How to Make Rock Candy
Rock candy is a favorite treat for most children and adults who are really fond of something sweet. The entire process of creating rock candy can take up to a week as the sugar crystals take their time to grow. In order to make several pieces of rock candy you will need multiple jars as well as skewers.
Tools to Prepare Rock Candy
You won't require a lot of tools to make rock candy. The basic tools that you would require are:
- Cups to measure sugar and water
- Pencil
- Cotton thread or wooden skewer
- Ice cream sticks
- A medium size pan
- Glass jars
Basic Ingredients for Rock Candy
- 2 cups water
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- &fract12 – 1 tsp flavoring extract or oil (optional)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Glass jar
- Skewer or thread
Steps for Preparing Rock Candy
Step One
First you need to prepare your basic material before you get started with the main preparation. Take a glass jar and wash it thoroughly with hot water so it is totally cleaned up. Measure a length of thick cotton thread which should be a few inches longer than the height of the jar and then tape it to a pencil.
Step Two (if using a thread)
Now place the pencil across the lip of the jar. Start winding the pencil until the thread is hanging about 1 inch from the bottom of the jar. Fasten the paper clip right at the bottom of the thread and ensure it hangs perfectly down.
Step Three
Dampen the thread or the wooden skewer if you use one and roll it in the granulated sugar. This layer would form a basis on which other sugar crystals can grab on to when they start forming. Place the thread or skewer aside to set or dry and start preparing the sugar syrup.
Step Four
Take a medium sized pan and start boiling water in it. You can start adding sugar one cup after another and stir after you add each cup. Keep stirring until the sugar has disappeared. Once this has happened then remove the pan from the heat.
Step Five
In case you are using flavors and colors then this would be the right time to add them. Two to three drops of food coloring would be enough for a rich color.
Step Six
You must now allow the sugar syrup to cool down. Then pour it into the jar which was prepared earlier and lower the sugared thread or skew until it hangs at just about 1 inch from the bottom.
Step Seven
The next thing to do is to carefully place this jar in a cool and secure place. The jar should be placed away from direct sunlight. Cover the top of the jar with a plastic wrap or even paper towel.
Step Eight
Within a time span of 2 to 4 hours, you can start to see crystals forming. In case you see no changes at all after about 24 hours then boil the sugar syrup again and try dissolving another cup of sugar. Once again, pour it back into the jar and place the string again.
Step Nine
The rock candy should gradually grow. Once it has reached a substantial size remove it from the jar. Don't allow it to grow too much as it would start growing into the sides of the jar and then it would be difficult to remove.
