Homemade Candy Canes

By littlefish

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon peppermint or spearmint extract
• 6 drops red or green food coloring

Details

Servings 16
Adapted from hostedmedia.reimanpub.com

Preparation

Step 1

Grease two baking sheets with butter; set aside. In a large saucepan, bring the sugar, water, corn syrup and cream of tartar to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 280° (soft-crack stage).
Remove from the heat; stir in extract and food coloring. Immediately pour onto prepared pans in eight 8-in. strips. Let stand just until cool enough to handle, about 1-2 minutes.
Working quickly, roll each strip into a 10-in. log. Cut each into two 5-in. lengths. Curve the top of each to form the handle of a cane. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 16 canes.

Editor's Note: We recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bringing water to a boil; the thermometer should read 212°. Adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on your test.