Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Homemade Candy Canes

I have never tried this recipe but it sure looks like a fun activity to do during the Christmas season and the kids will love you. Who doesn't like candy canes? Try this recipe for a very tasty Christmas candy treat!

Ingredients:

1 cup of corn syrup
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
½ teaspoon peppermint oil
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
Red food coloring
Powdered sugar
A metal cookie sheet
A metal saucepan

Prepare your cookie sheet

Sprinkle your cookie sheet with a single layer of powdered sugar. This will sweeten your candy and keep it from sticking to the sheet.

Combine your ingredients.

Add your cup of corn syrup, cup of sugar, and ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar to your one cup of water in your metal saucepan. Stir to combine them thoroughly.

Heat your ingredients.

Heat the saucepan containing your sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar and water over medium heat until it reaches the soft crack stage which is between 270 degrees and 290 degrees Farenheit. At this stage, your mixture should form hard threads which are pliable when removed from the water.

Add your peppermint flavoring and coloring.

Once your mixture has reached the soft crack stage, add a half teaspoon of peppermint oil. Divide into two parts and add 2 drops of red food coloring to half of the mixture.

Pour your mixtures.

Pour your red and white mixtures in strips onto your powdered cookie sheet. Allow your strips to cool until you just cool enough to handle.

Form your candy canes.

Roll your strips into rolls and twist one red roll with one white roll. Form a "u" shape at the top and lay them out on the powdered cookie sheet to dry. Your candy canes will harden as they cool.

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