1. Be careful when handling melted sugar, as it reaches temperatures higher than boiled water.
2. Use an oven mitt when handling the hot caramel and equipment.
3. Keep a close eye on the caramel towards the end of the heating process, as it can burn quickly.

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• by Samadin

• 8 tablespoons of brown or white caster sugar
  • Use white sugar if this is your first time making caramel, as it is easier to detect the caramelization through the sugar's change in color.
• 4 tablespoons of water

• You'll need:

1. A large heavy-gauge aluminum saucepan (for cooking the caramel)Google Product Search: Heavy Gauge Aluminum Saucepan
2. An oven mit (for handling the very hot saucepan)Google Product Search: Oven Mitt
3. A wooden spoon (for stirring the caramel)Google Product Search: Wooden Spoon
4. A glass jar (for storing the caramel)Google Product Search: Glass Jar

• Follow the steps below to make caramel in its most basic form. This version of caramel serves as the basis for several recipes including caramel creme, caramel sauce and caramel apples and can be added to coffee or other hot beverage as a flavoring.

• WARNING: Make sure that you keep children away from the caramel cooking site. You'll be cooking at a high temperature and run the risk of spluttering.David Lebovitz: How to make the perfect caramel

1. Warm the saucepan over medium heat.Delia Online: How to make caramel
2. Pour the 8 tablespoons sugar into the saucepan until it melts. This will take about 5 minutes. Melting starts around the edges.wikiHow: How to make caramel
3. Stir the melting sugar with the wooden spoon until it is completely melted.
4. Stir again for 5 minutes until the melted sugar has turned brown. It should look somewhat like honey.Delia Online: How to make caramel Do not burn it.
5. Finally, it is time to add the water into the mix. Be sure to remove the pan from the heat, and gently pour in the 4 tablespoons of water while stirring.
6. Let the caramel cool down a little in the glass jar before serving.

• Want to make those soft caramel candies you buy in the store?

1. Follow the recipe above, but add 1/2 cup of cream, 2 tablespoons of butter and 1/2 cup of corn syrup to the sugar before heating it.
2. Once the butter melts, stir the mixture, but don't touch it again until it reaches 248 degrees.
3. Once it reaches 248, pour the mixture into a greased ceramic dish. Let it cool and then cut into bite-sized squares.

• You can do a lot more with caramel.

1. Caramel Apples: Dip some apples in the caramel to make a tasty treat.Simply Recipes: Caramel Apples Recipe For tips on choosing the right apple and serving them up right, visit Mahalo's page how to make delicious caramel apples.
2. Quince Caramel: If you like quince, then you will enjoy tasting these quince caramels.Chez Pim: Quince Caramels
3. Creme Caramel: Cream is all you need to add to make your caramel into a delicious pudding-like treat.VideoJug: How to make Creme Caramel
4. Caramel Sauce: Add some butter and cream to your caramelized sugar for a delicious sauce.Simply Recipes: Caramel Sauce Recipe