Description
This Magic Candy recipe guides you through making delightful homemade hard candies with simple ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, and water. Flavored with your choice of extract and optionally colored, these candies harden into perfect bite-sized treats dusted with powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Ideal for gifting or snacking, this classic candy recipe is straightforward and fun to make.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon flavoring extract (vanilla, peppermint, etc.)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, and water to prepare the candy base.
- Dissolve Sugar: Cook over medium heat while stirring constantly until the sugar completely dissolves to ensure a smooth candy texture.
- Cook to Hard-Crack Stage: Continue cooking the mixture without stirring, monitoring with a candy thermometer until it reaches 300-310°F (149-154°C), also known as the hard-crack stage, essential for hard candy consistency.
- Add Flavor and Color: Remove the saucepan from heat and quickly stir in your choice of flavoring extract and food coloring if desired to infuse taste and appeal.
- Pour Mixture: Pour the hot candy mixture onto a lightly greased baking sheet or silicone mat, spreading it out evenly.
- Cool and Harden: Allow the candy to cool completely at room temperature until it has fully hardened into a brittle sheet.
- Break into Pieces: Once hardened, break the candy into small bite-sized pieces for serving.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar: Lightly dust the candy pieces with powdered sugar to prevent them from sticking together.
Notes
- Use a candy thermometer for precise temperature control to achieve perfect texture.
- If candy sticks to your hands when breaking, dust your hands or the candy with powdered sugar.
- Store candies in an airtight container to keep them from becoming sticky or absorbing moisture.
- You can customize flavoring extracts and colors to suit holidays or personal preferences.
