Homemade Hard Candy is easy to make and really easy to customize to whatever flavor and color you want! This hard candy recipe will become a favorite in your family.
Line cookie sheets (it's best to use cookie sheets that have a lip) with silicone liners, parchment paper, or aluminum foil. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and set aside.
Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a saucepan and continuously stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
Once dissolved, insert a candy thermometer to the pan (it should rest about an inch from the bottom of the pan) and continue to cook, without stirring, until the thermometer reaches 295°F. It should take around 35-45 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add food coloring and oil/extract. Eyeball the coloring to get the color you want.
Pour mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet and allow it to cool completely (approximately 30 minutes).
Once cooled, lay parchment/wax paper over the candy and gently tap with a hammer/meat tenderizer/mallet to break into pieces.
Sprinkle candy with powdered sugar & toss to coat.
Repeat process for each flavor/color you're making.
Video
Notes
Each batch makes a cookie sheet worth of candy, which you break up into whatever size pieces you want. So, it makes a lot.
Oil flavoring will be more potent that extracts.
Do not lean over the pot as you add the oil. The steam will be strong.
You can use candy molds or suckers with this recipe as well.
Up to 1 teaspoon of the oils can be used, depending on how strong you want the flavor. Extract flavors will be much milder so you'll need to use more (1 Tablespoon).
Possible combos:
Strawberry oil (1 teaspoon) with red food coloring.
Lemon oil (1 teaspoon) with yellow food coloring.
Orange oil (1 teaspoon) with orange food coloring.
Spearmint or wintergreen oil (1/2-1 teaspoon) with green food coloring.