When most people hear about candies made at home, they most likely think of chocolate candy. But, there are many more different kinds of candy that can be made at home such as rock candy, truffles, bonbons, lollipops, and so much more.
There are a variety of candies you can make at home, but one of the easiest is rock candy. You simply tie a thick cotton thread to a pencil and place it across the lip of a jar. The thread should be hanging about one inch from the bottom of the jar. Attach a paper clip to the bottom of the thread to weigh it down and ensure it hangs straight. This is just to find the height of the thread. You need to wet the thread and roll it in granulated sugar. This base layer will give the sugar crystals something to “grab” when they start to form. Set the thread aside to dry while you prepare your sugar syrup. Find a recipe and follow it to make the sugar. When it is ready, you just need to pour it into the jar then lower the sugared string into it until it hangs about one inch from the bottom. Cover the top of the jar with a paper towel. You should start to see sugar crystals forming within 2-4 hours. Allow the rock candy to grow until it is a good size but not too large or it might start growing into the sides of your jar. It is that simple.
Another simple recipe that you can use to make hard candy such as lollipops requires a combination of granulated sugar, corn syrup, and water. All you need to do is combine the 3 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups of corn syrup, and 1 cup of water into a saucepan. Heat the combination over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. You need to stir the mixture as it melts together, and then raise the heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil it without stirring until the candy thermometer reads 300 degrees Fahrenheit. You can then remove the pan from the heat. If you want, you can add additional flavoring or food coloring at this point in the process, and mix it carefully. Pour the candy mixture into hard candy molds but make sure that you do not touch the candy mixture because it will be very hot and burn you. You can add the lollipop sticks if you want and let the molds cool on the counter until the candy is completely set and cooled. When the candy is cool and hardened, turn the mold over and gently pop the candy out of the mold onto wax paper on top of a soft surface such as a towel. You can then wrap your candies creatively in cellophane.
The secret to making hard candy come out perfectly is to make sure that you boil the sugar solution until the thermometer reads 300 degrees Fahrenheit. If the sugar solution is not boiled to the right temperature, the candy could not harden all of the ways, and you might be left with a gooey mess. Another thing that could contribute to this is if you stir the sugar solution for too long after it has reached the optimal temperature. To avoid this risk, have your flavoring and coloring already mixed in a small bowl. After you remove the sugar solution from the heat, pour the flavor and color mixture into the pot quickly and stir it until all of the colors are even. You should only stir the solution for two to four seconds.
Although making candy is a fun experience, if you are a beginner, you should start with one of the more simple candy recipes. Once you have mastered the art of candy making, you will have the confidence and experience to move on to more challenging recipes.
