Description
A classic hard tack candy recipe yielding flavorful, colorful candy chunks perfect for gifting or snacking. This recipe guides you through boiling sugar syrup to the hard crack stage, adding vibrant colors and your choice of oil flavorings for a customized sweet treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3¾ cups sugar
- 1½ cups light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon food coloring
- 1 bottle oil flavorings (variety of flavors)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: Combine the light corn syrup, sugar, and water in a non-stick pan placed on the stove over medium heat.
- Dissolve Sugar: Stir the mixture gently until the sugar is completely dissolved, then stop stirring to avoid crystallization.
- Boil Mixture: Allow the mixture to come to a rolling boil. Attach a candy thermometer and wait until the temperature reaches 260 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add Coloring: At 260 degrees, carefully add the food coloring without stirring; let the boiling liquid mix the color evenly.
- Reach Hard Crack Stage: Continue boiling until the temperature reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit, then remove the pan from the heat and stop the boiling.
- Flavor Candy: Add the oil flavorings and stir gently using a wooden spoon to incorporate flavor.
- Pour and Set: Pour the hot candy mixture onto a large cookie sheet that is either well-greased or dusted with powdered sugar. Let it cool at room temperature without refrigeration.
- Break Candy: Once completely set, use a knife or another sturdy object to break the candy into chunks.
- Coat Candy: Place the broken chunks into a Ziploc bag with 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar and shake well to coat and prevent sticking.
Notes
- Ensure the candy thermometer is calibrated correctly for accurate temperature readings.
- Do not stir the mixture once boiling starts to prevent crystallization and grainy texture.
- Use wooden or silicone utensils for stirring to avoid damaging non-stick surfaces and hot candy.
- Cooling should be done at room temperature rather than in the fridge to ensure proper setting and texture.
- Powdered sugar coating helps keep pieces from sticking together and adds a slight sweetness.
- Oil flavorings come in various options such as peppermint, cinnamon, or lemon for customization.
- Handle hot sugar syrup with care to avoid burns; wear oven mitts and use heat-resistant tools.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 70 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
