{"id":316261,"date":"2018-01-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-24T23:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/origin-www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/millionaire-clusters\/"},"modified":"2024-12-13T00:10:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T06:10:08","slug":"millionaire-clusters","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/millionaire-clusters\/","title":{"rendered":"Millionaire Candy"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you want to feel like a million bucks, just try a piece of rich, indulgent millionaire candy. A homemade version of the nostalgic Texas treat, this millionaire candy recipe features a buttery, pecan-studded caramel covered with milk chocolate. The candy is similar to millionaire shortbread bars<\/a>, except it has nuts instead of a shortbread cookie base.<\/p>\n Because it makes a big batch, this is one of the candy recipes<\/a> we use as a holiday food gift for family and friends. Of course, you can also just stash them in the cupboard to satisfy your sweet tooth night after night.<\/p>\n Making caramel<\/a> from scratch can sometimes be intimidating, but this recipe makes the process easy. Simmering the sugars with butter and evaporated milk develops the flavor of the caramel while preventing the sugar from scorching. Corn syrup keeps the texture perfectly smooth and creamy. Once done, all that’s left is to create the clusters of caramel, pecans and chocolate!<\/p>\n Chocolate-covered caramel-pecan millionaire candy was invented in 1914 by H.T. Pangburn, a chemist who owned a drug store and an ice cream factory in Fort Worth, Texas. After creating the recipe, he opened a candy factory and sold Millionaires in his stores. They quickly became a favorite Southern dessert<\/a>. Chocolate giant Russell Stover eventually purchased the trademark name and candy recipe, and you can still buy boxes of Pangburn Millionaires today.<\/p>\n Grease four baking sheets with 2 tablespoons of butter, then set the sheets aside.<\/p>\n Editor’s Tip:<\/em> Instead of greasing the baking sheets with butter, you can line them with wax or parchment paper for easier clean-up. Get them ready before cooking the caramel, and have a candy or digital thermometer ready by the stove\u2014it’s an indispensable candy-making tool<\/a> to bring the mixture to the correct temperature.<\/p>\n In a large heavy saucepan, combine the evaporated milk, sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt and the remaining cup of butter. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring it frequently. Cook the caramel over medium heat,\u00a0stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 238\u00b0F (the soft-ball stage).<\/p>\n Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the pecans and vanilla extract. Drop tablespoonfuls of the pecan caramel onto the greased baking sheets. Let the candies stand until they’ve set.<\/p>\n Drizzle the melted candy coating over the clusters, then refrigerate them for 10 minutes or until they’ve set. Store the candies in airtight containers.<\/p>\n Editor’s Tip:<\/em> You can melt chocolate<\/a> candy coating in a double boiler or the microwave.<\/p>\nWhere did millionaire candy originate?<\/h2>\n
Ingredients for Millionaire Candy<\/h2>\n
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Directions<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Prepare the pans<\/h3>\n
Step 2: Make the caramel<\/h3>\n
Step 3: Form the candy<\/h3>\n
Step 3: Drizzle the chocolate<\/h3>\n