Caramel Syrup

Ingredient List

Ingredient Quantity Units
Sugar (2 Pounds) 4 Cup
Water (2+4) 7 Cup
Corn Syrup 1/4 Cup
Vanilla Extract 1 Tablespoon

Ingredient List - Optional

Ingredient Quantity Units
Maple Syrup 1/4 Cup

Cooking Time: 45 Minutes

Notes: Final syrup mixure is roughly 1 part sugar, 1 part water.

Notes: If doubling recipe, do not increase the amount of water during step 1.

Instructions

Step 1: Dissolve Sugar in Water
Add 2 Cups water to a clean stainless steel sauce pot.
Add 4 Cups sugar (2 pounds) to the same sauce pot.
Bring a boil on Med-High.
Add water as needed until all sugar is dissolved.
Swirl pot to ensure sugar does not stick to bottom.
Avoid using a utensil to stir if possible.
Add water as needed until all sugar is dissolved.

Note: Adding water first helps prevent sugar from sticking to bottom of pot and prevents the need to stir the mixture with a spatula. Using a utensil increase risk of the sugar crystalizing.

Note: Use a calibrated thermometer that can be left in the pot. Temperature will rise quickly once the water has evaporated.

Step 2: Calibrate Thermometer
While sugar water from step 1 reduces, calibrate thermometer.
In a 2nd pot, add water and thermometer.
Bring 2nd pot to a boil.
Check temperature of thermometer.
At sea-level, boiling water should read 212 degrees fahrenheit.
At Denver elevation, boiling water will read approximately 202 degrees fahrenheit.

Step 3: Cook Sugar Mixture
Continue to boil sugar/water mixture until temperature reaches 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sugar should reach a light amber color.
Takes approximately 25 minutes to reach this temperature.

Note: Heating past 350 degrees starts to impart a bitter flavor.

Step 4: Let Syrup Cool Slightly
Lower temperature.
Allow sugar to cool slightly to around 250 degrees.

Note: Allowing water to cool slightly reducing the risk of sugar boilding over when adding water in next step.

Step 5: Boil Water
While syrup cools, fill a pot with water and bring to a boil.
Ensure there is enough boiling water to bring final sugar mixture to 1 part sugar, 1 part water.

Step 6: Add Water and Syrups
Carefully add 4 Cups of boiling water to syrup mixture.
Syrup will will boil violently.
Add 1/4 Cup corn syrup.
(Optional) Add 1/4 Cup maple syrup.
Final mixture should be roughly 1 part water, 1 part sugar/syrup.

Step 7: Add Vanilla
Add 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract.

Step 8: Cool
Remove from heat.
Cover pot with tin foil.
Allow syrup to cool for at least 4 hours.
There should be no crystalized pieces in the liquid.
If a “crust” formed, reheat with additional water and additional corn syrup.

Step 9: Finish and Serve
Pour syrup into bottles.

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