Cupidons (chocolate/honey caramels)

December 30, 2009  •  Category: ,

 

These are chocolate caramels that are homemade  in Beirut and offered to visitors. They are so good that a former neighbor started a home-based business selling them from her home. What is special about these is their dark chocolaty flavor with the honey aftertaste.  I was craving thesecupidons(little cupids) as they are called and in desperation a few years back  sent a request for the recipe  to my late  great aunt Tante Linda. I have kept her recipe  and cherish it but  since the measurements are ” a little packet of butter” and ” a big cup of cocoa” I am including a precise recipe, with grams and ounces.


INGREDIENTS:

  • 100 g of dark  85%   chocolate (3.5 ounces)
  • 150 g of granulated sugar (3/4 cup)
  • 150 g of honey (3/4 cup)
  • 75  g of unsalted butter (5  tablespoons)

METHOD:

  1. Place all the ingredients in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat and bring to a boil.
  2. Simmer for about 10 minutes. If you have a candy thermometer, wait for the temperature to reach 220F up to 230F, otherwise, take a bit of the caramel and set it on a greased surface, preferably marble. If it hardens in a few seconds or if the consistency is jellylike, it is ready. Roll it between your index and your thumb to feel it. You want to be careful not to cook it too long, or it will harden beyond repair.
  3. Pour the caramels on a greased square pan. Let them cool a bit, then cut them in tiny squares and wrap in cellophane paper.
  4. Hide them if you want to keep them a while. They do keep for a  few weeks.

cupidons_MG_1092

NOTE:

My aunt Linda used to make them with cocoa but she insisted on only using Droste cocoa. If you use cocoa powder, make sure to increase the amount of butter to 6 tablespoons and double the amount of sugar to 11 ounces.

Comments

11 Comments  •  Comments Feed

  1. cuisineplurielle says:

    it looks great and so sweety..

  2. Sophie says:

    These caramels look apart & so inviting too,…I also love the coloured wrappers!!

    Yeah!

    I wish you & your family a fun, apart, healthy & exciting 2010!!

  3. Ivy says:

    Beautiful chocolates and so tempting. My best wishes to you and your family for the New Year.

  4. Sarah says:

    Merhaba, these look lovely. I will try them soon and let you know how I get on! I just wondered if they are popular in Lebanon? Just that I am Egyptian and very familiar with Middle Eastern food but have never come across these before!

    • Joumana says:

      Hi Sarah
      These are so popular in Lebanon and Beirut in particular that a former neighbor started a business specializing in these. She is doing very well and is reputed to make “the best cupidons in town”. If you are ever in Beirut and need her phone number, I will get it for you.

  5. domi says:

    Le p’tit Jésus en culotte de velours…que du bonheur. Merci tata Linda pour cet héritage gourmand

  6. paula Merhej says:

    Hello
    Thank u for your Cupidon it looks great but i would love to know from u if i can make it WITHOUT adding sugar pls ?????

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