Glass Candy
If you’re looking for a fun, colorful treat to make this holiday season, glass candy is a perfect choice! This simple recipe produces vibrant, translucent shards of sweet candy that look just like stained glass. Not only does it taste delicious, but it also adds a pop of color to your dessert table or makes a delightful homemade gift.
Glass Candy
Making glass candy is much easier than it looks, and it’s a great project to do with kids or friends. With just a handful of ingredients and a few steps, you can create a sweet treat that’s as pretty as it is tasty. Plus, you can customize the colors and flavors to match any theme or occasion, making it a versatile recipe you’ll want to keep in your arsenal.
Whether you’re using red and green for a festive Christmas vibe or experimenting with other hues for birthdays and celebrations, glass candy is a show-stopping treat. Let’s dive into this easy-to-follow recipe and get started on creating your own edible masterpiece!
What Is Glass Candy
Glass candy is a type of hard candy known for its translucent, shiny appearance that resembles shards of glass. Made from a simple mixture of sugar, water, and corn syrup, it’s boiled to the “hard crack” stage (300°F) to achieve its signature texture. After it hardens, the candy can be broken into pieces, making it perfect for snacking, decorating desserts, or using as a unique edible gift.
Glass candy can be customized with food coloring to create vibrant, jewel-like hues and flavored with extracts such as peppermint, cherry, or lemon to suit different tastes. It’s especially popular during the holidays for its festive and decorative qualities.
What You Will Love About This Recipe
Vibrant and Eye-Catching: The candy’s stunning translucent colors make it a beautiful addition to any celebration. Whether you’re going for classic red and green for the holidays or a rainbow of hues for a party, this treat is sure to impress.
Simple Ingredients, Big Impact: With just sugar, water, corn syrup, and food coloring, you can create a sweet treat that looks like it came straight out of a candy shop. No need for fancy equipment—just a thermometer and a little patience!
Fun and Customizable: Glass candy isn’t just tasty; it’s an opportunity to get creative. Change up the colors, try different food-grade flavorings, or even sprinkle edible glitter for a little extra sparkle. It’s a recipe that lets you put your own twist on a classic.
Perfect for Gifting: Wrapped in a clear bag or nestled in a festive tin, these colorful candy shards make wonderful homemade gifts that feel both thoughtful and personal.
How to Make Glass Candy
1. Line your pan with wax paper. Lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar. This step will help remove the wax paper a bit easier later.
2. In a saucepan, over medium heat, pour in the sugar & water.
3. Stir.
4. Add the light corn syrup & food coloring.
5. Keep stirring until the thermometer reads 300 degrees F. Should take about 8-10 minutes.
6. Once the Candy reaches 300 degrees, quickly pour the mixture into the pan.
7. Repeat for each additional color.
8. Cool for about 30 minutes or until candy has fully hardened.
9. Carefully lift the Candy off of the wax paper.
10. Break into pieces. We used a meat tenderizer.
11. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
12. Enjoy.
Tips & Tricks
- Use a Candy Thermometer: Precision is key when making glass candy. A candy thermometer ensures you reach the exact temperature of 300°F, which is the “hard crack” stage. If it’s not hot enough, the candy won’t harden properly; too hot, and it could burn.
- Work Quickly: Once the mixture reaches the right temperature, pour it into the prepared pan immediately. The candy cools and hardens fast, so there’s no time to dawdle. Have everything ready before you start cooking.
- Prevent Sticky Situations: Lining your pan with wax paper and sprinkling it with powdered sugar makes removing the candy easier. Don’t skip this step, or you might find yourself wrestling to peel candy off the pan!
- Experiment with Colors and Flavors: While the classic red and green are perfect for the holidays, feel free to get creative. Add a drop of peppermint, cherry, or lemon extract to complement the colors, or mix in edible glitter for a magical touch.
- Break Candy Safely: When it’s time to break the hardened candy, place it on a cutting board and use a meat tenderizer or the back of a spoon. Cover it with a piece of wax paper first to avoid shards flying everywhere.
- Store Properly: Keep your glass candy in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing moisture, which can make it sticky. Add a small packet of silica gel (food-safe) or a sprinkle of cornstarch to help keep it fresh.
- Be Careful with Heat: This recipe involves boiling sugar, which can cause serious burns. Use a long-handled spoon for stirring, and keep kids and pets out of the kitchen while you’re cooking.
FAQs
How do you get the hard candy residue out of your pan?
It is normal to get hard candy residue stuck to the side of your pan. You will want to fill it with hot water and let it sit. The sugar will dissolve and you will be able to pour it right out. If that doesn’t work you can always bring your water to a boil in the pan on the stove and it will loosen from the pan.
Glass Candy
Stained Glass Candy is a holiday favorite. It is simple, delicious, and easy to make. All you need is a few basic ingredients and a cooking thermometer to make this classic holiday treat in no time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- wax paper
- cooking thermometer
- red food coloring
- green food coloring
Instructions
Line your pan with wax paper. Lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar. This step will help remove the wax paper a bit easier later.
In a saucepan, over medium heat, pour in the sugar & water.
Stir.
Add the light corn syrup & food coloring.
Keep stirring until the thermometer reads 300 degrees F. Should take about 8-10 minutes.
Once the Candy reaches 300 degrees, quickly pour the mixture into the pan.
Repeat for each additional color.
Cool for about 30 minutes or until candy has fully hardened.
Carefully lift the Candy off of the wax paper.
Break into pieces. We used a meat tenderizer.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 200Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 13mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 0gSugar: 52gProtein: 0g
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
