Candy is a favorite during the holidays, parties and celebrations, but it always seems so hard to make from scratch. It also makes great gifts, and if you know make it yourself, it can be a fantastic way to make a personalized gift that is inexpensive, as well. With a little candy making know-how, you can be on your way to making great gifts and special treats for all of your loved ones.
Instructions
Make Homemade Candy
1. Heat the sugar and butter. The whole trick to making good candy is temperature. More to the point, exact temperature. Different candies are made at different temperatures, and the candy you will be making today is one of the most basic: peanut toffee. Toffee is a hard crunchy candy that gets its hard and crunchy consistency from a chemical change that the ingredients go through at a very high temperature. In a medium saucepan, heat the butter and sugar over high heat. Stir this constantly as the butter melts. Do not leave the stove while this mixture is cooking. Clip the candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan, so the tip is in the heating mixture.
2. Get the butter and sugar to the "hard crack" stage. This is the highest temperature stage of candy making, and at this temperature, the sugar crystals break down and reform as they cool, making a stronger, crunchier structure. As your mixture heats up, it will begin to bubble and start to turn from off white to beige to light brown. The mercury will begin to rise quickly on the thermometer. As it gets closer to 300 degrees, Fahrenheit, have half of the peanuts ready. The mixture will turn even darker brown at this point.
3. Add the peanuts. Just as the mixture hits 300 degrees Fahrenheit, remove from heat and add half of the peanuts, stirring immediately to incorporate completely. The addition of the peanuts will cool the mixture and stop it from cooking.
4. Pour into the pan. Once the peanuts are incorporated, pour the entire mixture into the pan, and spread to the edges with a wooden spoon. Let it cool for five minutes.
5. Add the topping. After five minutes, the mixture will have begun to solidify, but will still be very hot. At this point, add the crumbled chocolate to the top. The heat will melt the chocolate. Spread with the back of the wooden spoon. Sprinkle the top with the remainder of the peanuts. Let cool in the refrigerator for at least one hour. After it has cooled, break apart into shards with a knife. This should serve five to six people.
Tags: butter sugar, candy making, degrees Fahrenheit, five minutes, great gifts, half peanuts
