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These delicious apple cider caramels are bursting with rich caramel flavor, make a wonderful gift, and are addictive in the best kind of way!
There's a mouse in the house. A big one. Are you afraid of mice? I used to be.
One night, eons ago, I came home from working the 3-11 p.m. shift at the hospital. The world was dark and still and quiet with everyone tucked away in their comfy beds. Except me.
After being home just a short time, I heard the baby (Caitlyn) begin to cry. I went to the kitchen to warm some milk. While reaching into the drawer beneath the oven for a pot (back then we didn't have microwaves, yeah, I know, I'm old, but I'm okay with that), something brown and soft and furry scampered right past my hand. I screamed (more than once) and jumped on top of the table (really!). The screaming not only woke my husband but probably, also half the neighborhood.
I'm much better now, only a little scared of mice.
But this one, this one is different. WAY different. Actually quite cute, excuse me, I meant to say, quite handsome, with gorgeous dimples. Oh, and he drives a white car. You may not believe this, but he also takes fantastic photos. Not only that, he's a master at making almost nothing look like something... really something.
"There's a mouse in the house." That's what I told my husband when he called on the way home from work one day this past week.
"Oh no", he said, "are you sure? "
I replied, "Yes, I'm sure .............. and it's a big one".
"You saw it?"
"Oh yes, I've seen it. I've seen him quite frequently."
"Really? What do you mean?"
"Yes, really... you know that big pan of Apple Cider Caramels I made?"
"Um, ah, yeah, um, what about it?"
"Well, it's crazy, but I covered the pan with foil and put them in the refrigerator in the garage. I wanted to get pictures of them for the blog, but I knew we probably wouldn't have time till today."
"Oh....".
"I think the mouse got into the fridge."
"Oh..."
"Yeah, he got under the foil and ate most of the caramels".
"Um, um, I didn't know you wanted to take pictures. It didn't happen all at once, you were at work and, well, I really thought I'd struck gold when I reached my hand under that foil... sorry."
Check out the photos! He is good at making almost nothing (the few caramels left in the pan) look like something, isn't he? Really something! I'm so glad cause I would have hated not to share these unbelievably delicious, delectable autumn treats with you.
You might be wondering how I know that they're so wonderful. Okay, okay, I admit it, I snuck under that foil a few times too. So maybe I should have started this post by saying "There are mice in the house". But that doesn't rhyme, does it?
I shared last week that I'd bought a big gallon of fresh apple cider and that I've been having fun experimenting with it in all sorts of recipes.
These caramels are probably one of my favorites, but then the Salted Apple Cider Caramel Sauce was pretty amazing. I have a feeling that you'll love all of these recipes as much as we do.
The ingredients for the caramels are simple: sweet cream, butter, sugar, apple cider, autumn spices, and a splash of vanilla. The results: simply spectacular!
Go ahead and make a batch of these yummy caramels. They're not hard, just take a bit of time. You'll need a heavy-bottomed pot (to ensure the caramel doesn't burn) and a candy thermometer (quite reasonable and readily available at kitchen stores and online) Candy-making is a precise science, and a thermometer will allow you to bring the caramel mixture to the perfect temperature, hence perfect caramels!
Do you have mice at your house? No, you don't think so? Yeah, well, I didn't either... just warning you.
P.S. An update: I shared in my post last Friday about a dream come true for me. I'll be at a "boot camp" this week, studying French cooking at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. I flew to the Big Apple this morning and navigated my way up to Hyde Park, about an hour and a half north of the city, home of the legendary CIA. It's a phenomenally beautiful area of the country.
I spent the afternoon exploring and checking out my route to school. I have to report for orientation at 6:00 a.m., so I thought it might be good to know where I was going. My heart started beating a little faster when I saw the first sign, and then almost popped out of my chest when I saw the school itself.
Can you see why? I'm thrilled to be here, and I'll be blogging my experience this week, so be sure to check back on Wednesday.
The CIA is located in the magnificent Hudson River Valley, where autumn is currently in the midst of a glorious fashion show.
These are the steps I'll be walking up tomorrow morning to start "school". I'll try really hard not to have such a big grin that I look like a Cheshire cat.
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Apple Cider Caramels
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice*
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup 1 stick butter, cubed
Instructions
- Pour cider into small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced to ⅓ cup; approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Line 8-inch square pan with buttered parchment paper or aluminum foil. In small bowl, combine heavy cream, salt, apple pie spice, cinnamon and reduced cider; set aside.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar and corn syrup. Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Insert candy thermometer and simmer until syrup reaches 234°F.
- Remove from heat, remove thermometer and very slowly whisk in cream mixture (mixture will foam and may spatter). Add cubed butter and stir or whisk until cream and butter are fully incorporated.
- Return pan to heat, reinsert thermometer and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until temperature reaches 250°F. Remove from heat and pour caramel into prepared pan.
- Cool completely at room temperature or refrigerate until set. Once set, remove caramel from pan lifting out by parchment paper or foil. Cut caramel into ¾-inch squares or rectangles. Wrap each piece in small wax paper square, if desired, twisting at each end. Store caramels in airtight container in cool place or refrigerate up to 2 weeks.
Notes
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I made these today and they are so delicious, I think I might have a mouse in my house now too! ????
