The Amish are legendary for their homemade candies. When I explore Amish communities, I am always on the look-out for bakeries. That’s a given. But, for me, the “Holy Grail” of a discovery in an Amish settlement is when I see a little hand-made sign pointing the way to a candy store. Amish candy stores are often tucked away in an outbuilding on a summer kitchen on someone’s property. You make some amazing finds, like these homemade Amish caramels!
I’ve stumbled upon Amish candy stores in Hardin County and Holmes County, Ohio, and in the Conewango Valley of New York. Ah, nothing like some homemade peanut butter eggs.
A skilled Amish candymaker will turn out recipes for homemade turtles, peanut clusters, Rocky Road candy, and, yes, homemade caramels. Candy, in general, is a big draw in Amish kitchens around Christmas. This is how an Old Order Amish grandmother described her Christmas gatherings when she was a child, which would have bene in the 1930s and 40s in Berne, Indiana:
After a big meal was served Grandma and Grandpa would pass out a bag of candy, a dish, and an orange to all their grandchildren and then they would also give gifts to their children. After an enjoyable day we would go home I would take my candy out of the bag piece by piece and then put it back in. I was so proud to own that whole bag of candy. I also enjoyed the Christmases at home. We would usually sit around the stove eating peanuts from the shell and oranges. Mom would always have all kinds of Christmas goodies like fudge, peanut butter balls, peanut brittle, peanut clusters, popcorn balls, chocolate covered pretzels, and Ritz crackers filled with marshmallow crème and peanut butter dipped in chocolate.
This is a recipe that I got from an Amish candymaker in Ohio and it’s so simple, so tasty.
You think of caramels as being something very difficult to make, but this recipe is pretty accessible and perfect for Christmas. Give someone a tin of these and you’ll amaze them when you tell them you made them.
It's amazing how basic and easy this recipe is, you probably have all the ingredients at home.
Be sure to use a knife dipped in hot water for easier cutting.
And you can enjoy some homemade caramels that taste like they came from the candy store!
When you are cooling the caramels, the best way is just to stick them in the fridge overnight or a for a few hours, they'll set better and be easier to cut. This recipe makes about 60 - 70 pieces of caramel.
🍬Ingredients for Caramels:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups corn syrup
- 1 cup light cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
📋Instructions for Caramels
- Cook sugar, syrup, cream, salt, and butter to 250 degrees or until it forms a firm ball when dropped in cold water.
- Add vanilla. Pour immediately into greased square pan.
- Cool.
- Turn out of pan and cut into squares with sharp knife dipped in hot water.
- Wrap each piece in waxed paper.
- Makes about 2 pounds.
🍬Amish Caramel Recipes
Caramel is great as a candy, but it also works well in pies and other desserts!
A wonderful pie that came across in Canada!
These are so good!
How could you not like these?
Mennonite Chocolate-Caramel Cake
Delicious!
🖨️Printer-Friendly Homemade Amish Caramels
Homemade Amish Caramels
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups corn syrup
- 1 cup light cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Cook sugar, syrup, cream, salt, and butter to 250 degrees or until it forms a firm ball when dropped in cold water.
- Add vanilla and stir.
- Pour immediately into greased square pan. Cool.
- Turn out of pan andcut into squares with sharp knife dipped in hot water. Wrap each piece in waxedpaper. Makes about 2 pounds
I always say carmel.At 69 I probably always will.😃
me too...well, I am not 69, but I always say carmel!
Wow can't wait to try these! Quick question can I use heavy cream? I prefer to use what I have on the hand rather than go out and do more shopping. Thank you in advance
You can use heavy cream, in fact, I'd probably use it if I made these again, you'd get an even fuller flavor.