# Homemade Hard Candy for Kids: Easy and Safe

> Homemade hard candy is sugar, water and corn syrup boiled without stirring to 150°C, then taken off the heat, flavoured and coloured, and poured quickly into oiled moulds. It sets in 30–45 minutes at room temperature.

**American Cuisine · 57 min · 20 servings · 60 kcal per serving**

Sweets are one of the things children love most, but a lot of shop-bought ones are full of preservatives and artificial colours. Here's how to make candy at home with simple ingredients and a method that's fun enough for the children to help with.

## Ingredients

- 2 cups — granulated sugar
- ½ cup — water
- ½ cup — corn syrup
- flavouring
- natural food colouring
- a light oil, for greasing the moulds
- silicone moulds or a tray lined with baking paper
- wooden sticks

## Method

1. **Prepare the moulds** — Lightly oil the silicone moulds or the tray so the candy doesn't stick. If you're using wooden sticks, set them in the moulds now.
2. **The syrup** — In a pan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup. Stir until the sugar has fully dissolved. Then let it boil without stirring until it reaches 150°C — use a sugar thermometer. Without one, drop a little of the mixture into cold water: if it sets into a hard piece that snaps, it's ready.
3. **Colour and flavour** — Once it reaches temperature, take the pan off the heat. Add the flavour and colour quickly and stir fast.
4. **Pour** — Pour the mixture into the moulds quickly, before it sets. Let it cool completely — 30 to 45 minutes — until firm.

## Tips

- Safety: don't let children handle the mixture while it's still very hot.
- Cleanliness: work somewhere dry and clean so the candy comes out smooth.
- Natural flavours: you can use real fruit juice instead of artificial flavourings.
- Storage: keep the candy in an airtight container somewhere dry, away from humidity.

## FAQ

### Do I have to use corn syrup?
It's best because it stops the sugar crystallising, but liquid glucose works just as well.

### Does the candy need to go in the fridge?
No — it sets at room temperature, but it needs to be somewhere dry.

### Can I use fresh fruit juice?
Yes, but add it quickly and in small amounts after you've taken the pan off the heat, or it changes the texture.

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Source: https://hanakoleah.com/en/american-cuisine/homemade-hard-candy-for-kids-recipe
Edited by: Marwa Mohamed
Last updated: 2026-10-30