OH WOW!!! Fabulous. And a cute story too!
I went to CIA Hyde Park for a boot camp. WONDERFUL experience. I hope you have a great week.
Charlotte, you are very astute! It is just plain old sugar and I changed this in the post. I had just been making the Apple Cider Caramel Sauce from a previous post and I think I had brown sugar on the brain! Thanks.
You mentioned brown sugar in your post. The recipe just says sugar. If it is brown sugar is it packed measurement? They look so good.
Oh my goodness!
First, the original mouse story - yikes, and I think I would STILL be screaming!
Second, the big car-driving mouse. He sounds adorable, clever and sweet.
And lastly WOWZA and a big congrats for your CIA gig, how extraordinary.
what a beautiful school, have fun -but I know you will, Cheshire Cats always do, do they not?
Hi Chris! Just reading your blog again after some busy days with my sons.
Your caramels look amazing and I am amazed by the CIA building!
I'm pretty sure you will remember each step of those stairs.
I need to catch up with your posts 🙂
What a wonderful fall flavor! Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Hi, perfect caramel and it look so mouth watering. I don't mind to be the mouse too. 🙂
Have a great week ahead.
wow! this looks amazing , chris! i'm no surprised that these caramels have created a mouse at your house!
I have never made caramels before but these look so soft and chewy and delicious. I might just have to give it a try. Ps have fun at school you lucky monkey.
Oh my goodness!! I'm so excited for you!! What a super fun opportunity, and yes, a dream come true. I can't wait to hear (and see!) what you bring home from the experience.
As for the mouse... um, yep, we have some too! Our mice seem to like popcorn and milk chocolate. Luckily they don't touch my dark chocolates!!
LOVE the caramel shot he got out of what he didn't eat!
Lovely post Chris, I enjoyed it so much, starting from your little mouse to your lovely caramels and then... this dream of Culinary institute of America! You're so lucky! I;m so excited and I cant wait to read about your experience. Hugs and Kisses my friend
Have a great time at CIA. Can't wait to hear all about it.
Thank you, I have a Cheshire grin right now after reading, browsing and drooling over the photo's here. 😀
At least your mouse takes great pictures! The caramels look AMAZING. Have fun this week... how exciting!
I wish I had those caramels right now, they would make the perfect breakfast 🙂 I can't wait for more CIA pics!
Um, Wow. Perfection in caramel form!! I'm will definitely be trying these, thank you so much for sharing at On the Menu Monday!!
*drool*
~April @DimplesandDelights
Beautiful caramels!!
I'm so excited for you-can't wait to read about your experience;-)
wow the cia, you are one lucky gal!!!!
The caramels look amazing-just beautiful! Sounds like you both have a very exciting week coming up! I can't wait to read all about it, have fun:@)
The caramels look amazing, Chris!! Both you and your mouse-photographer did a great job! Enjoy your week at the CIA! 🙂
PERFECTION!
I might make some for the coming holidays!
At least the kindly mouse left a few little caramels for you.
That is such exciting news Chris. Have a wonderful day at school tomorrow and I can't wait to hear all about it. Try not to get too distracted by the breathtaking scenery!
The funny thing is, Chris, that I actually DO have a mouse in the house and DO NOT have caramels to share with it. This morning, as I was getting ready for church, the little critter ran across my bedroom (it's getting cold in Aspen and he just wanted to be warm). So traps were set and my grandchildren who are here this week think it's very exciting. Grandma does not! Enjoy every minute at the CIA and please know that I am excited for you and am anxious to share your experiences through your Posts. Bonne chance.
I think I would have too a mouse in my home if I bake these caramels! Love these... I made your sauce and it's awesome, I'm sure your caramels are too!!!! This looks amazing where you will be studying!
Hihi, a mouse in the house that loves your caramels 🙂 I would too! Have a great experience at the CIA!
Your mouse/photographer is a genius, I couldn't stop staring at those caramels. I think I must be almost as excited as you are about your adventure at the CIA this week. The campus looks gorgeous. Oh, and I am busy with cider this week, too! I'm looking forward to your first post from school.
Chris, these caramels look absolutely heavenly!! Wish I had a few right now for my Sunday night dessert :).
How wonderful for you to get to go to the CIA. I can't wait to see what you post when you get home. You must tell all.
Chris, I hope you have a caramel or two tucked into your pocket for an early morning breakfast tomorrow. 🙂
I will be thinking of you and praying for you as you head into your dream come true. Enjoy each moment.
ps. I am afraid of mice.
Chris your caramels sound wonderful and filled with the flavors of fall.
I'm excited to hear about your week at the CIA. Have fun!
Cute story! The school looks stunning. Can't wait to hear about it. By the way, one of our cats brought a dead mouse into our bed the other night...3am...right between our pillows. I discovered it b/c he was playing with it and woke me up!!!
Oh, your caramels sound extraordinary, Chris!!! I would be the mouse if these were in my house 😉
Beautiful caramels, Chris. I share your excitement for tomorrow. Sleep well tonight....(I am smiling). Anxious to read all about it.
Oh these caramels are so pretty! I have a lote/hate relationship with making caramels. But your are very tempting.
LOl, your hilarious and so is your Hubby! Your caramels look amazing! I love this time of year, especially the apple cider! Have fun in NY!!