Black Licorice Caramels

I make these every year for Christmas candy and every March for my uncle on his birthday! I get requests for the recipe EVERY time I make these and always have to hide some when I take to family parties so the people who arrive late can have some too! Very easy!

• Ready In: 26 mins
• Serves: 50
• Yields: 50-60 pieces

Ingredients

• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2  cups sugar
• 1  cup butter
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 cups  Karo syrup, light corn syrup
• 2  teaspoons  anise extract
• 1  teaspoon  black food coloring, paste

Directions

1. In a large heavy pan melt butter on low-med heat; add sweet cond milk, Karo syrup, sugar and salt.
2. Place a candy thermometer on side of pan, be careful to not touch bottom of pan.
3. Stirring CONSTANTLY, cook on medium heat to 234 degrees.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Add Anise extract and black food coloring paste.
6. Pour into a buttered 9x13" pan.
7. Cool and cut into desired pieces.
8. Wrap in wax paper.
9. It will be gone before ya know it!
10. * This caramel is soft and chewy. If you would like it more firm, cook until about 244 degrees. I find that using the brand Karo for the corn syrup works best, because some of the "off" brands contain water in the ingredients*.