Skip to main content

Basic Caramel

This recipe produces a caramel that, once cooled, is quite stiff—the ideal consistency for making bar cookies. If you plan to pour it over cake or ice cream, simply double the amount of heavy cream. This caramel can be refrigerated, tightly covered, for up to three days.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup heavy cream

Preparation

  1. In a medium heavy-bottom saucepan, combine the sugar and cream of tartar with 1/2 cup water. Cook over high heat without stirring until sugar begins to melt and turn golden at the edges. Continue cooking, swirling the pan to cover evenly, until the sugar turns golden amber. Carefully pour the heavy cream down the side of the pan in a slow, steady stream (it will spatter), stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until combined. Transfer to a medium bowl, and let cool.

Reprinted with permission from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook by Martha Stewart. © 2005 Clarkson Potter
Read More
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Like swordfish steaks with tomatoes and Peruvian-style tofu.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Punchy, make-ahead chimichurri adds a bright, fresh finish to this easy summer dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
With a crisp crust, garlicky mayo, and a juicy slice of tomato.
The secret to juicy grilled chicken, a sheet-cake swap for banana pudding, and more reasons to light up the grill and have people over all summer long.