Sea Salt Caramels

The trend of mixing sweet and savory in candies, brownies, etc. is quite popular nowadays and its one such example is sea salt caramels. These are basically a combination of smooth, sweet caramel, crunchy salt crystals, and bittersweet chocolate that are packed in small pieces of about one-inch square and half an inch high. A pinch of salt can actually enhance the sweetness of sugar, chocolate or caramel by creating an obvious contrast that makes these desserts impossible to put down. As it does with other foods, sea salt arouses the taste buds, emphasizing smooth sweet caramel flavors especially those that are made of chocolate.

Sea Salts Caramel Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 ⅓ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup light corn syrup
• ⅓ cup honey
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 6 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
• 3 tsp sea salt, such as fleur de sel
• 1 lb bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation

Take an 8 inch baking pan, line it with aluminum foil and then spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. In a large sauce pan, place the cream and over medium-high heat, bring it to a boil. Add sugar, corn syrup and honey and stir until it begins to boil. Regularly wipe down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to keep sugar crystals from forming. Cook the candy while stirring in between, until it reaches 257ºF on a candy thermometer. Remove the pan from the heat, add butter, vanilla, and 2 tsp of salt to it and stir well. Pour this mixture into the prepared pan and allow it to set down at room temperature or until firm enough to cut. Once set, cut the caramel into small squares or strips with a chef's knife. Temper the chocolate and one by one dip the caramels in to it. Keep them on a baking sheet covered with waxed paper or foil to set. While chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on the sea salt and allow to set properly.

Caramel Sea Salt Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter
• 4 oz unsweetened chocolate
• ¾ cup unbleached flour
• ½ cup caramel sauce, warmed
• 2 large eggs
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp sea salt, preferably fleur de sel

Preparation

Preheat an oven to 350º F. Grease an 8 x 8 square pan with non stick cooking spray and line with parchment; grease again. In a mixing bowl, sift flour along with salt. Over a double boiler, melt butter and add chocolate; stir until melted and then remove from heat. Take another mixing bowl and with a stand mixer, whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla extract together until fluffy and light in color. Now add chocolate mixture to it, mix until combined and then fold in flour. Pour half the batter into pan and smooth the top. Then pour half the caramel sauce over mixture, smooth evenly and then pour remaining batter over caramel; smooth the top again. Finally drizzle remaining caramel sauce over top, in one continuous zig-zag pattern. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Remove the pan from oven and sprinkle sea salt on top. Allow it to cool down and then cut into squares or bars.

Aren't they simple? Well, they are not only simple but delicious too. Although sea salt can be found at any grocery store, in case you don't have it you can substitute a sprinkling of another large-grained salt, like kosher salt. So what are you waiting for? Try making sea salt caramels at home and enjoy with your family and friends.