OMG. I just did the dumbest thing!!!!! DO NOT try this at home. I was snooping through my extracts in search of something to make today when I spied two that I hadn’t even opened yet. The first one was a semi-thick, creamy-style one and looked like just the ticket. I shook the bottle and opened it. It didn’t really smell like much and not at all like what flavor it was supposed to be on the label.

Sooooooo, I very carefully stuck my pinky finger into the bottle getting a TINY MINUTE amount on my finger to taste. NOT a smart move. It had the most horrific taste you could possibly imagine!!! Massively strong in weird alcohol and just BAD! I grabbed for some handfuls of water trying to get this nasty taste off of my tongue!!!!! I was in AGONY!!!!

Had it gone BAD?? Was it supposed to taste like this straight from the bottle and undiluted??

(See how creamy it is?! Right?! I know you would’ve done the same thing. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. )

So. Anyways. I did the unthinkable. I decided to try another one. Yep. I really did this. I tried a second one that surely would taste better and I’d know for sure if the first one was bad or not.

Repeat handfuls of water straight from the kitchen sink along with a wad of paper towels now frantically scrubbing my tongue off. 

I could feel the “alcohol”, (which tasted more like pure RUBBING ALCOHOL), slowly creeping down the back of my throat.

So. Did I learn my lesson yet? Not even close. Nope. Not this girl.

I did this same stupid thing a THIRD TIME with my vanilla!!!!! I thought, ok, something HAD to be wrong with those two. They were “odd” flavors. SURELY, vanilla would be different. I mean it’s just vanilla, right?

It was just as bad. I now felt ILL. TRULY. ILL. And it took a good HOUR for everything, including my stomach and lungs, to fully recuperate!!!!

DO NOT do what I did. EVER. As much as you may want to try this just to see for yourself, when no one’s looking, as we WILL DO the stupidest things when we know no one’s watching – – JUST. DON’T.

I had NO IDEA that extracts, natural as well as artificial, could be so TOXIC-tasting undiluted! These bottles should come with a strict warning label. And a link to this blog. I excuse myself for the first time. But THREE TIMES? HA!!!!!! OMG. The things I do. All I can do is shake my head in shame. And remember what my Grandma used to say….”Thank god no one sees what I do sometimes, or they’d come and lock me up!” I know what you mean, Grandma. 

I can laugh about this now, and I so hope that I’m not alone in doing this. Maybe not to the what-was-I-thinking, ridiculous extreme that I did, but I KNOW there’s someone out there that “just wanted to see what it tasted like”, too. 😉    

Thank goodness the outcome tasted NOTHING like what it did “straight up”! Lesson FINALLY learned and I will NEVER do that again. EVER. 

But BOY was this buttery rum, caramel-y sauce delicious! I simply just played with my regular homemade caramel sauce, and I think I opened a VERY large door for more experiments! And I am not referring to tasting extracts, not even if someone challenged me with choice of “Chucky Cheese” coupons for free pizza. Even I would brave a slice of mystery meat pizza with 300 screaming 6 year olds before doing that again.  

This truly did end up tasting just like my favorite Life Saver candy when I was a little girl, though. The Butter Rum flavored ones! Sinfully rich, creamy, and the perfect treat over a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream! Or any flavor that goes well with caramel! Whatever flavor you choose, you’ll love how delicious, and easy, this topping is to make! It solidifies in the fridge, so just give it a little heat in the microwave in a separate dish, just until creamy again, and you can use this over pies, cakes, cookies, bars or whatever your heart decides, really! So get a batch made soon and make a gallon of ice cream for a truly decadent and royal treat! 🙂 Enjoy all, and talk to you soon! 😀  

 *Photo in canning jar was taken after cooling but before refrigerating.

Rich and Creamy Butter Rum "Life Saver" Ice Cream Topping

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) real butter
• 1 (packed) cup dark brown sugar minus 1 Tbl.
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. butter-rum flavored extract
• 1/2 tsp. butter flavored extract
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Melt butter, dark brown sugar and salt in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Simmer and stir for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add extracts and heavy cream and continue stirring, scraping bottom and sides of pan, for 3-4 minutes to ensure sauce is creamy and no more sugar grains remain. Set aside to cool.

When cool, pour into glass jar or container, and refrigerate. When completely cooled, cover tightly. *Sauce will be quite thick after refrigerating.

Rewarm only what’s needed in a small bowl in microwave for 25-30 seconds on about 60% heat. Or until creamy, and completely warmed. Stir well at intervals as needed. Serve warmed over ice cream.

Notes

*I always like to pack the brown sugar, then remove 1 Tbl. to ensure a nice creamy sauce that's never grainy. Make sure you fully reheat sauce for creaminess as well.