Salted caramels, five ways

Grease a 20cm square cake pan. Line the base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 5cm over sides.

Stir sugar, cream and glucose syrup in a medium saucepan until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil; boil, until the mixture reaches 120°C on a cooking thermometer. Or drop a teaspoon of syrup into a glass of ice-cold water; gather it up with your fingers. It should roll into a firm ball when it’s ready. Sprinkle in half the salt, do not stir. Pour caramel into pan; sprinkle with remaining salt. Cool.

Use a warm, oiled, sharp knife to cut caramel into squares. Wrap in waxed paper or serve in little paper cases.

Grease an 18cm x 28cm slice pan. Make Salted Caramels adding 1½ cups (225g) unsalted roasted macadamias with the salt once the mixture reaches 120°C on a cooking thermometer. Pour in pan; sprinkle with remaining salt. Cool. Using your hands break the caramels into pieces.

Infuse 2 earl grey tea bags in ¾ cup boiling water; remove bags, pressing with a spoon to release all liquid. Make Salted Caramels, omitting the salt and adding the tea to sugar, cream and glucose syrup in pan. Continue as directed in the recipe.

Make Salted Caramels, omitting the salt and adding 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, a pinch of ground cloves, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste and 2 tablespoons white rum to the pan with the sugar. Continue as directed in the recipe.

Grease an 18cm x 28cm slice pan. Make Salted Caramels adding 1½ cups roasted natural almonds and 75g finely chopped dark (semi-sweet) chocolate with salt once mixture reaches 110°C on a cooking thermometer; stir until mix reaches 120°C. Pour in pan; sprinkle with remaining salt. Cool. Cut into triangles.