Pecan Penuche

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Next, grease an 8x8-inch square baking dish with butter to prevent it from sticking.

In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the contents over medium heat. Combine 2 cups of brown sugar, 1 cup of white sugar, 1/2 cup of heavy cream, 1/4 cup of corn syrup, and a pinch of salt. Stir constantly until the sugars are fully dissolved.

Continue to heat the saucepan, monitoring its temperature carefully. When a small amount of syrup is dropped into cold water, it should form a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. This indicates that the syrup has reached the correct temperature, between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C). Remove the saucepan from the heat source.

Allow the saucepan to cool down without stirring until the bottom of it reaches a lukewarm temperature. This may take several minutes, so be patient.

Once the saucepan has cooled slightly, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix until it's fully incorporated. Stir in your choice of nuts to add texture and flavor.

Pour the saucepan mixture into the prepared 8x8-inch square dish. Let it cool completely before cutting it into squares and serving.