Description
Classic homemade hard candy creates sweet memories of childhood treats. Simple ingredients and careful techniques help you craft delightful sugary confections that delight family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup (160 ml) light corn syrup
- ¾ cup (180 ml) water
- ½ tsp flavoring extract (such as peppermint, cinnamon, or fruit flavors)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat, dusting lightly with confectioners sugar to prevent sticking.
- Sugar Syrup: Merge sugar, corn syrup, and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves completely. Position over medium-high heat and allow mixture to reach a rolling boil without stirring.
- Temperature Monitoring: Attach a candy thermometer and heat syrup until it precisely reaches the hard crack stage at 300F to 310F (150C to 154C), maintaining vigilant observation.
- Flavor Infusion: Remove from heat and quickly integrate flavor extract and food coloring, stirring gently to ensure even distribution throughout the molten mixture.
- Candy Formation: Pour liquid candy onto prepared baking sheet, tilting carefully to spread uniformly while exercising caution due to extreme heat.
- Cooling and Setting: Let candy cool undisturbed at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, allowing complete solidification.
- Fragmentation and Storage: Crack the hardened candy into irregular pieces using a mallet or sturdy spoon, then transfer to an airtight container to preserve freshness and prevent moisture absorption.
Notes
- Maintain Precise Temperature: Watch candy thermometer closely; overheating causes bitter taste and potential burning, while underheating prevents proper candy formation.
- Handle Molten Syrup Carefully: Use heat-resistant gloves and work slowly to prevent severe burns from extremely hot liquid sugar mixture.
- Prevent Sugar Crystallization: Stir gently during initial sugar dissolving stage and avoid scraping sides of pan to ensure smooth, clear candy texture.
- Select Appropriate Flavor Extracts: Use concentrated, high-quality extracts that can withstand high temperatures without losing intensity or developing off-flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 21
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg