Post Title: Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy Recipe
Total Time: 40 Minutes (Preparation: 10 minutes, Cooking: 30 minutes)
Introduction
Welcome to the delectable journey of making your own candies. Today’s recipe is the amazingly tantalizing and appealing, Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy. Its fiery intensity combined with a sweetness so profound, it’s certainly bound to give you a tantalizing taste experience like no other.
Why make this recipe
Homemade tastes always the best. Not only can you control the ingredients, but also customize the taste as per your preference. Also, it’s fun and surprisingly simple to make.
How to make Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy
Here is what you will need to make the Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy:
Ingredients
– 2 cups granulated sugar
– 2/3 cup light corn syrup
– 3/4 cup water
– 1 tsp cinnamon oil
– 1/2 tsp red food coloring
– Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Directions
1. Prepare a 15×10 inch baking sheet by lining it with foil and sprinkling a light layer of powdered sugar over it.
2. In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir this mixture continuously over medium heat until all the sugar has dissolved.
3. Now attach a candy thermometer to the pan and let the mixture boil untouched until it reaches 300°F or the hard crack stage.
4. Once it does, quickly take it off the heat and stir in the cinnamon oil and red food coloring. Be careful as the steam can be intense.
5. Pour this hot candy mixture onto your pre-prepared baking sheet and let it cool down completely.
6. When the candy has hardened, you can break it into pieces either by hand or with a clean kitchen mallet.
7. Finally, sprinkle some powdered sugar over the pieces to prevent them from sticking together.
How to serve Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy
Once your candy is dusted and ready, serve it in a beautiful candy dish or put them in a jar for gifting. These make perfect treats for festive seasons.
How to store Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy
To store the candies, put them in a sealed jar or a ziplock bag and store at room temperature. The powdered sugar coating prevents them from sticking together.
Tips to make Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy
Look out for the hard crack stage carefully. Overcooking may result in the candy being bitter. Also, be quick in adding and mixing the cinnamon oil and coloring once off the flame to retain the flavor and vibrant color.
Variations
For a fun variation, try adding a bit of orange zest or swap out the red food coloring with green for a festive twist.
FAQs
1) Can I use any other flavor apart from Cinnamon?
– Yes, feel free to replace cinnamon oil with peppermint oil or any other oil of your choice.
2) What to do if I don’t have a candy thermometer?
– You can do the cold water test. Drop a little syrup into cold water. If the syrup becomes brittle and cracks easily, it’s reached hard crack stage.
3) Are these candies safe for kids?
– Yes, they are safe but due to their hard texture, they are not recommended for very young children.
Enjoy the sweetness of homemade candies with these step-by-step instructions to make your own delightful Red Hot Cinnamon Hard Candy.