Description
Festive holiday spirit comes alive with homemade candy canes, blending peppermint magic and traditional craftsmanship. Sweet memories swirl together, inviting you to create delightful red and white treats that sparkle with seasonal cheer.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup water
Flavoring and Coloring:
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring
Instructions
- Assemble sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar in a robust saucepan, ensuring even heat distribution for uniform sugar dissolution.
- Gradually elevate temperature, monitoring carefully without disturbing the liquid mixture until it reaches precise hard-ball consistency at 265°F.
- Promptly extract saucepan from heat source and incorporate peppermint extract, ensuring thorough integration of flavor throughout the syrup.
- Strategically separate the liquid mixture into two equal portions, introducing vibrant red food coloring to one section for visual contrast.
- Carefully transfer each colored portion onto generously buttered cookie sheets, allowing initial cooling and stabilization.
- When temperature permits safe handling, lubricate hands with butter to prevent sticking and meticulously stretch each candy portion until achieving a lustrous, smooth texture.
- Craft elongated candy ropes by gently manipulating the white and red portions, intertwining them in a spiral pattern to create classic candy cane aesthetics.
- Slice the twisted confection into elegant 8-inch segments, artfully curving each piece to mimic traditional candy cane shape.
- Position finished candy canes on a buttered platter, permitting complete hardening and solidification of the delicate sugar sculpture.
Notes
- Use a candy thermometer for precise temperature control, ensuring the sugar mixture reaches exactly 265°F for perfect texture.
- Work quickly when pulling and shaping candy, as the mixture hardens fast and becomes difficult to manipulate once cooled.
- Protect your hands with thin cotton gloves underneath buttered gloves to prevent potential burns during the pulling process.
- Consider alternative flavors like cinnamon or vanilla for unique candy cane variations that suit different taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg