For family fun about 1 week ago we made candy crystals. You can make them, too. You will need adult supervision because this requires cooking water and sugar on the stove.
Supplies needed:- 1c. water
- 3c. white granulated sugar
- 3 drinking glasses
- 1 wooden spoon
- food coloring in desired colors (optional)
- 3 pieces of cotton cords, measuring 8 to 10 inches each
- 3 Popsicle sticks, or pencils will work, too
- 1 small plate
- 1 sauce pan
Mix together the 1 cup water with 2 cups of sugar in the sauce pan place on stove . Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it boils, or bubbles rapidly. (Keep children away from this part.)- Keep stirring 'till the sugar dissolves. The water will look clear again. Then add the remaining sugar a little at a time. Do this 'till no more sugar will dissolve.
- Turn the heat off on the stove. Let the mixture stand to cool for 15 minutes. Have the adult pour the mixture into the glasses. At this point add in the food coloring.
Now tie 1 end of the cotton cord around the sticks. Next lay the sticks across the top of the glasses (we used mugs; I don't recommend them because it was hard to get the crystals out). Let the cords hang into the mixture.- The crystals will start to form in about one day (ours was a little faster than 24 hours). Now pull the cords out of the glasses and lay them on a plate to harden and dry out.
Just so you know, ours had a hard time coming out of the cup. I do not recommend mugs; real tall glasses work best. So I scooped everything out and laid it on a cookie sheet that had been covered with plastic wrap and put a child's toy block under one end so the crystal could form and the excess liquid could run to the other end. The end results are in the pictures; it still worked, just a different way of doing it. This way took about 2 1/2 days to dry out . Then I just picked up the plastic wrap and all the crystals peeled off so nicely and I placed them in a crystal bowl.
This would be nice as an Easter, Birthday, Mother's Day, St. Patrick's Day or Valentine treat.
DO NOT USE THIS TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!
You know those fancy sugar swizzle sticks? i wonder if you could suspend those instead of the string. Is that how they are formed?
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Sweet treat indeed. The lovely colors that these treats come in truly serves the purpose of being a holiday candy. Well, I guess it's so simple that I can actually try it out at home for this year's St. Patrick's Day. Do drop by my blog too coz I too have many interesting posts that you would love to read.
ReplyDeleteWould the crystallization be ruined if you added flavoring agents,such as cinnamon powder or mint extract? I think a mint crystal stick would be great in hot or iced tea, and a cinnamon one good in coffee.
ReplyDeleteWould the crystallization be ruined if you added flavoring agents,such as cinnamon powder or mint extract? I think a mint crystal would be great in hot or iced tea, and acinamon onegood in coffee.
ReplyDeleteWould the crystallization be ruined if you added flavoring agents,such as cinnamon powder or mint extract? I think a mint crystal stick would be great in unsweetened hot or iced tea, and a cinnamon one good in hot coffee.
ReplyDeleteSorry I don't know the answer to that
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