Welcome to our series of three candy making tutorials!  

In other words, we'll start out with something everyone can make, and then transition into more difficult recipes.

Later recipes will require more expertise and special tools like a candy thermometer,

but I'll show you how to make the recipes without one in a pinch as well.

We hope you'll cook along with us!

Safety Tips

Hot sugar is HOT HOT HOT! Never attempt to touch it.

Candy burns easily (and gets lonely). Don't leave heated candy unattended!

Don't bite off more taffy than you can chew - choose recipes you feel comfortable making.

Level: Beginner
Ingredients: Sugar, water, food dye (optional), food flavoring (optional)
Tools: String and pencil or skewers and clothespin, cooking pot, cooking spoon, glass jars

Step One: Sanitize your jars using boiling water, or by microwaving them for 60 seconds. (Make sure the jars you're using are microwavable if you choose to sanitize that way!)

Step Two: Add any measured quantity of water to a pot on the stove, and bring to a boil. You can use as much or as little water as you like, but be sure to measure. The more water you use, the more sugar (and containers and skewers) you'll need, and the more rock candy you will make.

Step Two: Slowly add sugar and mix until it no longer dissolves. You should end up adding about a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio of sugar to water. (So, if you used one cup of water, you'll need approximately 2-3 cups of sugar).

Step Three: When added sugar will no longer dissolve, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool for 20 minutes.

Step Four: Insert a skewer into your glass jar and clip the clothespin across horizontally, leaving the skewer one inch above the bottom of the jar. Alternatively, tie a piece of string around a pencil and lay the pencil across the top of the jar. Cut the string, leaving one inch at the bottom of the jar. Set your skewer/pencil aside.

Step Five: Carefully pour the sugar mixture into the jar, leaving about one inch of space at the top. If using, add several drops of food coloring and flavor oil as per the instructions on these products. Reinsert your skewer/pencil

Step Six: Set your jars aside and wait! Depending on your climate, it will take between 3-7 days for your rock crystals to form.



And that's it!
You've made your first candy!
 Congratulations!