Caramel- ˈkarəməl/ /-ˌmel/ /ˈkärməl/
Pronounce it how you will, caramel is just delicious no matter how you say it. Sugar is normally combined with butter, cream and vanilla. These ingredients are slowly cooked to what’s referred to as a “soft ball stage” 235-245 degrees – to create a silky and rich sauce. With so many caramel lovers out there, many companies are developing products that feature caramel or caramel flavor in them, to enhance existing production and to increase their sales. A classic example is the well known iced Caramel Macchiato Latte from Starbucks. This beverage is loved by many and a great alternative for those who are not much into coffee or hot beverages. With that said, I am not surprised that other companies are testing consumers with their product reinventions. Just recently, Krispy Kreme announced their new variety of doughnuts available for a limited time. The company is promoting a Caramel Chocolate Chip Cake, Chocolate Caramel Pretzel (my favorite) and a Dark Chocolate Caramel Kreme Doughnut. These hand-dipped creations are sensational and if Krispy Kreme plays their cards right, these doughnuts will become extremely popular.
Caramel Sauce
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Have all your ingredients ready before you start making the sauce. Place sugar into a saucepan, cook the sugar and water over medium heat. Bring the sugar to a boil. When it turns a dark golden color, pour in the cream. It is going to bubble up so use a good size pan to avoid bubbling over. Remove from the stove and flavor it with the vanilla. Allow the caramel to come to room temperature. It will get thicker as it cools down. Store it in the refrigerator.
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