Snow Candy

Submitted by Caromcg

"The Little House books! Didn't you always want to make snow candy as you read & re-read those books? Unfortunately, you're a parent now & a shopper, and there's no way you're spending $15+ on real maple syrup to make a snowy day treat. This recipe is a white sugar version, super yummy, and (fairly) easy. My kids love it, and we generally make it two times per year. A note of caution: Any sugar syrup can be dangerous. This is something I cook on a back burner, and I do the cooking myself (I leave the kids to pick out which baking pans they want to use for collecting snow). The candy itself cools very quickly, and it can be eaten almost immediately. That being said, an adult should help little little kids. "

 

• Ready In: 13mins
• Ingredients: 4
• Yields: 1 1/2 cups
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon juice (jarred, to reduce the change of crystallization)
• 1 teaspoon orange extract (optional, see notes below)

directions

1. Place all ingredients in a heavy bottomed pot, over medium-high heat.
2. Stir as the mixture is heating up, but DO NOT STIR once it starts to boil or simmer.
3. Once the mixture comes to a low boil, gently swirl the pot a few times, but do not stir or jostle the pot. Also, do not put a spoon or etc into the pot.
4. Lower the heat to low/medium. Simmer for 7 minutes, without stirring.
5. Turn off the heat.
6. At the five minute mark, have the kids go collect clean snow in large baking pans.
7. Drizzle the candy syrup over the snow (a tablespoon or two per serving). It will be cool enough to eat within seconds. With young children, be vigilant.
8. This makes enough for five kids to make two or three rounds of snow candy.
9. Clean-up will seem awful - but it's just sugar; Soak everything in warm water, and cleaning will be a breeze.
10. Flavoring note: I use natural orange flavoring extract; this seems to be my kids' favorite. We've also used no flavor (just the sugar with the lemon juice). Flavoring is a matter of preference; any extract will work - vanilla, peppermint, cherry, etc.