Vanilla Caramels!

Alright ladies, here's the deal, remember those yummy caramels I made last year?

I've had a few of you try them out and then email me and tell me that even though they're delicious they turned into toffee instead of caramels. I wasn't quite sure at first why on earth that would be happening to you guys, so tonight I made a batch and ended up with hard toffee as well.

The only thing I can think of is that I may have cooked them on too high a heat when it's supposed to be slowly cooked over low or medium heat for 15 minutes or until it reaches a temperature of about 248º F.

I'm still going to keep the other recipe and needless to say this toffee that I ended up with is NOT going to be thrown out because it's just that good, but I am in search of a different caramel recipe and found one that I'll be trying tomorrow. So here it is for you, if anyone else wants to try, if you do, let me know what you think.

Vanilla Caramels

2 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup condensed milk

1 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup butter or fat
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Cook sugar, corn syrup, condensed milk, and milk together in a saucepan, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until temperature is 248 F., or until mixture forms a firm ball when tested in cold water. Remove from heat, add butter, salt, and vanilla and mix well. Pour into a greased pan. When cold remove from pan, cut in cubes and wrap each caramel in wax paper.
Recipe from a 1953 cookbook

No Bake Twinkie Cake!!!

I came across this recipe in a magazine a while ago, I planned on making it last summer and completely forgot about it, but while organizing my recipe collection today I found it again.

Instead of just putting it aside, I decided to get right in there and make it. It's a HIT and it's soooooo good, you have GOT to try it.

BANANA-CARAMEL CAKE

Here's my finished cake

1 pkg. (3.4 oz) instant butterscotch pudding mix
Milk
1 bananas, chopped
2 pkgs (15. oz) Twinkies
4 cups thawed frozen whipped topping
Caramel Sundae Topping
Toasted coconut (To toast flaked coconut, in nonstick skilledt, over medium heat, cook coconut, stirring until browned, 3-4 minutes)


Prepare pudding mix with milk according to package directions for pie filling consistency. Let prepared pudding stand 5 minutes. Fold in bananas. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Arrange 10 Twinkies in bottom of 9" springform pan, cutting to fit. Spread with pudding mixture. Top with remaining Twinkies.

Spread with 1 cup topping. Cover; refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Uncover. Remove side of pan. Spread top and side of cake with remaining topping.
Press 1 2/3 cups toasted coconut onto side of frosted cake. Drizzle with 2 Tbs. Caramel sundae topping.


Enjoy!