Hard Candies

🕓 Mar 19, 2024
🏷️
  • #dessert
  • Ingredients

    • 430g (2 cups) sugar
    • 3.5g (1/2 tsp) cream of tartar
    • 100g (1/3 cup) water
    • 100g (~1/3 cup) syrup (maple, corn, or honey)
    • flavouring, for example:
      • 1 - 2 tsp fruit extract, eg. raspberry or lemon
    • (Optional) food colouring

    “Pop rock” variant

    As above, but:

    • Substitute liquid extract flavouring for 2-4 tbsp of freeze dried fruits as flavouring, ground into a power
      • Do not mix into sugar solution immediately

    Mix together the following and quickly beat in just after the sugar solution reaches a hard crack:

    • 12g (2 tsp) citric acid
    • 10g (1 1/2 tsp) baking soda
    • Flavouring powder

    Pour the resulting mixture into a single layer on a frozen, lined baking sheet.

    The goal is to trap the CO2 bubbles in the sugar solution. After pouring onto sheet, do not use a scraper to spread it around.

    Optionally, sprinkle more citric acid onto the candy before it sets.

    Instructions

    1. Prepare a pan for pouring the candy
    • Use a silicone mat
    • Or, Oiled and covered with powdered sugar
    • Or, parchment paper may work
    1. Ina a high walled pot, combine sugar and cream of tartar, water, syrup, and flavourings
    2. Start heating sugar mixture over medium until the temperature reaches a hard crack, about 148C (300F)
    • If crystals for on the side of the pan, remove by wiping with a wet pastry or silicone brush
    1. Pour on to prepared pan and pull with a baking scraper until it stars to set smoothly
    2. Let cool for 60 minutes
    3. Break up as desired