How to Make Taffy Candy

Taffy pulls, or making taffy candy, used to be a family activity done shortly after the sorghum molasses was processed. Making taffy is not hard, but it is messy. Hands must be greased so that the candy ball can be worked before it becomes a solid mass. While making taffy can be done by a single person, it's much more fun to make it a party and invite several people to join in.

Things You'll Need

• Cutting board or large cookie sheet Butter or oil for greasing the board or cookie sheet Large saucepan 1 cup molasses 1/2 cup regular granulated sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar (light or dark) 1/3 cup water Candy thermometer 2 tbsp. butter 1/4 tsp. baking soda Pinch of salt 1 stick softened butter Buttered knife or scissors Waxed paper

Instructions

1. Grease a cutting board or large cookie sheet with butter or oil before starting the taffy.

2. Combine the molasses, regular sugar, brown sugar and the water in a large saucepan.

3. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring to blend the ingredients.

4. Let the mixture boil, unstirred, until it reaches 260 degrees. This is known as the candy stage and the temperature can be determined by the use of a candy thermometer.

5. Remove from the heat and add 2 tablespoons butter, the baking soda and the salt.

6. Stir to quickly incorporate the ingredients and dump the candy onto the greased cutting board.

7. Use the softened butter stick to liberally grease your hands.

8. Begin folding and stretching the taffy between your hands as soon as it is cool enough to touch.

9. Continue to pull and stretch the taffy until the taffy changes into a significantly lighter color.

10. Shape the taffy into a short rope length.

11. Twirl the taffy to make the rope longer. The easiest way to twirl is to manipulate the taffy rope much as you would a jump rope.

12. Continue to twirl until the rope is consistently 1 inch thick.

13. Lay the twirled rope back on the buttered cutting board.

14. Use the knife or scissors to cut the taffy into 1 inch pieces.

15. Wrap the candy pieced into squares of waxed paper.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make various flavors of taffy by adding in 1 teaspoon of vanilla, or other flavored extract, after you remove the taffy from the heat. Even though the taffy may be cool enough for an adult to work, it may take a few minutes longer for it to be cool enough for a child's hands. You might want to do the initial pulling yourself and let the kids do the final pulling after the taffy has cooled more.