Description
A classic homemade hard tack candy recipe featuring a sweet, colorful, and flavorful boiled sugar treat that’s perfect for candy lovers. This recipe guides you through dissolving sugar in corn syrup, boiling to the hard crack stage, flavoring, and breaking into bite-sized pieces for a delightful snack or gift.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3¾ cups sugar
- 1½ cups light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon food coloring
- 1 bottle oil flavorings (a variety)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: Combine the corn syrup, sugar, and water in a non-stick pan over the stove, stirring continuously over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Avoid stirring beyond this point to ensure clarity.
- Bring to Boil: Allow the mixture to reach a rolling boil without stirring. Attach a candy thermometer and when the temperature reads 260 degrees Fahrenheit, add your chosen food coloring. Let the boiling action mix the color without stirring.
- Cook to Hard Crack Stage: Continue boiling until the thermometer reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit, then remove the pan from heat and let the boiling cease naturally.
- Add Flavoring: Stir in your desired oil flavorings gently using a wooden spoon to evenly distribute the flavors.
- Pour and Cool: Pour the hot candy mixture onto a large cookie sheet that has been either greased well or coated with powdered sugar. Allow the candy to cool at room temperature; do not refrigerate as it can cause cloudiness and stickiness.
- Break into Pieces: Once fully set, use a knife or another sturdy object to break the hardened candy into chunks or bite-sized pieces.
- Coat Candy: Place the broken candy pieces in a resealable Ziploc bag with 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar and shake to evenly coat the candy pieces, preventing them from sticking together.
Notes
- Do not stir the sugar mixture once boiling begins to prevent crystallization and ensure a smooth texture.
- Use a candy thermometer for precise temperature control to reach the hard crack stage for perfect hard candy.
- Allow the candy to cool completely at room temperature to achieve the right hardness and clarity.
- Coating with powdered sugar helps keep the candy pieces from sticking together during storage.
- Oil flavorings like peppermint, lemon, or cinnamon enhance the candy flavor; avoid water-based flavorings which may affect texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 60 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
