Very easy salted caramels

There is nothing better than something that is sweet and salty all in a very small, manageable bite. Maybe that's why the pretzel M&M's are so popular?

 Maybe. Who knows. 

I was getting ready for a catering job on New Years Day with lots and lots of cooking to do when my husband asked me to make some salted caramels. I was making some for this catering job already, and well, it shouldn't be that much more work....right??? 

Yeah, ok buddy!

Something you need to know about making caramels, it takes 5 1/2 hours to make...from scratch!!! It's very labor intensive and you have to be hovering over the stove with water the ENTIRE time. Not letting the sugar crystallize or getting above the desired temperature. If it does, all your work is down the drain. Well, in the trash actually.

It really isn't for the novice baker. It really isn't for the mediocre baker either. It really isn't for the time crunched mother of 4 trying to get this catering job completed and keep her family happy either!

I did something that I have never done before, but plan on doing more and more of. 

I cheated! 

Boy oh boy did I ever cheat.

It has become one of my most favorite cheats in history. 

Now, with that being said, I still plan on making the real deal for clients and for those days when I have 5 1/2 hours to stand over the stove and painstakingly make caramels. There is something to be said about real caramels. The taste can't be beat....PERIOD!

While I was at the grocery store, I found these nifty little things called caramel bites. They are about 1/4 size of the commercial caramels. I had never seen them before and, at the time, had no idea what I was going to use them for. I was intrigued to say the least. Now I have a plan of action. I already had the parchment paper and the sea salt. BAM!!! About 15 minutes (plus cooling time) I had salted caramels for the family to enjoy and to leave me alone while I finished up the rest of my catering!

Salted Caramels

2 bags of caramel bites

parchment paper

course sea salt

Line a cookie sheet or brownie pan with parchment paper

Melt caramel in a non stick pot on medium, stirring constantly. *Now, the caramel will melt, but not become a total liquid. Also, do NOT let it start boiling-the whole crystallizing thing again.

Pour melted caramel in the lined cookie sheet or the brownie pan, and smooth top out.

Sprinkle sea salt all over the top and pat down, with your hand, to make sure that the salt gets into the caramel (I think it makes it better that way)

Put in fridge for 45 minutes or so, or you can put it in the freezer for about 5 minutes. The trick here is to have it cooled but NOT frozen or totally solid. It will be horrible to cut into.

Once cooled, pull the caramel out by the parchment paper, lay flat and using a sharp knife dipped in HOT water cut the caramels first into strips then into cubes. Dipping your knife into the HOT water after each slice.

Arrange on a nice tray and serve!! Trust me, people will be BEGGING you to make more or for the recipe.

Enjoy!