Quick and Easy Hard Candy (Microwave!)

Lori Lissa's Note:

This is so easy. I have tried different recipes using different amounts of sugar, and syrup, boiling, stirring, boiling, stirring. THIS TOPS THEM ALL. 30 MINUTES TOPS AND YOU HAVE IT!

• Total Time: 27 mins
• Prep Time: 7 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 24.0 candies

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon flavoring (*flavoring may include lemon, vanilla, cherry, almond, peppermint or cinnamon oil or other extract)
• food coloring

Directions:

1. Thoroughly mix sugar and light corn syrup in glass bowl.
2. Cover with plastic wrap.
3. Microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
4. Quickly stir the sugar mixture and then cover with a NEW sheet of plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
5. Remove from microwave and stir. After boiling has ceased, stir in coloring and flavoring.
6. Pour syrup quickly, onto wax paper covered cookie sheet or into non-stick sprayed molds. Cool completely before breaking into pieces.
7. Store in airtight container.
8. Prep time is cooking time, and Cooking time is actually cooling time.

Reviews

[suex3]

This was first attempt at making candy. I was very pleased with this recipe. I did substitute cinnamon extract because I could not find the oil. I do think the oil gives the candy a better taste. I used 1 1/2 Tablespoons of extract and my 4th grader who does not like "spicy", liked the taste.(We are making it to give to her friends for Christmas) I would have preferred a stronger cinnamon flavor. I poured the hot candy onto a foil lined cookie sheet which had 1/4" powdered sugar layer on it. The candy set up quickly and broke easily into bite sized pieces.
This batch yielded about 2 cups of bite sized pieces.

Our second batch, I wanted to double the batch but didn't have enough extract. I had read a review of another hard candy recipe where the reviewer used Kool-Aid packets in place of the flavor oil and coloring. So i used 2 packets of Blue Raspberry Wranglers brand drink mix which I'd mix with a Tablespoon of water. I also added extra blue food coloring. The flavor and color of this batch came out perfect. But so far it had yet to harden all the way. It has been about 2 hours since I poured this mixture out and it is still bendable. After looking back at another recipe, I think I should have put the mixture back in for a 3rd round of 3minutes. I tested my first batch, dropping a small amount into cold water and seeing it harden immediately. Should have tested my second batch! My daughter likes the candy the way its chewy right now, so it won't go to waste!

Sorry to be long winded but maybe my post will help someone else trying to make hard candy for the first time!

[alwayslookn4newfoods]

EPIC FAIL!!!..i put the candy on the waxed paper lined cookie sheet as told to and the candy melted the wax on the paper and stuck to it..my son was so disappointing wont be trying this one again off to Michaels to get candy molds

[sissy sue]

This did not work for me at all. The first time I tried it, and put it in for the second time, It burned before the 3 min.. The second time I tried a batch, I put it in for 3 min, then 2 min. but it didn't turn out right. I used pineapple, as that is the kind of hard candy my hubby loves, but it didn't taste anything like pineapple. I always use the micro when I make most things, never have used the top of the stove, but guess I will have to do it that way next time.