Christmas Candy

I think making Christmas candy is one of the best traditions our family has. It has passed from generation to generation, picking up new recipes along the way. Some of my favorites include:

Bessie Thorpe’s Fudge
Double Decker Fudge
Peanut Butter Cups
English Toffee
Caramels
But today, I needed to come up with something really fast. I needed something with color to fill in a space next to the fudge, so I whipped up Cinnamon Hard Tack Clear Candy. It’s the easiest of all the candies to make. Here’s a tutorial, if you care to try it.

Mix all together in a heavy pan: 3 1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup Karo Syrup, 1 cup water, stir to mix and then don't stir it again.  Bring to a boil and cook until it reaches the hard crack stage (300 degrees).  Use a candy thermometer.

While waiting for this to happen, spread tin foil on a cookie tin.

When the mixture reaches the hard crack stage, remove from heat and gently stir in 1 tsp. cinnamin oil and several drops of red food coloring--more or less depending on the color of red you want.

Pour the entire mixture evenly onto the cookie tin and let cool completely.

 Then sprinkle powdered sugar over it with a sieve.

Now take the heavy end of a table knife or a hammer and crack the cooled candy into pieces.



I love this nativity set my sister, Kathy, gave me years ago.

 Other ideas for flavors and colors: green, licorice; blue, anise