Licorice Caramels

Licorice Caramels

  • Prep Time: 0 mins
  • Total Time: 2 mins
  • Yield: 64pieces

    • About This Recipe

    “I originally found this recipe in the Orlando Sentinel in Dorothy Chapmans food column. She found the recipe inthe 1991 Better Homes and Gardens Grand Holiday Cooking. This recipe is well worth the effort.”

    Ingredients

  • 1cupbutter( do not substitute margarine)
  • 2cupssugar
  • 1 (14ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 1cuplight corn syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoonsalt
  • 1teaspoonanise extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon black food coloring or 1/2 teaspoonred food coloring

    • Directions

  • Line a 9-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan.
  • Butter foil: set aside.
  • Melt butter in heavy 3-quart saucepan over low heat.
  • Add sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup and salt, Mix well.
  • Carefully clip candy thermometer to side of pan.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring CONSTANTLY until thermometer registers 244F degrees , firm ball stage.
  • Reaching firm ball stage should take 15-20 minutes(be careful, mixture scorches easily).
  • Remove from heat.
  • Remove candy thermometer from saucepan.
  • Add anise and color, stir to mix.
  • Quickly pour candy without scraping into prepared pan.
  • Cool several hours or until firm.
  • Use foil to lift and out of pan onto cutting board.
  • Peel off and discard foil.
  • With buttered sharp knife, cut immediately into one inch squares.
  • Wrap individually in waxed paper or plastic wrap.
  • Makes 64 pieces, about 2-3/4 pounds.
  • NOTE: mixture must be stirred constantly as tiny crystals that form tend to scorch quickly.

    • Reviews

  • “I made these for my dad for Xmas because he loves black licorice.I doubled the anise extract to two teaspoons (as per review suggestion) and next time would add the third teaspoon because he likes that strong licorice flavor.I was worried about dad’s dental work but they stayed soft and were very creamy.Everyone loved them, my dad wouldnt let me bring any home.These will be requested next year I am sure.Thanks for a new treat for my dad.”

  • “These are wonderful little delights and oh so rich.I made sure not to cut em real big either. I didn’t think the anise taste came thru real strong, even after adding 1 1/2 t. of pure anise extract. Somewhat time consuming and not so much in the making, but afterwards in the cutting and wrapping individually in wax paper.But, they are definitely a great addition to the candy/cookie trays for the holidays.Thanks for posting this great recipe Dlorez.”

  • “These are so good.I can’t stand licorice, but these are really good.I put 2 tsp. of anise in it.It was just right.I do think I boiled it to long, as it really got hard.But it melts in your mouth.I know I will be makeing it a lot.”

  • “I was so happy to find this recipe! I LOVE these caramels! The only thing I would change is the temp.Maybe my digital thermometer is off, but they did not get as firm as they should be. Too soft, and they stick to my teeth! I will cook a bit longer, maybe 250?”

  • “These are awesome. I wouldn’t so much call them caramels, but toffees or something in between. The anise is so subtle and great combo with the butter toffee that even the folks who don’t like licorice love these candies.I also used the 9×13 pan.Turned them out on a chilled, greased marble slab for cutting. Wrapped in waxed paper. Friends who’ve received these want the recipe. Thanks so much for a great candy. I will be making these to give again and am thinking of other flavors to try.”

  • “I actually expected something else. Not bad, but not great either. I don’t know if I’ll eat them… yet. Too much butter for my liking.”

  • “These were SO good.I agree with the other comments though that the anise flavoring could easily be increased. Other than that, this was very easy to make.I made them with black food coloring, but I will make another batch during the holidays and use red food coloring.”

  • “Absolutely love this recipe!One of my favorites I have found yet.Thank you for sharing.”

  • “Yum! These turned out really good, I did use anise essence though as that is all I had and as suggested in another review I doubled it to 2 teaspoons with a nice licoricy taste. A delicious recipe, another one added to my candy favourites!thanks so much!”

  • “These are fabulously delicious, but why does it say “2 min.” up there?They certainly do NOT take two minutes to make!LOLThey’re simple, for sure, but they’re not that easy if you have a hard time stirring for a long time.I made them on a very dry day, and yet I was stirring for more than half an hour.My shoulder will be sore tomorrow, but the results were worth it!”

  • “What a great recipe! I have to say that I love everything licorice so I just had to make this. The only thing I would mention is that the anise flavor is a little light. It might be just personal preference, but I could easily double the amount of anise and it would be just perfect. In fact, that is what I intend to do next time as my first batch is nearly gone…”

  • “I have had this recipe marked to make for quite some time.I love licorice of all kinds, so it just called my name.I made them last night and they came out fabulously!Very delicious, and addictive.I used equal amounts of blue and red gel color to get an appropriate grey/black color in the final product. Also, the small 1 dram jar of anise oil you find at the pharmacy counter is exactly 1 teaspoon, so it was perfect.I could not find the extract, so used the oil and the flavor was just right.It’s time consuming to stand there stirring waiting for the temp to rise, but worth it, and takes no more time than any other caramel recipe.Thank you for posting!”

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