Brandt

Servings/Yield

approx. 19 dozen

Ingredients

1 pound unsalted butter (454 g)
2 pounds light brown sugar (907 g)
2 tsp kosher salt (preferably Diamond Crystal brand) (7 g)
16 oz light corn syrup (prefer Karo) (473 ml)
2 - 14 oz cans sweetened condensed milk (prefer Eagle brand) (794 g)
2 tsp high quality vanilla extract (10 g)
2 Tbsp bourbon or dark rum (32 g)
1 Tbsp Smoked Cinnamon N18 (10g)
Flaky salt (like Maldon)

Directions

Place a large heavy saucepan fitted with an accurate candy thermometer over medium-low heat. Add butter and melt.
Whisk in brown sugar and salt. Stir in corn syrup. Mix well.
Stirring constantly, gradually add the sweetened condensed milk.
Stirring constantly over medium heat, cook for 20-25 minutes, until candy reaches firm ball stage, or 245-248 degrees F (118-121 C) on a candy thermometer.
Immediately remove from heat. Add vanilla, bourbon or rum, and Smoked Cinnamon. Pour into 2 well-greased 9 by 9 inch pans.
Cool for 4-6 hours.
Sprinkle a healthy dusting of the flaky salt over the caramels and lightly press in. Cut and wrap caramels in wax paper, or clear cellophane wrap.