Saturday, December 17, 2022

NEVER FAIL MICROWAVE CARAMELS-SOOOO GOOD!

 Every couple of years I post

this recipe because people

LOVE IT!

AND- you can't screw it up.


 When I was a kid,

 my mother

often whipped up a batch 

of fudge from scratch

after the chores were done

on a snowy Pennsylvania night.

I make caramels instead.
As you can tell, I love to bake

and make candy.

I don't know how many 

caramel recipes I have tried

over the years.

Some of them called for

stirring for what seemed hours

and then...

they might or might not

"turn out".

These are quick!
Less than 10 minutes from
start to finish AND they
NEVER FAIL 
to set up properly.

I am not sure how these would 
turn out if you have an old
low wattage microwave.
I think most of them are at least
1000 watts now.
I have made them in 1000W,
1200W & 1500W mics
and the timing is the same.
(if you want to double check use
a candy thermometer and it should
read between 240˚-245˚)

Ready?
Get yourself a nice big 
microwave measuring cup.
I use an 8 cup one.
Make sure it is microwave safe.
Before I start-
One warning-
You CANNOT double this recipe.
You would have to make two batches
if you want more.

Everything that is measured out
is in 1/2 cup increments.

Melt 1/2 cup butter.
Remove from microwave.
Add 1/2 cup Karo syrup (I use white Karo),
1/2 cup light brown sugar,
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup sweetened CONDENSED MILK
(not evaporated milk)

Stir until mixed and dissolved.
Microwave on high 3-1/2 minutes.
Stir down.
Microwave on high 3-1/2 more minutes.
Remove from mic.  Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts-if desired- I don't.
Stir until few air bubbles remain.
Pour into 8x8 HEAVILY buttered dish.
Refrigerate until set.
Cut into squares.
(Sometimes I pull the whole works
out of the pan and cut the squares
using kitchen scissors).

NOTE:  Cut before these are completely
cold and hard.  If they are too hard,
let them warm up for a while
then you will be able to cut them.

You can wrap these if they last long enough.
Ours never seem to make it to the
wrapped stage!


If you do have some left to wrap
they make a perfect little 
take-along gift in a pretty 'card box',
like the post before this with the fudge in it!

I hope you have a most
wonderful, blessed
WEEKEND!!!!
your photo name

26 comments:

Pamela M. Steiner said...

You are just full of "sweet" ideas this Christmas!! This sounds so good. I'm just not much of a candy eater so I don't think about giving it as a gift either, but apparently other people do appreciate receiving candy, so maybe I should try it! You make it sound so simple. And I believe I might even have all the ingredients available...I've even saved those card boxes! LOL. Thank you for being the "idea" person. You are amazing! Merry Christmas!

Vee said...

Delightful! My caramel recipe is one of those "stir for hours" one. I don't have time for that. Can one make these on a bad-weather day?

Sandi said...

Delicious!

Can you add chocolate to them or will it throw off the recipe?

AND...a lady and I talked about this at the grocery store this morning, neither one of us knew the answer, what is the difference between condensed milk and evaporated?

Brenda Pruitt said...

That does sound good. I knew you posted it every year. Maybe one of these days I can stand up long enough to make this. Haven't made candy at Christmas in years. But I used to make all varieties.
Brenda

Debra She Who Seeks said...

If I weren't a diabetic, I'd make and eat an entire recipe of this!

Junkchiccottage said...

Oh my gosh yum! I love that you use card boxes. That is the coolest idea ever. Your fudge and caramels in a pretty box have to be such a nice presentation for gifts. Have fun this weekend getting ready. I am done and ready. Bring on the big day lol! xoxo Kris

Debby said...

I’m more of a savory person than a sweets person but to give away as gifts is nice. I remember as a kid, all the neighbors would give each other fudge, divinity candy and other candies. Seems back then it was more candy than cookies with the exception of sugar cookies. This week will be my baking week.

Yvonne said...

Your recipe sounds so easy, looks so good, and probably is heaven to eat; but I've been on a low sugar and salt diet for so long, I do not enjoy sugar-sweet. Makes it difficult not cooking all those yummies for Christmas, like I used to do when I was younger :(

Yvonne said...

Oh, yes... Happy, Happy, Happy late Birthday Greetings. May you have many more lovely days to come.

Chatty Crone said...

Such great ideas! Yummy.

Ginny Hartzler said...

This look easy enough. Thank you for this super cool Christmas gift!!!

Jenny the Pirate said...

Thanks for reminding me of this wonderful recipe! These sound completely irresistible! xoxo

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

I remember this recipe from before. Quick and easy. Love that you are using those pretty boxes for gifts. Enjoy your weekend. xoxo

Mevely317 said...

I'm so glad I read this before going to the store so I might grab Karo and more butter. Ready, set and cross fingers!

HappyK said...

I've made these another time when you published a post about them. They are delicious!!!

Terri D said...

Another good one!! Thanks Diana!

Linda said...

I made these last year and the year before and they were big hits!!! Will be making more this week! LOVE your NO FAIL recipes!

jack69 said...

We will save this one too. I prefer the microwave, Sherry does not. But you can bet she will eat it if I make it in the microwave. LOL
Love from Florida it is a COLD 61 degrees. of course that is cool for Florida!

HIBISCUS HOUSE said...

Yummy! I have to make this! Thank you it looks so good!
Dolly

Bless said...

Oh, I remember this recipe from a previous year! I wanted to make it so badly, but, my old microwave is only 700 watts and I knew I would have to wait until I buy a new microwave! I guess it's good that I can't make this yummy treat - I shouldn't eat sweets in the first place (keeping my diabetes under control through diet).

Ann said...

Yum, looks delicious.

Donna said...

You are SO BAD!Lolol
Another five pounds added to my already stuffed body...lolol
Love you anyway!
hughugs
Donna

Lisa said...

My plan today is to make caramel sauce for my work friends. The recipe is almost exact to this. I will be pouring it into little jars and gifting it. I have never made it but my sister makes it and its soooo good.

Lisa

Bill said...

Caramel is the best, L=love it!

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

I know how wonderful this is and now I want to make the peanut butter fudge!

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

Oooh, these definitely appeal to my sweet tooth, and would never make it to the wrapped stage! In case I don't catch up to all of your posts, I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Diana!