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Magic Candy Recipe

4.9 from 93 reviews

This Magic Candy Recipe is a delightful homemade treat that transforms simple ingredients like butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and baking soda into colorful, hard candy shapes using cookie cutters. Perfect for festive occasions or a fun project with kids, this recipe guides you through melting, boiling, and setting the candy to harden using classic stovetop techniques and simple kitchen tools.

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 3 drops food color (optional)
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 cup corn syrup

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Cookie Cutters: Lightly grease the insides of eighteen 2-inch open metal cookie cutters with butter. Place the greased cutters onto a buttered baking sheet and set aside to prevent sticking when pouring the candy mixture.
  2. Mix the Ingredients: In a heavy 1-quart saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and baking soda. Cook over medium heat while stirring occasionally for 6 to 7 minutes until the mixture comes to a boil.
  3. Cook the Candy Mixture: Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking without stirring for about 20 minutes, or until a candy thermometer registers 280°F (hard crack stage), or a small drop in ice water forms a hard brittle strand. This step ensures the candy will harden properly.
  4. Add Food Coloring: Stir in three drops of food coloring at this point, if desired, to give your candy a vibrant color.
  5. Shape the Candy: Carefully pour approximately 1 tablespoon of the hot candy mixture into each prepared cookie cutter on the baking sheet, filling them evenly.
  6. Cool and Harden: Allow the candy to cool completely inside the cookie cutters. The mixture will harden into solid candy shapes as it cools.
  7. Remove and Serve: Once fully cooled and hardened, gently remove the candies from the cookie cutters. Your homemade magic candies are now ready to enjoy!

Notes

  • Use a candy thermometer to ensure the mixture reaches the correct temperature for proper hardening.
  • Be extremely careful when handling hot sugar mixture to avoid burns.
  • Lightly greasing cookie cutters is crucial to prevent sticking and facilitate removal of the candies.
  • The baking soda reacts with the mixture to create a light texture in the candy.
  • Food coloring is optional but adds a fun visual appeal.
  • Store candies in an airtight container to keep them crisp.

Keywords: magic candy recipe, homemade candy, hard candy, stovetop candy, brown sugar candy, candy with cookie cutters