Festive Hard Candy Recipe for Holidays Recipe
This Hard Candy Recipe for Holidays is a classic, vibrant treat perfect for festive occasions. Made with simple ingredients like sugar, water, corn syrup, and flavored with festive extracts and colors, these candies are easy to prepare and great for gifting or sharing at holiday parties. The candies are coated with powdered sugar to prevent sticking and add a touch of sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 40 small candy pieces 1x
- Category: Candy
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup water
- ⅓ cup clear corn syrup
Flavor and Color
- 42 drops Food coloring (liquid works best); Green 22 drops, Red 20 drops
- Flavoring extract (peppermint, vanilla, etc.) or flavor oil (strawberry, cotton candy, etc.), quantity to taste
Finishing
- Powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- Prepare the Candy Pan: Grease a baking sheet lightly or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Have it ready before you start cooking the candy mixture.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium heavy saucepan, combine granulated sugar, water, and clear corn syrup. Stir gently to mix the ingredients without splashing sugar onto the pan sides.
- Cook the Mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir continuously until the sugar dissolves completely. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan without touching the bottom.
- Boil to Hard Crack Stage: Bring the mixture to a boil without stirring. Allow it to reach 300°F (149°C), which is the hard crack stage. This ensures your candy hardens properly.
- Add Color and Flavor: Remove the pan from heat immediately after reaching the desired temperature. Quickly stir in food coloring drops (green and red as specified) and your choice of flavoring extract or flavor oil. Stir well to distribute evenly.
- Pour and Shape: Carefully pour the hot candy mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Let it spread thinly. Allow the candy to cool slightly until firm but still pliable, then score or break into pieces as desired.
- Coat with Powdered Sugar: Once cooled completely, dust the hard candy pieces with powdered sugar to prevent them from sticking together.
- Store: Store the candy in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh and crisp.
Notes
- Use a candy thermometer for precise temperature control to avoid undercooking or burning the candy.
- Work quickly when adding coloring and flavoring because the candy hardens fast.
- Use gloves to handle candy when shaping or scoring to avoid burns.
- Store candy in a dry place to prevent it from becoming sticky or melting.
- Powdered sugar helps prevent sticking but can be substituted with cornstarch if desired.
Keywords: hard candy, holiday candy, homemade candy, peppermint candy, festive sweets, sugar candy, candy recipe