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!
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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
I don’t think I got it hot enough (the thermometer capped out at 250 so I didn’t know when it reached 300) so it’s not solid, are there any ways I can get it solid? Or do I have to heat it up again and get a new thermometer
Sugar is very finicky, and we find that an accurate thermometer is the best way to ensure it is the right consistency. It sounds like your sugar only made it to the hard ball stage! Definitely pick up a candy thermometer, which will go up above 300°F.
Made this recipe with my friend Walter.
Our friends from Mexico loved it!
JESSE WE NEED TO COOK JESSE
Yo Mr. White, this is good stuff
don’t forget my cut!
Made this with my kiddos and they definitely enjoyed it and so did I.
So happy to hear that!
Mine hasn’t hardened after about 5 hrs. I’ve put it in the fridge. We shall see!
Oh no! I hope it works out!
Where did you find the blue raspberry flavor? I haven’t had any luck so far
It’s raspberry, just with blue dye!
Any tips on how to make this clear to make it look like ice? Mine is just a dark yellow. Super easy tho!
Light corn syrup and temperature could be the issue!
Good recipe. Would have worked but I burned the sugar too much. It did not catch fire, thank goodness. I am going to try this recipe again and again until I get it right
Good luck, Josh! I hope this next round is flawless!
The candy thermometer I got was faulty so I didn’t get it hot enough (it’s still not hardened after 11 hours), but I tasted some of the mixture and it was really good (I used lemon extract), so I’m sure this will be great if I can make it right! Lol
Thanks for sharing, Harley!
Love it. Blue peppermint!
Thanks for stopping by, Scott!