Easy Homemade Hard Candy: Quick and Colorful Sweet Treats
Homemade Hard Candy: A Classic, Customizable Treat
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Hard candy is the perfect bite-sized indulgence when you crave a crisp, colorful burst of sweetness. This easy recipe lets you experiment with flavor extracts, vibrant food colorings, and holiday-themed molds to create a sugar masterpiece every time.
Why You’ll Love This Hard Candy Recipe
- Quick & Simple: Ready in under an hour, including cooling.
- Fully Customizable: Pick any extract—peppermint, cherry, lemon, or more.
- Gift-Worthy: Perfect for holiday favors and party treats.
- Family Fun: Kids love watching the candy transform from syrup to snaps.
Ingredients for Classic Hard Candy
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon flavor extract (vanilla, peppermint, or fruit flavors)
- 5–10 drops food coloring of choice
- Cooking spray
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Hard Candy
- Grease a cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium heat.
- Stir gently until the sugar dissolves, then clip on a candy thermometer.
- Allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it reaches 300°F (the hard crack stage).
- Immediately remove from heat, stir in flavor extract and food coloring until fully blended.
- Carefully pour the hot syrup onto the prepared cookie sheet, spreading thinly.
- Let cool completely at room temperature (about 30 minutes).
- Break the cooled candy into pieces using your hands or a rolling pin.
Tips for Perfect Hard Candy Every Time
- Use a reliable candy thermometer—accurate temperature is key.
- Work quickly once the syrup hits hard crack, as it sets fast.
- For multicolored candy, pour stripes of different hues side by side.
- Store in an airtight container to keep pieces crisp and prevent moisture.
Enjoy the satisfying snap, brilliant shine, and endless flavor possibilities when you share your homemade hard candy.
Original recipe credit: Allrecipes Hard Candy Recipe.
Homemade Hard Candy
Hard candy is the perfect bite-sized indulgence when you crave a crisp, colorful burst of sweetness. This easy recipe lets you experiment with flavor extracts, vibrant food colorings, and holiday-themed molds to create a sugar masterpiece every time.
Ingredients
Method
- Grease a cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium heat.
- Stir gently until the sugar dissolves, then clip on a candy thermometer.
- Allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it reaches 300°F (the hard crack stage).
- Immediately remove from heat, stir in flavor extract and food coloring until fully blended.
- Carefully pour the hot syrup onto the prepared cookie sheet, spreading thinly.
- Let cool completely at room temperature (about 30 minutes).
- Break the cooled candy into pieces using your hands or a rolling pin.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
