How to Make Candy Stick Tubes

If you have ever wondered how they get powdered candy into stick tubes like Pixy Stix, wonder no more. The process is simple to replicate at home, and you can even make the candy powder from scratch. This is a good project for a group of children about 8 years old. At that age, they will be old enough to understand and help, but they will be young enough to enjoy pouring the candy into their mouths when they are done.

Things You'll Need

• Several plastic drinking straws
• Superglue or hot glue gun with glue sticks
• 1 cup of powdered sugar (do not substitute granulated white sugar)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. citric acid (sour salt)
• 1 tsp. tartaric acid (cream of tartar)
• 2 tbsp. any flavor of unsweetened drink mix (such as Kool Aid or Flavor-Aid)
• Bowl
• 2 small rubber bands per straw
• Spoon
• Funnel with spout to fit inside straw

Instructions

1. Combine the citric acid (sour salt) and tartaric acid (cream of tartar) in a bowl and crush to the consistency of the powdered sugar with the back of the spoon.

2. Add the powdered sugar, baking soda and drink mix to the bowl. Stir to thoroughly combine.

3. Pinch the bottom 1/4 inch of the straw flat, and fold it upward about 1/4 inch. Glue into place with Superglue or a hot glue gun on low heat. You might want to use a rubber band wrapped around the glued portion to hold it in place while the glue dries. Make sure that the glue is away from the fold but still is holding down the end of the straw. Do not crush the main part of the straw when you are gluing it.

4. Place the tip of the funnel into the open end of the straw. Pour one to two teaspoons of candy powder into the straw to fill the straw about 3/4 full.

5. Fold the top end of the straw down and glue into place, pinching the top of the straw to flatten it. Glue it into place, attaching the rubber band to keep it in place until it has dried.

6. Snip one end of the straw off to open the candy stick tube and pour the candy into your mouth, hand or spoon to consume.

References

• Pixy Stix candy recipe