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nana's homemade hard candy

(4 ratings)
Smokeygirlxo avatar
Recipe by
Deneece Gursky
@Smokeygirlxo
Miami, FL

Nana taught me how to make this candy many years ago. We would make so many flavors and her candy dishes were always filled with them. I decided to make them with my son and fill our candy dishes like nana did. We made many flavors, the possibilities are endless, rootbeer, peppermint, wintergreen,cinnamon, spearmint, anise,lime,strawberry, orange, you name it you can make it. I match the color food coloring i use to the flavor of the candy. When you make several flavors the candy bowls are just bursting with color, much like a stained glass window. And the candy is bursting with flavor. So easy and fun to make and a great way to fill up those candy bowls like they did in the good ole days.

(4 ratings)

Ingredients For nana's homemade hard candy

  • 3 3/4 c sugar
  • 1 1/4 c light karo syrup
  • 1 c water
  • 1 teaspoon oil flavoring or 1 tablespoon extract flavoring
  • food coloring
  • powdered sugar

How To Make nana's homemade hard candy

  • 1
    Sprinkle cookie sheet with powdered sugar and set aside
  • 2
    Combine sugar syrup and water in a saucepan and continuously stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
  • 3
    Continue to cook without stirring until a candy thermometer reaches 290 degrees. (Between 34 and 45 minutes)
  • 4
    Remove from heat and add food color and oil or extract. (if using oils do NOT inhale over the pot while adding the oil. it is very strong and can take your breathe away)
  • 5
    Pour mixture onto prepared cookie sheet and allow to cool completely. Once completely cooled lay a clean towel over top of sheet and break candy into pieces by taping with a hammer. Sprinkle candy again with powdered sugar
  • 6
    If you are making several flavors and colors like we did, after all the flavors are broken into pieces mix them together and put into candy dishes or bowls for a tasty beautiful stained glass effect.
  • 7
    These make beautiful favors for parties and showers.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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