Aunt Bill's Brown Candy

1 . Stage

Butter a 9x13-inch dish and a medium, heavy saucepan.

2 . Stage

Combine 4 cups sugar and cream in the buttered saucepan. Set aside.

3 . Stage

Pour remaining 2 cups sugar in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar begins to melt.

4 . Stage

Place the saucepan with sugar and cream over low heat, stirring occasionally.

5 . Stage

Continue to cook and stir sugar in the skillet until completely melted and light brown. Pour melted sugar very slowly, in a thin stream, into the lightly simmering cream, stirring constantly. This step may take about 5 minutes, and works best if someone pours the melted sugar very slowly.

6 . Stage

Heat, without stirring, to 242 to 248 degrees F (116 to 120 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a firm but pliable ball. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda (mixture will foam). Drop the butter into the foaming mixture and let rest without stirring for 30 minutes.

7 . Stage

Stir in vanilla with a wooden spoon and continue to stir vigorously until mixture loses its gloss, 10 to 15 minutes. Then fold in pecans and quickly turn candy into the prepared 9x13-inch dish. Let cool until just warm and cut into 1-inch pieces.