Description
This Hard Tack Candy recipe offers a classic, homemade treat with customizable flavors and colors. It's a simple process involving boiling sugar and corn syrup to the hard crack stage, then cooling and breaking into chunks for a delightful, crunchy candy experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3¾ cups sugar
- 1½ cups light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon food coloring
- 1 bottle oil flavorings (a variety)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Mix corn syrup, sugar, and water in a non-stick pan on the stove, ensuring the ingredients are well combined before heating.
- Dissolve Sugar: Turn the heat to medium and stir continuously until all the sugar is completely dissolved, then stop stirring to avoid crystallization.
- Boil Mixture: Let the mixture come to a rolling boil. When a candy thermometer reaches 260 degrees Fahrenheit, add your food coloring without stirring to allow the boiling to mix it naturally.
- Reach Hard Crack Stage: Continue boiling until the temperature reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit, then remove the pan from heat and let the boiling stop on its own.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in your preferred oil flavorings gently with a wooden spoon to incorporate the flavors evenly.
- Pour and Set Candy: Pour the hot candy mixture onto a large cookie sheet that is either well-greased or coated with powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Allow the candy to cool at room temperature, avoiding refrigeration.
- Break into Chunks: Once the candy is fully set and hardened, use a knife or suitable object to break it into chunks.
- Coat Candy: Place the candy chunks in a ziplock bag with 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar and shake well to coat all pieces, preventing sticking.
Notes
- Use a candy thermometer to accurately reach the hard crack temperature (300°F) for the perfect texture.
- Do not stir after sugar has dissolved to prevent crystallization and ensure a smooth candy.
- Cooling at room temperature ensures proper hardening; avoid refrigerating as it may cause cracking or sticky candy.
- Coating with powdered sugar helps keep pieces from sticking together during storage.
- Oil flavorings come in various flavors; choose your favorites such as peppermint, lemon, or cinnamon for customization.
- Use a non-stick pan to make cleanup easier and prevent burning the sugar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
