Australian Honeycomb

Posting this for ZWT II - Australia/New Zealand. Found this today in the Sacramento Bee as submitted by Lisa Brown of Fresno. Although this does not include the chocolate coating, that can easily be added by melting semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave and carefully spreading them on the hardened and cooled Honeycomb. ***NOTE*** for easy cleanup, spray the measuring spoon with nonstick spray before measuring honey and corn syrup.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup water
• 1 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar
• 2  tablespoons honey
• 2  tablespoons light corn syrup (Lyle's Golden Syrup)
• 1  tablespoon baking soda, sifted

Directions

1. In a medium size, heavy bottomed saucepan, combine water, sugar, honey and corn syrup. Clip a candy thermometer onto the inside of the pan. Over medium-high heat, bring mixture to a boil without stirring. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, brush down the sides of the pan to remove any undissolved sugar granules.
2. Continue cooking until sugar reaches 300 degrees (hard crack stage)before removing from heat. Working quickly, add baking soda to sugar mixture and whisk until baking soda is well-incorporated. This may take a few seconds and liquid will bubble up and become foamy.
3. Still working quickly, pour mixture onto a silicone baking mat or a parchment lined baking sheet. The mixture will spread out, puff up slightly and have a porous, shiny surface. Allow to harden for about 20 minutes without touching or moving it. Once cooled break honeycomb into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. It will last 1 to 2 days before it begins to lose it's crunch.
4. Be sure to coat with semi-sweet chocolate chips melted in the microwave before breaking this if you want the lovely confection as served in Australia.