Wonderfully Wicked Treats


Today, two of my friends; Peggy and Ann came by to make some Halloween treats.
First we made Licorice Caramels:
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk                
1 1/2 c. corn syrup                             2 tsp. anise oil, we liked 1 1/2 tsp.
1 cup butter                                         1 tsp. black paste food coloring
2 cups sugar                                         1/4 tsp. salt
Butter an 8-inch square baking pan; set aside.  In a heavy 4-qt. saucepan combine condensed milk, corn syrup, butter, sugar and salt. Place over medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon until well mixed.  If sugar crystals are present, wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush. Cook, stirring constantly to 242 F (120C) We found this to make the caramels too hard.  we cooked them to 230 degrees.  So soft and chewy.  Remove from heat and stir in flavoring and food color; blend well.  Without scraping, pour into prepared pan.  Allow to stand at room temp overnight.  Cut into 1-inch squares.  Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap.

Here I am stirring the black paste food coloring in.  Thought I would use a B&W photo to get you in the Halloween mood.
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I am not a black licorice lover.  But these are to DIE for!  That’s why we liked a bit less flavoring.  That way you could taste a little more of the caramel.
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This is my friend, Ann pouring it into the square pan.
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Remember how it said not to scrape the pan?  Do you think we were going to let that go to waste?  Yes, it will go to my waist!
We scraped it onto a plate so we could sample.  It was wicked good!
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My friend Peggy is a gourmet candy maker.  Seriously, she makes dipped chocolates that would even make Mrs. Cavanaugh  jealous.  She came along to coach us. She had just made goodies for her daughters wedding last week.  There were  jars filled with decadent wonders.
You might remember, Peg is the one that I named my hairy tailed rat after.
Notice our black teeth?  Is that Halloweeny or what?
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Then we made Caramel Apple Bites.  Simply buy a brick of caramel, dried apples ( ours were Nutty Guys), white chocolate or Almond Bark, cinnamon and sugar.
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See that big block of caramel?  It’s real caramel, Peggy kept reminding us that it was. 
Me and caramel, that’s a dangerous combination. They’re lucky I didn’t just climb into the pantry, shut the door, and chow down on that entire block.
Now to continue, you cut the apple rings in half, cut off a chunk of caramel and mold it around the apple.  Not completely covering it, just on one end.  Melt the choc. in the microwave at 50% power. One minute at a time till melted.  dip caramel wrapped apples.  Lay out on parchment or wax paper.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.  You can dip a few at a time and then sprinkle.
These may not look it, but they are so YUM-O!  This is a term my youngest daughter always says.  I’ve never asked her, but I think it’s because when you taste something delicious you say YUM and then OH or Oh YUM!  Either one works.
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We think that they look a bit like little scorpions.  Don’t let their looks fool you.  They are delicious!
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Ending with another B&W.  Can’t wait to wrap my caramels in the morning!
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Have a hauntingly good day!
  Jann
Linking up with:
Miss Jenny for Anything Autumn

16 comments

Lori E said...

I do love licorice. I don't know about the black teeth though. Maybe I will skip the food colouring.
I had no idea you could buy caramel in a block like that. So much better than unwrapping individual caramels. I bet it costs a bundle though because caramels are expensive.
Thank you for visiting my blog and signing on to follow. You were number 300, oh my.

Diana LaMarre said...

It looks like you and your friends had a great time making the licorice caramels. I have never heard of them, but I bet they are delicious and so perfect for Halloween!

I have been reading your other posts and it looks like you go all out for Halloween.

That picture of your home with the mountains/snow/fall color was simply stunning! How lucky you are to have such an amazing view.

Sassafras and Winterberry said...

Yum-O indeed! I love caramel and that block is intense!

Shan said...

I have never heard of licorice caramels either..but I bet my kiddos will love them and the recipe seems easy enough. We may just have to try these this weekend. Thanks!

Christine @ Stonehouse Living said...

Hi Jann,

What a fun way to spend time with your friends. Everything looks delicious...
Love your Halloween aprons! Not much longer now until the big day....
All the Best,
Christine

Karen S. said...

Oh this is purrfect! Licorice is one of my favorites and what a great happy idea for a halloween-party- treat! Thanks for stopping by and following my blog and I am one of your newest followers too!

Peg said...

The licorice caramels were so yum-o we got to sample some of Ann's this morning. Caramel apple bites are delicious too. We had so much fun doing that, we better plan on doing the pecan rolls for Christmas or better yet Thanksgiving. Yum-o! I don't know if I can wait till Christmas.

camp and cottage living said...

You ladies look like you were having some wicked fun together! And were maybe a little high on all that sugar! Just kidding.
Everything looks so yummy and good. I wish I was trick or treating at your place!

poppilinnstudios said...

What a fun day with friends! Those treats look yummy!
-Lynn

Linda said...

Oh that carmel would have been to much for me to stand...yummo!! They look delicious!! What fun!!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Halloween treats and good friends...it doesn't get any better than that! Well...BLACK teeth makes it better! heehee! What FUN! ♥

Susan Anderson said...

I've never heard of licorice caramels, but I'd sure like to try one! And those "scorpion" apples look out of this world!

=)

GardenOfDaisies said...

Oh my goodness, these look so yummy! If I had been there, we might have had a fight over who got that bag of caramel.

Birgit said...

Gosh, now I wish I could travel through time and space and land right in your kitchen. :) Great photos -- great candy. And you wear the loveliest Halloween apron ever!

Theresa Plas said...

Oh my...you girls look like you are having the BEST time!

Jenny said...

You and your friends are adorable. Love your happy faces while you make these clever treats! The scorpion apples are really different and I, too, have never heard of licorice caramels but I suspect my Dad and husband would really like them!

Thanks for linking up for Fall Break!

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