Christmas Hard Candy Recipe
Description: Make and share this Christmas Hard Candy recipe from lovewithrecipes.com.
Recipe Category: Candy
Keywords: Dessert, Christmas, < 30 Mins, Stove Top
Total Time: 20 minutes (Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes)
Ingredients:
- 4 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Optional: 2-3 drops of oil of cinnamon or peppermint
- Optional: Food coloring
Nutritional Information:
- Calories: 3967.1 per batch
- Fat Content: 0g
- Saturated Fat Content: 0g
- Cholesterol Content: 0mg
- Sodium Content: 21.3mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 1035.4g
- Fiber Content: 0g
- Sugar Content: 880.1g
- Protein Content: 0g
Recipe Yield: 1 Batch
Instructions:
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Mixing and Boiling: Begin by combining the sugar and water in a large saucepan. Stir the mixture well to ensure the sugar is fully dissolved. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Continue to boil until the mixture reaches the hard crack stage, which is 300ºF. You can check this temperature using a candy thermometer.
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Adding Flavor and Color: Once the mixture reaches 300ºF, carefully add 2-3 drops of your preferred oil (cinnamon or peppermint) for flavor. Add a few drops of food coloring to give the candy a festive appearance. Stir the mixture gently to incorporate the flavor and color evenly.
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Pouring the Candy: Prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with aluminum foil. Pour the hot candy mixture onto the foiled-lined cookie sheet, spreading it out as thinly and evenly as possible. Be cautious as the mixture will be extremely hot.
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Adding Powdered Sugar: While the candy is still warm, sprinkle the powdered sugar generously over the top. This will prevent the pieces from sticking together once they cool and also add a delightful touch of sweetness.
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Cooling and Breaking: Allow the candy to cool completely. Once it has hardened, break it into small, manageable pieces using a kitchen mallet or simply by hand. Store the pieces in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
Detailed Breakdown and Additional Insights
The Joy of Homemade Christmas Candy
Creating your own Christmas hard candy is not just about making sweets; it’s about crafting a piece of the holiday spirit. This recipe is perfect for sharing with loved ones or as a festive gift. The simple combination of sugar, water, and powdered sugar transforms into delightful shards of hard candy, evoking nostalgic memories of holiday seasons past.
Ingredient Insights
- Sugar: The primary ingredient, sugar, is essential for the candy’s structure and sweetness. As it cooks, sugar undergoes caramelization, which gives the candy its characteristic hard texture.
- Water: Water acts as a solvent for the sugar, allowing it to dissolve and eventually reach the hard crack stage.
- Powdered Sugar: Sprinkling powdered sugar over the warm candy not only adds a decorative touch but also helps to keep the pieces from sticking together.
- Flavoring and Coloring: The addition of cinnamon or peppermint oil provides a classic holiday flavor, while food coloring adds a festive touch. These are optional but highly recommended for a truly Christmassy experience.
Cooking Tips
- Temperature Precision: Achieving the hard crack stage is crucial. If the candy doesn’t reach 300ºF, it will not harden properly. Using a candy thermometer is the most accurate way to ensure you hit this mark.
- Handling Hot Sugar: Be extremely careful when working with hot sugar syrup. It can cause severe burns. Use appropriate kitchen tools and keep children away from the cooking area.
- Spreading the Candy: Pouring and spreading the hot candy mixture quickly ensures it sets evenly. Using a heat-resistant spatula can help in this process.
Creative Variations
- Flavor Experiments: Besides cinnamon and peppermint, you can experiment with other flavors like vanilla, almond, or even fruity extracts.
- Color Combinations: For a more vibrant candy assortment, divide the mixture into separate batches and add different food colorings to each.
- Shaping the Candy: Instead of breaking the candy into random pieces, you can use cookie cutters to create festive shapes. This works best if you partially cool the candy before cutting.
Serving and Storing
This Christmas hard candy makes an excellent treat for holiday gatherings. Serve it in decorative bowls, include it in festive gift bags, or even use it to adorn a gingerbread house. Store the candy in an airtight container to keep it fresh and to prevent moisture from making it sticky.
The Perfect Holiday Treat
There’s something magical about the process of making Christmas hard candy. From the precise boiling to the creative flavoring and coloring, every step is filled with holiday cheer. Whether you’re a seasoned candy maker or trying your hand at it for the first time, this recipe is straightforward and rewarding. The end result is a batch of beautiful, shiny candy that embodies the spirit of Christmas.
Conclusion
Embrace the joy of the season with this delightful Christmas hard candy recipe. It’s a simple, quick, and enjoyable way to create something special for your holiday celebrations. With just a few ingredients and a little bit of time, you can craft a sweet treat that’s sure to bring smiles to the faces of everyone who tastes it. So gather your ingredients, don your favorite holiday apron, and let’s make some Christmas magic in the kitchen!
