Microwave Caramels

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
• Maldon sea salt or fleur de sel, optional

Directions

1. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Put the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl, using glass or ceramic rather than plastic, and microwave it until it has melted.
2. Add the corn syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and salt to the melted butter. Whisk everything together thoroughly, then put the bowl back in the microwave and heat on HIGH power for 6 to 7 minutes.
3. With hot pads, carefully take the bowl out of the microwave. Stir in the vanilla extract until it is fully blended.
4. Pour the caramel into the prepared baking dish. If you are using Maldon sea salt or fleur de sel, scatter a light sprinkle over the top.
5. Transfer the dish to the refrigerator and chill until the caramel is set, about 20 – 30 minutes. Slice into rectangles, cutting rows slightly less than 1/2-inch wide and then cutting each row into three pieces, and wrap each caramel in rectangles of wax paper.