Peppermint Rock Candy
"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup." - Buddy
I remember one Christmas my grandmother showed up to our house with 20 different flavors of homemade rock candy. I think she must of bought every extract on the baking aisle and spent days making candy. Since that Christmas gives me a dose of Christmas nostalgia, especially now living in a country where candy canes are non-existant.
Besides the simplicity of this recipe, I love its versatility. Say your best friend is have a wedding shower and her colors are mustard yellow and burnt sienna, just buy some food coloring and a few different flavor extracts and make beautiful matching candy. Daughter wants a purple and pink party. Boom- treats are sorted.
Peppermint Rock Candy
Ingredients
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup (or make your own)
1/3 cup water
1/3 teaspoon of peppermint extract
Red food coloring (optional)
powdered sugar
Directions:
Sprinkle 18x24 inch strip of heavy foil or parchment paper with powdered sugar.
Mix sugar, corn syrup, and water in a sauce pan.
Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Boil without stirring until 310 degrees or until it makes hard and brittle threads in water. (See picture below.)
Remove from heat and stir in extract and coloring.
Pour onto foil, cool, and then break into pieces.
Special Note: A candy thermometer is ideal, but if you don't have a candy thermometer close-by do the cold water test. Spoon a teaspoon of candy into a cold (not icy) bowl of water. When the candy makes brittle threads that snap easily you have reached the "hard-crack stage." The candy will need to boil for a good 20+ minutes to reach desired temperature.
