Making candy can be a fun activity. Apart from the sweet base ingredients, ready-made candies can have such a delicious taste! There are various ways of making candies with varying degrees of complexity, depending on your interests, from simple types of candy to types of candy that have artistic value. This article contains information regarding various choices of candy-making methods to satisfy your curiosity about making your own candy at home.
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Method 1 of 7: Making Simple Candies
Most simple candies are made from sugar turned into sugar syrup, with flavorings or other additives.
Step 1. Make sugar candy
This type of candy is a simple type of candy that only requires sugar and water as ingredients. Unfortunately this type of candy is not good for dental health, therefore it is better to give this candy as a gift at certain times.
Some variations of simple sugar candy that you can try are maple sugar candy, sparkling sugar candy and Sweet and Low™ sugar candy
Step 2. Make rock candy or crystal candy
Rock candy or crystal candies are a prettier variation of sugar candy. It does take a little more effort to make, though it's not as complicated as you might think. This type of candy is suitable to be presented at parties and celebrations at school. Keep in mind that, despite the name (rock candy), this type of candy is different from the pulled rock candy that will be explained later.
Step 3. Make toffee (candy from caramelized sugar and butter)
Toffee is a simple type of candy that can be eaten directly, or added with added flavoring extracts, nuts, fruits, and other ingredients to produce a different taste. There are several flavors you can try:
- English toffee
- Toffee Almond
- Toffee marshmallow
- Bacon toffee (toffee with bacon)
- Apple Toffee.
Step 4. Make cotton candy (also known as gulali or sweet arum) Cotton candy is usually a favorite snack for visitors at fairs, fairs or circuses
While the manufacturing process can be a mess in your kitchen, the finished cotton candy still tastes great!
Step 5. Make marshmallows
Marshmallows are always a favorite snack that is fun, whether as a home snack, a snack while camping or exploring the outdoors, or the right snack when you feel bored with work in your office.
Method 2 of 7: Making Pulled Sugar Candy
Pulled sugar candy is made by stretching the candy dough lengthwise (like sausages) after the dough starts to cool, then the dough is twisted and pulled so that air bubbles are trapped in the dough and produce a shiny candy texture. Making it requires hard work. You need to be strong and able to hold the candy dough at a high temperature and shape it. If the dough is too cold, the softness of the dough will decrease, making the candy difficult to shape. These types of candy are usually made by candy specialists.
Step 1. Make taffy
Taffy is one of the most popular types of pulled sugar candy. Taffy has a shape similar to toffee and tastes chewy when bitten.
Step 2. Make boiled sweets
Many variations of hard candy are made using the pull method. The emergence of this classic type of candy began when people started to love making candy and, at that time, there were so many types of hard candies and their shapes that could be made. The most common types of hard candy are humbugs (peppermint-flavored candy, with black and white stripes) and rock candy.
Read the article on how to make classic candies to see the different types of hard candies you can make (article in English)
Method 3 of 7: Making Caramel Candy
Caramel candy is made by adding milk or creamer to sugar. The added milk or creamer makes the candy softer.
Step 1. Make cream caramel candy (or regular caramel candy)
Creamy caramel candy has a vanilla flavor and is known for its creamy texture.
Step 2. Try making some variations of the caramel candy
There are many ways you can change the taste and texture of your caramel candy. Below are some examples of caramel candy variations you can make:
- Chocolate caramel candy
- Peanut chocolate caramel candy
- Bacon caramel candy
- Caramel Ribbon
- Vegan caramels (for vegetarians)
Method 4 of 7: Making Peanut Candy
The use of nuts as a candy base has been a longstanding tradition. In addition to being a filling for your candy, using nuts can add an amazing taste!
Step 1. Use almonds as the base for your candy
In addition to the taste that many people like, almonds have the right shape to make candy. Some variations of almond-based candy that you can try are:
- Candied almonds
- Almond sugar candy or Jordan almonds. This type of candy is usually made for weddings. This candy has a white color, but can also be given another color to match the color theme of the wedding party.
