Clear Toy Candy
List of Ingredients
Several people have asked how to make traditional clear toy candy. It
is so simple that anyone can do it, but remember it is dangerous so no
small children please.
You will need: a pan, a candy thermometer, clear corn syrup, sugar, and
water. No flavoring please - that is why it has a unique flavor. You
may also add a small amount of red food coloring and if you are not very
traditional you may use green food coloring which came into use in the
1920's. If you add no coloring it will turn out a beautiful amber.
I try to use a ratio of two parts solid to one part liquid, but for your
first batch use more liquid. It just takes longer and the liquid must
boil off before it will reach the proper temperature so err on the side
of too much liquid at first.
In a pan put 1/2 cup of clear corn syrup, one cup of sugar, and put 1/2
cup of water on top of the sugar and make sure the sugar is thoroughly
moistened. Stick in the candy thermometer and put the mixture on the
stove. DO NOT STIR! Heat to 310 degrees and if you have the sugar
thoroughly moistened it will look like boiling glass. If you have too
much sugar for the liquid you used it will not be clear. When the
mixture reaches 300-310 degrees, pour into molds generously coated with
olive oil (any oil will work, but olive oil leaves no taste). Hold the
molds together with heavy duty rubber bands and place the greased molds
on a cookie sheet. If you don't have any molds, you can oil a cake pan
and pour the mixture about 1/4 inch deep and score with a knife as it
hardens so it will break into bite size pieces. Its takes about five
minutes or so to harden in the molds and as it does I add sticks to make
it easier to eat. I wrap them in small plastic bags which you can get
wherever they sell candy making supplies. Remember you can't mess this
up - if you put in too much corn syrup or water it will just take longer
to reach the desired temperature. After your first batch, you'll never
measure anything again.
I should have pointed out that this candy seems to be one of the most
traditional Pa. Dutch Christmas candies. I make about 2000 lollypops
each Christmas, and it is the one thing I think the older you are the
more you enjoy it - maybe because of the memories it brings of Christmas
past.
Recipe
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