Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227g) Unsalted Butter, cut into cubes
- 1 cup (200g) Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup (240ml) Heavy Cream
- 1/4 cup (60ml) Light Corn Syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 cups (220g) Pecan Halves, toasted
- 24 ounces (680g) Good Quality White Chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) Vegetable Shortening (optional)
Instructions:
- Spread pecans on a baking sheet and bake until fragrant and lightly browned. Let cool.
- Combine butter, sugar, cream, corn syrup, and salt in a saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Then, cook without stirring, monitoring with a candy thermometer until it reaches the firm-ball stage (245°F/118°C).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- On a parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange pecans into small clusters.
- Spoon or drizzle hot caramel over each pecan cluster, ensuring they are well coated.
- Refrigerate the caramel-covered clusters until firm.
- Melt white chocolate using a double boiler or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Stir in shortening (if using) for smoothness.
- Dip each chilled caramel-pecan cluster into the melted white chocolate, ensuring full coverage. Place back on parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Refrigerate the white chocolate covered clusters until the chocolate is set.