Salt Water Taffy
Source of Recipe
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Recipe Link: http://www.kitchenlink.com/cookbooks/2004/0811839605_3.html Soon after the Atlantic City Boardwalk was built in 1810, enterprising
merchants in the area sold boxes of taffy candy to tourists who
promenaded along the ocean. This souvenir confection has been popular
along the Jersey Shore ever since, and is still made today in countless flavors.
Salt Water Taffy
3/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter, plus more for hands
1 teaspoon flavored extract (see Note) such as peppermint or vanilla
powdered sugar for dusting
Combine the water and salt in a heavy saucepan.
Stir in the sugar, cornstarch, and corn syrup and cook over medium heat,
stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar dissolves,
about 3 minutes.
Stop stirring, and continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture
reaches 265 degrees F on a candy thermometer, or when a small amount
forms a firm but not hard ball when dropped in a glass of cold water.
Stir in the butter and pour the hot syrup onto a greased cookie sheet.
Sprinkle the extract over the poured candy syrup.
With a spatula or candy scraper, begin working the hot syrup by scraping it
toward the center of the cookie sheet, getting under it, lifting and turning
the mixture until it is cool enough to handle.
Grease your hands with butter or vegetable oil and begin pulling it up with
your fingers into a length no more than 18 to 20 inches. Keep folding it back
on itself and pulling out again. The taffy will be very sticky at first, but as
you work it for about 10 minutes it will become opaque and firm.
When ridges form as you pull, gather the taffy together, pullout several
ropes about 12 to 14 inches long, and let them fall on a clean surface that
is lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Cut the ropes into 2-inch pieces, and
wrap each piece in a square of wax paper. Store in an airtight container for
up to 3 weeks.
Makes about 1 dozen pieces
Note: You can flavor taffy with flavored extracts such as anise, lemon, orange,
peppermint, and winter- green. Look for extracts in large supermarkets or purchase
them online from baking supply companies.
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