Rock Candy is such a fun treat to make and eat for holidays, parties, or any fun occasion. Learn how to make rock candy at home for something special to share with the family. I chose to make raspberry-flavored blue rock candy, but you can make any color or flavor you like with this quick-and-easy rock candy recipe!
What’s in this Rock Candy Recipe?
This easy recipe shows you how to make rock candy sheets in about an hour. It’s a fast way to make it, and you can make any color or flavor with this method.
- Water: Helps to dissolve the sugar into solution.
- Light Corn Syrup: Helps prevent sugar crystallization. It contains glucose, which interferes with the formation of large sugar crystals, resulting in smoother and smaller sugar crystals that are characteristic of rock candy.
- Granulated Sugar: This is the main ingredient that will form the candy. As the sugar solution cools and evaporates, the sugar molecules come together and form crystals.
- Flavoring Extract: I used raspberry, but you can use just about any flavor!
- Food Coloring: I used blue, but feel free to choose any color or leave your candy plain.
Pro Tip: I had a reader comment that a great way to keep them from sticking is shaking them in powdered sugar before sealing them in an airtight container. Genius!
Variations on Rock Candy
You can choose any color and flavor combination you like! Try green candy for St. Patty’s Day (with lime or sour flavor), orange and black for Halloween, or red with strawberry flavor for Valentine’s Day. The possibilities are endless!
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
Rock sugar is a type of sugar that is produced in the form of irregular lumps and is slightly less sweet than regular sugar. Rock candy, on the other hand, is created by crystallizing sugar into a hard candy.
With this method, making rock candy takes only 20 minutes, plus cooling time (usually 30-45 minutes for it to harden).
The main things you’ll need to make this recipe are a kitchen scale (although this is optional), a baking sheet, and a candy thermometer.
Yes, brown sugar will work, but be aware that it will give your candy a brownish hue that may be more difficult to color. It could also lead to a slightly bitter flavor if overcooked.
You can use regular water-based or gel food coloring.
Yes! Temperature is super important! You’ll need to bring your sugar to the hard crack stage, which is 300°F; otherwise, it will not harden.
If your candy doesn’t harden, even after sitting for a long time (it should only take 45 minutes, not much longer), it might be that your liquid never got hot enough. It’s important that the temperature reaches 300°F while cooking the syrup. And the best way to make sure it gets hot enough is to use a candy thermometer to check. This is not the time for guessing!
To turn the sheet of candy into small pieces, it’s easiest to use a metal mallet (like a meat tenderizer). Just hit the sheet with it until it breaks into pieces. If you want to make it look more like rock candy, place those pieces into a bag, and use a rolling pin to crush them up even smaller.
How to Store
Place the candy pieces into a resealable bag, pour in some powdered sugar, and shake it up to coat the candy. Do this before storing, and they won’t stick!
I recommend storing this candy at room temperature, ideally in a pantry or cupboard where it is slightly cooler. In these conditions, it will keep well for up to 1 month!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this tasty candy with a fun and colorful drink or cocktail, like lavender lemonade, cherry limeade, blue margaritas, a blue Hawaiian, or a cotton candy martini!
5-Star Review
“Just made this! And it is awesome and so easy! I will actually use this rock candy as the gems in my geode cake later this week! I used lemon extract in mine and it is delicious! Thank you!!” – Lauren
How to Make Rock Candy
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
Ingredients
- ½ cup water 114 grams
- ¾ cup light corn syrup 234 grams
- 2 cups granulated sugar 400 grams
- 2 teaspoons flavoring extract 8 grams (I chose raspberry, but there are lots of flavors to choose from!)
- Food coloring optional (I used blue, but use any color!)
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.½ cup water, ¾ cup light corn syrup, 2 cups granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons flavoring extract, Food coloring
- Stir until boiling. Once the liquid begins to boil, do not stir until finished.
- While the candy comes to a boil, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Once boiling, place a candy thermometer in the liquid and monitor closely. when the liquid reaches 300°F, take off the heat and set aside.
- Allow the mixture to cool until the bubbles quit breaking at the surface of the liquid.
- Pour liquid onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Allow to cool until fully hardened. Then, break apart to the size desired.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Pro Tip: I had a reader comment that a great way to keep them from sticking is shaking them in powdered sugar before sealing them in an airtight container. Genius!
- To turn the sheet of candy into small pieces, it’s easiest to use a metal mallet (like a meat tenderizer). Just hit the sheet with it until it breaks into pieces.
- If you want to make it look more like rock candy, place those pieces into a bag, and use a rolling pin to crush them up even smaller.
- If your candy doesn’t harden, even after sitting for a long time (it should only take 45 minutes, not much longer), it might be that your liquid never got hot enough. It’s important that the temperature reaches 300°F while cooking the syrup.
Nutrition Information
Kids loved the Blue Color and, I used Lemon Flavoring.
Thanks for sharing, Susan!
You can also use this recipe for lollipops
I love baking and making candy I’m trying to teach my grandchildren it doesn’t have to be a an occasion make something everyday
Your grandkids will love it!
I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy this one!
Just made this! And it is awesome and so easy! I will actually use this rock candy as the gems in my geode cake later this week! I used lemon extract in mine and it is delicious! Thank you!!
That sounds awesome!! I’m glad you enjoyed making this!!
How much food coloring did you use? Paste or liquid? Does the color change as the syrup hardens?
Thank you for any help.
This was super awesome I hope it hardens for me if not it’ll be great for rock candy sticks.
How far in advance can I make this and how should I store it?
Hi Amy! I would say maybe one or two days so it doesn’t get sticky, and make sure its in an airtight container. Should be fine! Thanks for stopping by!
Becky thanks very much for this great recipe and helpful hints. The suggestion about checking the thermometer accuracy was right on in my case. My first attempt I made it I cooked it right to 300 degrees and it came out very sticky and flimsy. Upped it to 310 on my thermometer and it came out perfect. Thanks again.
Glad it worked out!!! Thanks for saying hi :)
Mom always shook it in powdered sugar so it didn’t stick together.
Hi, this is great! What kind of raspberry extract display you use?
So awesome! So glad you tried the candy and that it worked well. I can’t believe the show is over either…now what will I obsess about? :)
I agree!!! loved your recipe…I have never made anything like that before and you made it so easy!!
I can’t believe the show is over either. I might start watching it again from the beginning haha!
Hi,
Thanks for the recipe, I’ve tried it but unfortunately the candy didn’t harden, it’s been setting overnight and it’s still in liquid state. One possibility could be that as I did not have a thermometer, I let it boil for a few minutes and then set it aside to cool down. How long does it take from when boiling breaks till it reaches 300? Could this be the cause?
Thanks in advance for any suggestion you may have!
I would love to know the response to this question, I don’t have a thermometer for candy making either… thank you. xxx
Hey guys. This was my first (and only) time making candy, and the thermometer was a huge help. I think that probably was the issue, that it didn’t get hot enough to harden. Here’s a video I found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBwnSZU5Vgo and an article that might help: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4779209_making-candy-thermometer.html Also the original recipe I used is linked in the text of the blog post and it might be helpful. Thanks for stopping by!!