Hard Tack Candy

Category: Candies
  • 3 cups sugar (600 g)
  • 1 cup corn syrup (330 g)
  • 1.5 cups cold water
  • 3/4 tsp. candy flavor/oil (a 1-dram bottle)
  • food coloring (see notes below)
  • mineral oil
  • powdered sugar (for dusting)
  1. Lightly coat an aluminum pan or marble slab with mineral oil.
  2. Add sugar, corn syrup and water to a medium saucepan and stir to combine.
  3. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Do not stir after candy reaches 212°
  4. Continue cooking until it reaches 300º. This can take 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in flavor/oil and coloring.
  5. Pour onto oiled pan, cool a few minutes and cut into little squares with pizza cutter. Separate after fully cooled.
  6. Coat pieces with powdered sugar.

Notes on LorAnn Flavor/Oils

  • Cherry flavor contains red color, but not enough. Add red color.
  • Root beer flavor contains very light brown/amber color. Add brown color.
  • Grape flavor contains sufficient purple color.
Published Dec 21, 2020 and last updated Dec 11, 2022.