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A macro shot of jewel-toned hard candies, showcasing the glassy texture achieved with the old fashioned hard candy recipe.

Homemade Hard Candy Recipe (The Ultimate Beginner's Guide)

Learn how to make beautiful, glassy hard candies at home with this foolproof Homemade Hard Candy Recipe. Perfect for beginners, with tips for flavoring, coloring, and troubleshooting.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 24 candies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 70

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Granulated Sugar
  • 2/3 cup Light Corn Syrup
  • 3/4 cup Water
  • 1 teaspoon Flavoring Oil e.g., LorAnn super-strength
  • 4 drops Food Coloring or to desired color

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-Bottomed Saucepan
  • 1 Candy Thermometer
  • 1 Candy Molds or Baking Sheet
  • 1 Pastry Brush

Instructions
 

  1. Lightly grease candy molds or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Have your flavoring and coloring ready.
  2. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir together the sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Clip a candy thermometer to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Do not stir after this point.
  4. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the saucepan.
  5. Continue boiling until the thermometer reads exactly 300°F (149°C).
  6. Remove the pan from the heat. Once the bubbling stops, carefully stir in the flavoring oil and food coloring.
  7. Working quickly, pour the syrup into prepared molds or onto the baking sheet. Let it cool completely at room temperature until hard (about 30-45 minutes).

Notes

Avoid making candy on a humid day, as it can cause the final product to be sticky.
Store cooled candies in an airtight container with a light dusting of powdered sugar to prevent sticking.
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