We are going to feature this month on the blog, recipes that can be used as Christmas gifts!
Why not save some money and give a gift that is truly from your hearts and made with your own hands!
OLD TIME HARD CANDIES
2 cups white Karo Syrup
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. flavoring oil
6 drops food coloring (to match chosen flavor)
In a heavy saucepan with deep sides, combine Karo syrup and sugar. Boil to hard crack stage (300-310°F on a candy thermometer).
Remove pan from heat and add flavoring oil (orange oil, lemon oil, cinnamon oil, peppermint or spearmint oil, etc).
Add a food coloring to match the chosen flavor (yellow for lemon, red/orange for orange, red for cinnamon, green for mint).
Carefully pour mixture into a well buttered or oiled pan. Allow to cool long enough so that the candy may be scored into small pieces by running a buttered knife through without the mixture running together.
When candy has cooled completely, break the scored sections into pieces. Store in a cool dry place in an airtight container.
Caution: Sugar mixtures are VERY hot and will cause severe burns. Have a bowl of ice water close by, just in case.
My sister-in-law Lisa and I made similar candy (I believe our recipe was a Martha Stewart one)for Christmas a few years in a row. It was our tradition!We made candy sticks. It was so much fun and worked best with TWO people because the candy mixture does get SUPER SUPER SUPER hot and in making sticks you have to actually use your hands to nead the dough.
ReplyDeleteMany memories, lots of fun, delicious candy and great gifts!!
I think I am going to text her now and tell her we are bringing it back!