Things You'll Need:
- Stove
- Cookie sheet
- 4-quart saucepan
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- Candy thermometer
- 1/2 to 1 tsp. of flavoring
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. of food coloring
- Metal spoon
- Hammer
- Powdered sugar
- Bag
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Step 1
Grease cookie sheet well. If you want, you can dust the pan with powdered sugar to help prevent sticking.
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Step 2
In a 4-quart saucepan or larger, mix together sugar, water and corn syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Monitor the temperature with a candy thermometer, but don't let the thermometer touch the bottom of the pan.
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Step 3
Add flavor and coloring at around 260 to 270 degrees F. This will allow the boiling action to do the mixing for you.
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Step 4
Continue to heat the mixture until it reaches hard-crack stage. This occurs between 300 and 310 degrees F. At this point, most of the water will have boiled out of the mixture, leaving a thick syrup.
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Step 5
Pour the mixture onto the greased cookie sheet. Use a metal spoon to spread evenly.
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Step 6
Break the candy into pieces. Once the candy is dry, place a towel over it and hit it softly with a hammer through the towel. You can coat your hard tack candy in powdered sugar if you desire. Just place the sugar in a bag, add the candy and shake gently.
