Creating a homemade Hard Candy Recipe with a few simple ingredients is effortless. This recipe can be easily modified to make various flavors and colors.
It is so easy to make homemade hard candy. I think you will be surprised how few ingredients you need and how quick this is. You don’t need any experience, and even beginners can make this candy recipe.
I have been making Old Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe and Cool Whip Candy for over 5 years. You might want to try those as well for more candy making fun.
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Why We Love This
This sweet and delicious candy recipe is a breeze to make. I love that you can use different flavorings and food coloring. Each bite has the perfect amount of sweetness.
Old Fashioned hard candy is such an easy recipe and really fun to make. I love to make this for gifts because it’s inexpensive but so delicious. You can change the color or flavoring for Christmas, Valentine’s Day or any holiday season.
Ingredients
- Granulated Sugar and Corn Syrup. The simple combination of sugar, water and corn syrup make a wonderful candy.
- Flavoring oil. I used Lorann Oils in Watermelon flavor, but you can use the flavor you prefer.
- Powdered sugar. Sift before using so it is smooth and without lumps.
- Food Coloring. This is optional. I did not use it as the flavoring oil gave the candy a pretty red color. If you do use this, make sure to use gel food coloring or liquid food coloring so it is easy to drop into the mixture.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Get your cookie sheet ready by lining with aluminum foil or a silicone baking mat. You can also spray with cooking spray including the sides of the pan. Then dust with powdered sugar.
Step 2. Use a medium saucepan and stir together sugar, water and corn syrup using medium heat. Bring to a boil until sugar dissolves.
Step 3. Let the mixture boil for 10-12 minutes or until the candy reaches 310 degrees using a candy thermometer. Watch the mixture closely as this may vary. It took my mixture 12 minutes to reach 310 degrees or the hard crack stage.
Step 4. You will need to immediately remove from heat. Then allow to sit for 1 minute until the mixture is calm and there isn’t any boiling action. Then add ½ teaspoon of flavoring oil and combine. If you are using food coloring, also add that now until it is the desired color.
Step 5. Once combined, quickly pour the mixture on the prepared baking sheet before the mixture starts to solidify. Use a rubber spatula to smooth the mixture evenly.
Step 6. Once it is smooth, sprinkle the remaining confectioners’ sugar on top of the candy.
Step 7. Let the candy mixture set for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then break into small pieces using a mallet or end of the rolling pin.
Step 8. Serve and enjoy this delicious hard candy.
Storage
Store the candy inside an airtight container at room temperature in a cool dark area. Don’t store it in the refrigerator as condensation will make the candy sweat.
Pro Tips
- Flavoring. You can use flavor oils or extract. However, flavoring oils will have a stronger flavor than extracts. Different flavors of oil vary in strength. Adjust the amount based on the strength of what you are using. For example, cinnamon is stronger than watermelon flavor.
- Food Color. Food coloring is optional. The flavor oils will result in different colors of candy, but you can intensify the color with food coloring. I did not use food coloring but if you prefer a darker color, add it to the mixture.
- Double the recipe. If you plan to give this for gifts, I suggest doubling the recipe to make a larger batch of candy. It is a fairly small batch of candy so you may want to double the recipe if serving for a party too.
- Sugar Crystals. If you see sugar crystals start to form on the pan, wipe off with a wet pastry brush.
- Score the candy. You can use a large knife if desired to score the candy before it sets. Then once hardened break into pieces along the lines.
- Candy molds. You can also use candy molds to make this homemade candy. Just make sure to thoroughly spray with cooking spray.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most grocery stores carry LorAnn Flavoring Oils. They may not be in the baking section depending on the store. At Walmart, they are usually in the craft section with specialty baking items.
You can use anything you prefer. Some ideas include cinnamon, orange, cherry, lemon, grape, peppermint, butter rum and more.
Soak the pot and utensils until the sugar mixture is dissolved.
I do not recommend this. This will change the final taste and texture of the candy.
The most likely culprit is the candy mixture did not reach 310 degrees. It is important to use a candy thermometer to check the temperature accurately. If you do not have a candy thermometer, you can drop a small amount of the candy syrup into cold water to see if it forms brittle threads.
More Easy Candy Recipes
Please try this easy recipe for Hard Candy. It is so delicious and a ton of fun to make. Leave a comment and star rating once you try it.
Hard Candy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon flavoring oil I used Lorann Oils Watermelon
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Food Coloring optional
Instructions
- Prepare a small sheet pan with foil or a silicone baking mat. Dust with powdered sugar.
- Combine the sugar, water and corn syrup in a medium saucepan using medium high heat. Bring to a boil.
- Allow to boil for 10-12 minutes until the candy reaches 310 degrees using a candy thermometer. It took my mixture 12 minutes.
- Immediately remove from heat and allow to sit for 1 minute. The mixture should be calm and no longer bubbling.
- Add flavoring oil and combine. If you are using food coloring, also add that now until it is the desired color.
- Quickly pour the mixture on the prepared pan before the mixture starts to solidify. Use a rubber spatula to smooth the mixture evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining powdered sugar on top of the candy.
- Allow to set for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Break into pieces using a mallet or end of the rolling pin.
Recipe Video
I had never made candy before and this was really easy. I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great.