Cupidons (chocolate/honey caramels)
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:
- Place all the ingredients in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat and bring to a boil.
- 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.
- Pour the caramels on a greased square pan. Let them cool a bit, then cut them in tiny squares and wrap in cellophane paper.
- Hide them if you want to keep them a while. They do keep for a few weeks.
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
taina says:
sweet. thank you.
On December 30, 2009 at 3:41 pm
cuisineplurielle says:
it looks great and so sweety..
On December 31, 2009 at 2:12 am
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!!
On December 31, 2009 at 5:16 am
Ivy says:
Beautiful chocolates and so tempting. My best wishes to you and your family for the New Year.
On December 31, 2009 at 8:22 am
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!
On January 5, 2010 at 10:37 am
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.
On January 5, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Tania says:
My favorite sweets! Merci Joumana! Tu peux m’envoyer le contact de ta voisine qui fait les cupidons? I am assuming she doesnt ship to the US? 🙂
On February 19, 2018 at 3:37 am
Joumana Accad says:
@Tania Malheureusement elle ne les fait plut! Désolée. Mais je vais me renseigner pour savoir qui d’autre les fait~
On February 22, 2018 at 5:39 am
domi says:
Le p’tit Jésus en culotte de velours…que du bonheur. Merci tata Linda pour cet héritage gourmand
On December 3, 2011 at 9:11 am
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 ?????
On September 23, 2018 at 11:54 am