Sugar Cages (A La " Bridget Jones")

• Ready In: 23 mins
• Yields: 4 sugar cages

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 2⁄3 cup light corn syrup
• 1⁄2 cup water
•  cooking spray

Directions

1. Put sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Insert a thermometer and cook the sugar mixture until it reaches 311°F.
3. Remove from the heat and pour into a medium microwaveable bowl.
4. Lightly coat bowl that matches whatever you're placing the sugar cage over with cooking spray.
5. Dip the prongs of a fork into hot sugar.
6. This is the hard part: carefully but quickly wave the fork over the inside of the bowl, allowing the sugar to drip off fork in long, thin strands.
7. Try to do the strands evenly on the sides and bottom of the bowl.
8. Making sure to come all the way to the rim, but not so thick that you can't see the bowl through the sugar.
9. Using a sharp knife, slice the edge of the cage clean by scraping the blade of the knife along the rim of the bowl.
10. Let cool for 5 minutes.
11. To get the cage out: place your thumbs on the outside of the bowl and your fingers on the inside of the sugar cage.
12. Gently pull the cage loose from the side and bottom of the bowl.
13. Apply this same pressure all around the inside of the bowl.
14. After the cage out of the bowl place it over the dessert.
15. WARNING: If the sugar is still too warm, the cage will begin to collapse.
16. You should let the cage cool completely first before removing it.
17. This will make sure it keeps its shape.