3 3/4 c White sugar
1 1/2 c Lily white syrup (or Karo,
-must be colorless)
1 c Water
-food coloring
-oil based flavorings (I
-use Wilton's)
-tin foil
10 c -icing sugar (can be used
-over and over)
-sharp pair of scissors
-candy thermometer
Mix the white sugar, white syrup, and water in a
medium sized pot. Add the food coloring you want
(green for spearmint, orange for orange) Bring to a
boil, and boil until candy thermometer reaches 300F
degrees. (Can take up to 20 minutes) Stir to mix all
the ingredients, but once it starts to boil, do not
touch. Pot must be big enough to allow for double, as
it rises as it boils
While the candy mixture is boiling, shape a large
piece of tin foil by folding up the sides and ends.
(I use the large foil about 3 feet long) to create a
large cookie sheet type shape. Put the icing sugar on
the foil to completely cover it, and bank up the sides
with icing sugar.
When the candy mixture has reached 300F, remove from
heat. Let sit about 10 seconds and stir to cool
slightly (heavy emphasis on SLIGHTLY) Then add about 1
to 1-1/2 tsp of the oil based flavorings depending on
how strong you want the flavor. Stir until mixed (may
boil a bit and DON'T stand over top of pot as flavor
with escape in the air and up your nose!! 8-} ) Once
flavoring is combined, pour mixture onto the icing
sugar and use rubber spatula to scrape all mixture out
of pot. Put pot,spatula and candy thermometer into
sinkful of hot soapy water. If you allow it to harden
you won't be saying nice things about me at all!! 8-}
As candy is cooling, keep checking by trying to pull
up the edges. Once it gets to the consistency that you
can lift it a little, start cutting it FAST! I cut off
a chunk and then cut it up into bite-sized pieces. The
outside will cool first so you have to watch it. If
it hardens to quickly you will end up with a good size
lollipop that you won't be able to cut. It will
shatter like glass. Continue working your way around
until all is cut. Then I take all the candy and put it
in a strainer that is sitting over a bowl. Shake some
of the excess icing sugar off candy and allow to cool
thoroughly. Pack in airtight containers. I find
Zip-Loc Freezer bags pretty good. This recipe makes
about 2 lbs candy. Once I have done all the flavors
that I want, then I set up all the bags and put about
10 of each flavor into a smaller zip-loc and seal.
They make great Christmas gifts for family and all the
various people you give to....mailman, garbage man,
paperboy, school teachers, your kids friends..etc. I
figure if the kids have to help me cut, they get some
to give to their friends.. Besides.. makes a good
bribe to get them to help!!
