NUTTY CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

By sarey

great treat for the holidays

Ingredients

• 2 t plus 1/4 c butter--divided
• 3/4 c light corn syrup
• 1/4 c cold water
• 1 1/2 c sugar
• 3 squares (1 oz each) semisweet chocolate chopped up
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 c half and half
• 2 t vanilla extract
• 1 c chopped walnuts

Preparation

Step 1

Line an 8 inch square pan with foil and grease that with 1 t butter, set aside.

butter the sides of a heavy saucepan with 1 t butter-add the corn syrup, water, sugar, chocolate, salt and remaining butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until smooth and blended--about 6 minutes.

gradually stir in cream. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 245 (firm ball stage)--about 25 minutes.

remove from the heat and stir in vanilla and walnuts. Pour into prepared pan. cool and cut in to squares. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Remove from the refrigerator about 1 hour before serving