The Contest is Over: Congratulations to Heather for Winning My Candy!
This is a pretty snapshot of my weekend activity which was making hard candy for Christmas. I made Pina Colada, Cinnamon, Watermelon and Anise. I still have plans to make Strawberry and more Cinnamon and Anise since those are our favorite flavors.
Making your own hard candy is easy. You’ll need a thick saucepan, a 7×10 cake pan and a candy thermometer – and the following recipe 
The ingredients: (This makes a small batch)
1 3/4 c sugar
1/2 c water
1/2 c light corn syrup
dash of salt
food coloring
flavoring oil
powdered sugar
Over medium heat, in your saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup and salt and stir until the sugar dissolves. Cover and bring to a rolling boil. Remove lid, place thermometer in pan and cook until it reaches 250 degrees. Add food coloring (about six drops) and continue to cook until 300 degrees. (Pull the pot off the stove when the thermometer reads 290 because the temp will continue to rise a bit.)
Let the pot stand for two minutes, then add flavoring oil. (I use an entire bottle even though instructions say 1/4 tsp) Give it a quick stir with a fork and cover for five minutes.
Pour candy into the cake pan (you should butter or spray the pan first) to cool. When the candy is cool, break it into pieces, first with a hard smack on your counter, then by hitting it with the blunt end of a dinner knife. Once you have pieces the size you want, dust with powdered sugar.
Fill your pot with hot water immediately and let soak to dissolve leftover candy mixture.
Win a Bag of My Hard Candy!
I’m giving away an assorted batch of my yummy hard candy to one sweet commenter – so if you have a sweet tooth, leave a comment for me below and be sure to use a good email address so I can get in touch with you if your name is drawn.
Deadline for comments is Friday, December 19th at Noon Eastern.
22 Responses to “Hard Candy Christmas”
Tricia
1 year ago
Kelly,
Oh it looks so yummy. I don’t know how to make hard candy and my family loves hard candy at Christmas time. I would love to be able to give the a bag full of homemade hard candy this year.
Christi
1 year ago
Oh Kelly it looks so good! I’m not a cook so making this would surely set my kitchen on fire! I would love to win a bag of your handmade candy!
Christine Steendahl
1 year ago
Oh yummy! I would love some! I remember making a similar recipe into suckers when I was in high school – my friend and I even made them for a demonstration speech in English class. fun times! Memories. LOL
Tamara Wilson
1 year ago
This looks yummy and easy to make thanks so much for sharing the recipe. I would love some. The boys love hard candy.
Carmen Gonzales
1 year ago
Well lets see I LOVE hard candy but after my attempt and failure of peanut brittle today, I dont even dare to try your nummy recipe lolol, would LOVE to sample your yummy candy though
Carm
Maiken Jepsen
1 year ago
Kelly, they look so good! Maybe you can start selling candy on the side!
Happy to see you twitter about it I have the biggest sweet tooth.
Good luck everyone
Shannon
1 year ago
Oh I want some. I saw you Twitter about it! lol Yum yum.
Tracy Roberts
1 year ago
This brought back childhood memories. Makes me want to go make some.
Thanks for the recipe. If I get ambitious (or don’t win)I just might give it a try.
Barbara
1 year ago
That looks wonderful, making candy scares me, I can hardly bake and cook as it is.
Erin
1 year ago
Ohhh!!! Cool! I’ve always wanted to do this, now I’ve got a recipe. Sounds simple enough, though I know I won’t have time to do it this year…so I’d love to win yours!
Mara
1 year ago
I’ve never been able to make hard candy so I’d love to win some. I can make a mean fudge, though! This recipe sounds easy enough we might have to give it a try. Now, do I have a candy thermometer? lol
Tara B.
1 year ago
I’ve had bad luck making my own hard candy…I’d ? to just take yours ;O) sounds very-very yummy!
Lesa
1 year ago
when i was a kid we made chocolate candies and caramels, peanut brittle, pralines and divinity to put with my mother’s cheese log for Christmas treats. But we never made hard candy! Looks interesting and sounds wonderful! I would love to try some!
Heather
1 year ago
Wow, those look SO good. I have never had homemade hard candy before so I would be SO happy to win a bag of your hard candy.
Crossing my fingers that I win, lol!
Chris
1 year ago
I have to win those! Ever sense you made my mouth water describing them on twitter, I have had a sweet tooth only your candy can cure…really I have tried with ice cream and cinnamon toast but nada doin the trick to get rid of it!!! Pick me! Pick me! I can’t make this kind of stuff…seriously I burn sweets???
Lauren
1 year ago
I have fond memories of making hard candy w/ my grandmother – though I’m sure we did it differently back then. Your recipe above looks like something I could do – but I’d like to taste yours first!
Looks SO yummy!
Kelly Watson | Womenwise Marketing
1 year ago
Anise flavor … wonder what that tastes like … Anyway, your pics are so pretty! Can’t wait to try the recipe.
Kelly
1 year ago
Anise has a licorice flavor
Yummo!
Tsoniki
1 year ago
I have stayed away from candy and cookies this holiday season – but yum! That candy looks so good. And the recipe looks easy to follow too! I would love to win the candy!
Tishia Lee
1 year ago
Oh YUMMY! I remember when you made it once when I was at your house. It was so GOOD! I totally want to be entered in for the drawing! Although if I win Caleb hates hard candy so that means I’d end up eating the whole bag which isn’t a good thing. LOL
Sharon
1 year ago
I totally indulge my sweet tooth at Christmas. Pina Colada hard candy, a good book and my butt in my favorite love seat…my idea of a near perfect afternoon. I just need to win the candy
Lexi
1 year ago
kelly, you’re incredible! it’s tempting but i really shouldn’t for my family’s sake, lol! good luck to those who are joining!