How To Make Rock Candy

Children crave sweets and if any of you remember your childhood then you would know how you have craved for those delicious candies. You would also remember how all the children used to crowd around the candyman and can you still picture the delight in those eyes? But now all these are memories and your children now have to indulge in candies either in a fair or in supermarkets. Candymans are an extinct lot. However, children have their sweet tooth and they must be indulged. Imagine their euphoria if you can conjure up some rock candies, right in the house, as a special treat. Or a birthday treat with homemade candies that can put even the unruly ones toeing the line. And the delight in their eyes would be unmatched. This would then be your treat. So, if you are planning to do such, then read the article below to learn more on how you can make a rock candy.

Rock Candy Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups water
4 cups granulated sugar
1/2-1 tsp flavoring extract or oil
Food coloring
Glass jar
Cotton thread

Preparation

Wash the glass jar in hot water and using a dry cloth clean it.
Take a thick cotton thread, which is a couple of inches longer than the jar.
Tie this thread to the middle of a pen or pencil and place it across the jar lid.
Wind the thread in the pencil until it hangs about 1 inch from the bottom of the jar.
Weigh the thread down with a paper clip so that it hangs straight.
Now wet the thread and roll it in granulated sugar. The thread will be the layer on which the sugar crystals cling to. Set it aside to dry.
In a pan take the water and set it to boil. Add sugar to the water, a cup at a time and stir vigorously after each addition. Keep on boiling until all the sugar has been added with continuous stirring. After the sugar has been dissolved, remove the pan from heat.
To the sugar syrup, add the colors or flavorings. When adding favoring oils, stand a little apart from the pan and put in half a tablespoon of the oil. You can also add one teaspoon of any extract. Then add three drops of food coloring and mix it.
Keep the sugar syrup aside for 10 minutes to cool and then pour it into the jar. Put the string with the granulated sugar inside and keep it at least one inch above the bottom.
Place the jar in a cool place, which should also be shaded. Keep the jar’s top covered with a paper towel. The jar should not be disturbed.
In two to four hours, the sugar crystals will start forming. If it does not happen then the sugar syrup must be boiled again and extra sugar must be added. Pour it again into the jar and put the thread.
The more you keep it, the more rock candy will grow in size. Take care not to make it too large as it may spill out of the jar. Once the desired size is achieved, remove the rock candy and leave it for a few minutes to dry.
Have immediately or wrap it in plastic.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Art & Entertainment'