Easy Multi-use Caramel

I use this caramel recipe to pour over ice cream, mix with popcorn, stir into brownies, and even shape into Christmas goodies. This week I made it to mix into Mike's ice-cream cake. (It turned out delicious, by the way!)

Caramel

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp vanilla

Combine butter, sugar and syrup in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Add sweetened condensed milk and return to a rolling boil. Continue to boil and stir for the following times depending upon the purpose for the caramel:

For ice-cream topping- Cook and stir for about 5 minutes. The caramel will have just a small pull from the edge of the pan. You can cook it longer, but the caramel will end up hardening once you pour it over your cold ice cream. Remove from heat and add vanilla. This caramel is also great baked into cookies, cakes and brownies. (like the "good" brownies)

 This is what the caramel looks like after it's been removed from heat. See how it just slightly pulls away from the sides as the spoon passes through it?

For Caramel corn- Cook and about 7 minutes. The caramel should be pulling away from the edges of the pan as you stir. Unlike the ice-cream topping, it will be noticeable even after the spoon has passed. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour over 6-7 quarts of popped corn. (This makes a yummy-sticky-gooey popcorn. If you like your caramel popcorn hard, cook the caramel longer like the 10-15 minutes recommended below.)

For caramel candy - Cook and stir to softball stage. This will take10-15 minutes. The caramel will not only pull from the sides of the pan, but will "ball up" as you stir. The longer you cook it, the harder your candy. My family likes soft, chewy caramel so I usually cook mine closer to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. To shape into candies, allow caramel to cool slightly then pour into molds. You may also pour into a 9x13 in. ungreased pan and cut into squares when caramel has completely cooled. Wrap individually in plastic wrap.