This recipe makes far more than you will need for the Butterscotch Budino with Caramel Sauce and Maldon Sea Salt (facing page) or the Caramel Coppetta with Marshmallow Sauce and Salted Spanish Peanuts (page 296), but caramel is something you can’t make in small batches.

　　

Ingredients

makes about 2 cups

　　1 cup heavy whipping cream

　　1 whole vanilla bean

　　4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

　　1 cup sugar

　　1/4 cup light corn syrup

　　

Step 1

Pour the cream into a medium saucepan. Using a small, sharp knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise. Use the back of the knife to scrape out the pulp and seeds and add the scrapings and the bean to the saucepan with the cream. Heat the cream over high heat until it just begins to boil. Turn off the heat and add the butter, stirring until it melts.

　　

Step 2

Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup of water in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook without stirring, swirling the pan for even cooking and brushing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush to remove the sugar crystals until the sugar becomes a medium amber color, about 10 minutes. Remove the caramel from the heat. Remove the vanilla bean from the cream mixture and discard the bean. Gradually add the cream mixture to the caramel, whisking constantly to thoroughly combine, taking care as the mixture will steam and bubble. Serve the caramel sauce, or set it aside to cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one month. Before serving, warm the sauce in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly to melt it.

　　The Mozza Cookbook