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catherinet11

Why did both batches of caramels turn out hard?

catherinet
11 years ago

I've been making caramels for years. They're usually too soft, but really good. I make them with butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla.

I made one batch and they were really chewy. Filling-pulling-out-chewy, if you don't let it warm up in your mouth first.
Since this was to be a present for someone, I made a second batch. I used a different pan, a different thermometer and and brought it up to heat faster than the first.....thinking I cooked it too long the first time. (I did test the thermometers in boiling water before using them).

Now the second batch is hard too. The only thing I really changed this year was the brand of brown sugar. I usually use Kroger, but this time used Marsh.

Its been cold and dry out.......if the weather makes a difference.

The second batch I made, I stopped at 242 degrees F, instead of 244 with the first one.

Any ideas why they both got so hard? Do you think harder caramels are as acceptable as really soft ones? It doesn't take them long to soften up in the mouth.
I just can't make this for a 3rd time.
Thanks for any tips.

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