Description
Chewy caramel candies featuring pumpkin spice…and everything nice! Perfect for capturing all of the flavors of fall.
Ingredients
180 milliliters whipping cream (3/4 cup)
75 grams unsalted butter (5 tablespoons)
60 grams pumpkin purée (3 tablespoons)*
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
380 grams granulated sugar (1 2/3 cups)
115 milliliters apple juice (1/2 cup)
60 grams corn syrup (2 tablespoons)**
Instructions
Line an 8 x 8-inch square baking tin with parchment. Grease generously with butter, oil, or cooking spray.
In a small saucepan, gently warm cream, butter, pumpkin purée, salt, and spices.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, and apple juice. Cook to medium caramel color (about 365° F / 185° C on a candy thermometer***), swirling the pan gently as needed.
Remove caramel from heat and add warmed cream and butter mixture, then wait a minute for the bubbles to subside.
Return pan to heat and cook mixture to approximately 250° F / 120° C, or slightly higher for a firmer caramel.***
Immediately pour hot caramel mixture into prepared tin. Allow to set, uncovered, for 6-8 hours, or overnight.
Remove caramel slab from pan and peel away the parchment. Cut slab into squares or rectangles with a sharp, well-oiled knife.
Wrap caramels in squares of parchment.***** Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Notes
*Pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
**Or, substitute glucose syrup
***Do not attempt this recipe without a candy thermometer! If you do not own one, they are readily available on Amazon. I like the Taylor brand.
****The caramels shown here were cooked to 253° F, which produces a somewhat firm caramel that will hold its shape, yet is still soft enough to chew easily.
*****Pre-cut parchment candy wrappers are readily available on Amazon, or at a local craft store. Although you can cut your own squares from a roll of parchment, the pre-cut wrappers are fairly inexpensive and will save you a lot of time and effort.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Setting time: 6-8 hours
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Candy and Confectionery
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Sweets