Favorite Friday Recipe: Salted caramel covered strawberries

These are so tasty and perfect for a summer treat!

Recipe from Southern Living Farmers Market via Steamy Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 10 large fresh strawberries
• 20 caramels
• 1 1/2 tablespoons whipping cream
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup coarsely chopped mixed nuts like peanuts or slivered almonds (I used cashews and almonds)
• Wax paper

Directions:

1. Soak strawberries in an ice bath for 5 minutes to restore their perky leaves (I skipped this step and actually just cut the stems off)
2.  Pat strawberries completely dry with paper towels
3. Microwave caramels, whipping cream, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM 2 minutes or until smooth, stirring at 1-minute intervals.
4. Dip each strawberry halfway into caramel mixture. Roll in nuts, and place on lightly greased wax paper. Let stand 15 minutes. Serve immediately, or cover and chill up to 8 hours.

Evidently the "chill up to 8 hours" note is really important.  I'd make and serve these the day of next time.  I left mine overnight and the next day the caramel had melted off the strawberries.  Nothing that can't be remedied by a spoon but presentation wise it's not as pretty as before!