Chocolate Caramels
2 tablespoons oil, divided
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter, softened
Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil that extends over sides.
With a paper towel coat bottom and sides of foil with 1 tablespoon
oil; set aside. In a 3-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium
heat, bring cream to a boil. Add chocolate and stir until melted and
blended; about 2 minutes. Add sugar and honey. Return mixture to a
boil, and wash down sides of pan 2 times with pastry brush dipped in
warm water, to prevent sugar from crystallizing. Cook mixture,
stirring constantly, until it reaches the 'hardball stage* or
registers 257�F on a candy thermometer; about 8-10 minutes.
Remove pan from heat; stir in butter until smooth. Pour mixture into
oiled pan. Let caramel cool (2-3 hours). With remaining tablespoon
of oil, coat a cutting board and the blade of a large knife. Remove
candy from pan by lifting out foil; invert onto cutting board; peel
foil off. Cut caramel into 8 1-inch-wide strips, then cut each strip
into 8 pieces. In a tightly covered container, between sheets of
waxed paper, caramels will keep 2 weeks at room temperature.
*'Hardball describes the point at which a drop of boiling syrup
immersed in cold water, when removed, forms a very firm ball that
holds it shape but gives a little when squeezed. On a candy
thermometer, the hard-ball stage is between 250�F and 265�F. |