Chocolate Chip Cashew Caramels

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and that just doesn’t seem possible! I’ve really enjoyed posting these treats for you each day – and so have my well-fed friends and family!

This is a great little recipe that yields a big pan of candy caramels. They are packed with chocolate chips and salty cashews so eating one is a little bit like eating a candy bar!

First you’ll pour a whole bunch of semisweet chips and salted cashews into a 13×9 pan.

Now’s the time to dust off that candy thermometer! Cook the caramel ingredients in a big pot and pour it on top of the chips and nuts.

After a quick chill in the fridge the caramels can be cut into pieces. Use a large chef’s knife because the chilled caramel block will be firm.

These caramels hold their shape well so you don’t have to wrap them – but they look cute in their own  individual waxed papers with the ends twisted.

Want more giftable goodies? 

Last year’s 23rd day advent recipe was 

3 Minute, 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge!

Chocolate Chip Cashew Caramels

Heather Baird

These caramels are packed with chocolate chips and salty cashews. They're great for gifting around the holidays.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

2 hours setting time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 4 dozen

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 2 cups 250g roasted salted cashews
• 1 cup 6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup 226g unsalted butter
• 2 cups 400g brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup 300g light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup 60 ml water
• 14 ounces 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Grease a 13×9 inch baking pan with vegetable shortening and line it with parchment paper so that the paper overhangs the edges of the pan (the shortening will help the paper stick to the sides of the pan).
• Pour the cashews and semisweet chips into the pan and pat down evenly so they cover the bottom in a single layer.
• Add the butter to a large pot and place over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook mixture until it comes to a boil, stirring occasionally. When the mixture boils stir in the sweetened condensed milk. Cook, stirring constantly until a candy thermometer reads 248°F.
• Remove the pot from the heat and add the vanilla extract; stir. Pour the caramel into the prepared pan without scraping out the bottom. Let the caramel cool slightly before transferring it to the refrigerator. Let chill until firm.
• Lift caramel out of the pan by the overhanging parchment paper. Cut into pieces. If the caramel is too firm, allow it to stand at room temperature until soft enough to cut.
• Store pieces in a tin between sheets of waxed paper, or wrap each cut caramel in its own waxed paper wrapper.

Keyword brown sugar, cashews, semisweet chips

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!