How to Make Homemade Rock Candy

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1Gather the ingredients and materials. Aside from sugar, you'll need four 12-ounce Mason jars or one quart-sized Mason jar, wooden skewers or strings, and clothespins. For the smaller jars, you'll use one wooden skewer (or string) for each. You can suspend several skewers in the larger jar. You'll suspend skewers (or strings) in the jars using clothespins.
2. 2Clean the jars thoroughly with hot water. Set aside.
3. 3Generously sprinkle a flat, rimmed plate with granulated sugar. Dip each skewer halfway into a glass of water and roll it in the plate of sugar to coat. This base layer gives the sugar crystals something to grab when they start forming. Set these aside to dry while you prepare the sugar syrup.
4. 4Place the 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil on medium-high heat. Add the 6 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup at a time, stirring to dissolve before adding the next cup. You'll notice that it takes longer for the sugar to dissolve after each cup is added. Continue to stir, boiling the syrup until all of the sugar has been added, and it's completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat.
5. 5If you're using colors or flavorings, add 2 to 3 drops food coloring and stir it in to ensure an even, smooth color. Add only 1/2 teaspoon flavoring oil, or 1 teaspoon flavoring extract. Make sure you don’t stand right in front of the pan because the scent can be very strong as it rises in the steam.
6. 6Allow the sugar syrup to cool for 20 to 30 minutes.
7. 7Quick-rinse the prepped jars with hot water, then pour in the warm syrup.
8. 8Lower 1 reserved sugared skewer into each jar of syrup, using the clothespins to suspend it over the mouth of the jar about 1 inch from the bottom.
9. 9Carefully place your jar in a cool place, away from harsh lights, where it can sit undisturbed. Cover the top loosely with plastic wrap or a paper towel.
10. 10You should start to see sugar crystals forming within 2 to 4 hours. If you see no change after 24 hours, try boiling the sugar syrup again and dissolve another cup of sugar into it. Then, pour it back into the jar and insert the skewer again.
11. 11Allow the rock candy to grow until it is the size you want. Don’t let it grow too large; otherwise, it might start growing onto the sides of your jar and you won't be able to remove it easily.
12. 12Note that a top layer of crystal will form. This is OK. Once the candy has reached the desired size, gently break that top layer of crystal up with a fork, then remove the candy.
13. 13Transfer the rock candy to an empty jar or glass with the clothespin suspending it, and allow it to dry for 1 to 2 hours.
14. 14Serve and enjoy, or wrap in plastic wrap to save for later.