Everyone loves candy, especially peppermint but did you know that you can make your very own hard peppermint candy. This recipe is super simple and makes really great Christmas gifts to giveaway to friends. Nothing like a sweet treat made with lots of love to make the Holiday season special.

Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups light corn syrup
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp peppermint candy flavoring oil
5-8 drops Liquid Food Coloring
Powdered Sugar
Kitchen Scissors

Directions:
First take a sheet pan and pour enough powdered sugar to cover the bottom of the pan. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat sugar, corn syrup, and water until dissolved. Stop stirring and allow mixture to boil. Once mixture begins to boil, do not touch or stir, let it just sit there and boil. You need to get the temperature of the candy mixture up to 300°F. If you do not have a candy thermometer, like I don’t, then there is an easy way to know if the candy is at the right stage. You are looking for the hard ball stage. To perform the test, lift the spoon out of the candy mixture and watch the liquid fall, as the liquid falls off the spoon if it starts to make strands of hard candy, think cotton candy, then it is ready. Pull the sugar mixture off the stove too early will result in candy not setting up properly.

Once candy has passed the strand test, remove from heat and allow to stop boiling. Once boiling has stopped add in flavoring and color. Mix well. Pour hot candy mixture onto the prepared powdered sugar pan. Allow to cool slightly.

When candy has cooled just a bit but still warm and you are able to handle it, take a pair of scissors and begin to cut off pieces of candy into squares. Coat the cut pieces of candy in the powdered sugar to avoid sticking when placed in a jar.

Place in jars once completely cooled and give to friends for the holiday or you can just eat it all yourself.

*note: you don’t have to use peppermint you can choose any of your favorite candy flavored oils [like butterscotch, grape, etc.]. Candy flavoring oils can be found at craft stores in the baking section, bakery shops, or you can get them off of Ebay like I had to do, just do a search for peppermint candy flavored oil. The bottles will really little because it is an extremely concentrated flavoring. Extracts will not work in this recipe.