Hazelnut Caramels

Homemade Hazelnut Caramels: A Sweet Treat for Everyone

As a busy mom, I'm always looking for ways to add a little sweetness to our lives – and to show my appreciation to friends and family. Homemade gifts are the best, and these hazelnut caramels are a perfect example. They're easy to make, even for a novice baker like myself, and they taste absolutely divine. The rich, nutty flavor of the hazelnuts complements the creamy caramel perfectly, creating a truly irresistible treat.

What I love most about this recipe is its versatility. You can easily adjust it to your liking. Want a richer caramel? Add a touch more butter. Prefer a different nut? Walnuts, pecans, or even almonds would work wonderfully. The possibilities are endless! I've even experimented with adding a pinch of sea salt to the caramels for a sophisticated salty-sweet combination – that was a huge hit with my husband!

Making these caramels is a fantastic experience, almost meditative. The process of melting the butter, stirring in the sugar and condensed milk, watching the mixture come to a boil, and then the satisfying moment of pouring the caramel into the pan... it's incredibly rewarding. And the aroma that fills your kitchen while they're cooking? It's enough to make you want to make a double batch!

I often make these caramels for holiday gatherings, teacher appreciation gifts, or simply to brighten someone's day. Wrapped in colorful cellophane, they look incredibly festive and professional, almost store-bought. But knowing they are made with love, using the freshest ingredients, makes them even more special.

Beyond the deliciousness and the ease of preparation, making these caramels feels like a small act of self-care. It’s a chance to disconnect from the daily grind, focus on a single task, and end up with a beautiful and delicious result. The quiet time spent in the kitchen, lost in the rhythm of stirring and watching the caramel thicken, is a welcome break in my busy week. And the joy on the faces of those who receive them as a gift? Priceless.

So, if you’re looking for a delightful and relatively simple recipe to impress your loved ones, look no further. These hazelnut caramels are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. They're the perfect combination of effort and reward – a delicious testament to the power of homemade goodness. And trust me, once you’ve tasted these, you'll be hooked!

Tips for Success:

• Use a good quality butter for the best flavor.
• Make sure your candy thermometer is accurate.
• Don't overcook the caramel, or it will become too hard.
• Let the caramel cool completely before cutting and wrapping.
• Store the caramels in an airtight container at room temperature.

Enjoy the process, and most importantly, enjoy the delicious results!

Step-by-step

• Line a 9-inch square baking pan with 2-inch high sides with heavy-duty aluminum foil, extending foil over the sides of the pan. Butter the foil.
• Melt 1 cup of butter in a heavy large saucepan over low heat. Add both sugars, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk and stir until the sugar dissolves. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the mixture; add the bean.
• Attach a clip-on candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan. Increase the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Cook the mixture for 8 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Using tongs, remove the vanilla bean and discard.
• Continue cooking until the candy thermometer registers 242°F, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes longer.
• Immediately remove from heat; stir in hazelnuts.
• Quickly pour the caramel into the prepared pan (do not scrape the saucepan).
• Cool until firm, about 1 hour.
• Using a buttered heavy large knife, score 8 lines lengthwise to a depth of 1/4 inch in the caramel, then score 8 lines crosswise.
• Using the aluminum foil as an aid, lift the caramel out of the pan.
• Using the same buttered heavy large knife, cut the caramel on the scored lines into pieces.
• Wrap each piece of caramel in cellophane. (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Store caramels in airtight containers.)