- Almond bark
- Chocolate coated almonds
Step 2. Use peanuts as the base for your candy
Peanuts are a fairly popular candy filling. Some variations of peanut-based candy that you can try are:
- Peanut brittle (also known as sugar peanut, peanut brittle, or ting-ting) and chocolate peanut brittle (chocolate-flavored ting-ting)
- Reese's peanut butter bar (chocolate with peanut butter filling), homemade version
Step 3. Try using walnuts as a base for your candy
The taste and texture of walnuts are suitable for making candy. Some variations of walnut-based candy that you can try are:
- Candied walnuts
- Walnuts with caramel chocolate
Step 4. Use another type of nut as the base for your candy
Some other types of nuts that are often used as candy are Brazil nuts, pecans and hazelnuts. Some variations of peanut candy that you can try are:
- Peanuts ting-ting
- Cashew nuts
Method 5 of 7: Making Fudge
Fudge is a type of candy made using a soft ball heating level (ranging from 112 to 115 degrees Celsius). Making fudge is not as complicated as making other types of candy. Therefore, fudge has become a fairly popular type of homemade candy.
Step 1. Make classic fudge
Simply put, fudge can be made without much added flavoring. However, it still tastes delicious.
Step 2. Make a variation of fudge
There are probably more variations of fudge than people currently know. In addition, it is possible that many more new variations of fudge can be created. By category, below are some variations of fudge you can try:
- Chocolate fudge: Cocoa fudge, chocolate fudge and more
- Peanut fudge: Peanut butter and marshmallow fudge, fudge with Snickers (chocolate snack with caramel cream and nuts), and more
- Cheerful fudge: Cream fudge and biscuits (cookies and cream), fantasy fudge, and more
- Fruit fudge: Orange fudge, apricot fudge, coconut fudge, etc.
Method 6 of 7: Making Fondant Candies And Marsepen Candy
Making candy with the basic ingredients of fondant (a sugar paste commonly used as cake decorations) and marsepen (a dough of sugar and mashed almonds) requires more skill and good confidence. However, you can still make them. Therefore, you should not hesitate to try it. There is a wide selection of candies that you can make using fondant and marsepen as the base for your candies because you can shape, mold and sculpt these materials into a variety of shapes.
Step 1. Use marsepen to make candy
You can make your own marsepen at home or buy ready-made marsepen.
- Usually marsepen candy has the shape of fruits, such as the shape of small apples, oranges, pears, limes, strawberries, and other fruits. In addition to fruits, flowers are also a suitable shape for marsepen candy. Marsepen can also be used as stuffing for dried fruit pieces or stuffing in nuts.
- You can also shape the marsepen into other shapes such as bunnies, mushrooms and Christmas candy.
Step 2. Use fondant to make candy
As with marsepen, you can make your own fondant at home or buy ready-made fondant. It should be noted that there are different types of fondant available in the market, with varying amounts of sugar and other ingredients. The amount of sugar and ingredients contained in fondant can affect the softness, taste and durability of fondant. Ask the store clerk for advice when choosing the type of fondant that suits your needs because some types of fondant are more suitable for coating cakes than for use as a candy base.
Some common forms of fondant candy are balls or other shapes, according to the mold (fondant can also be formed using a biscuit mold). Fondant is also often flavored and coated with chocolate to produce a creamy chocolate with a variety of flavors
Step 3. Keep in mind that you can use the same shaping technique for marsepen and fondant
However, it's a good idea to read the instructions for forming these ingredients for certain recipes so that you know for sure the proper shaping technique for those recipes. In some cases, for example, the exact type of fondant used (whether candy or cake-only fondant) can determine whether the fondant can be molded easily or not.
Method 7 of 7: Making Truffles
Truffles are a unique type of candy because of their “half candy, half chocolate” nature. Because of its nature, truffles are also included in this article. However, for your information, not every candy maker makes truffles because truffles themselves are a different form of food art from candy and, therefore, have their own specialties.
Step 1. Make classic chocolate truffles
Chocolate is the original taste of truffles. Therefore, chocolate truffles are a great type of truffle for your first try.
Some variations of chocolate truffles that you can try making are rum chocolate truffles and white chocolate truffles
Step 2. Find out and try different variations of the truffle recipe
There are many variations of truffles you might make. Some of them are:
- Strawberry balsamic truffles (truffles with strawberries and Italian balsamic vinegar)
- Mint flavored truffles
- Christmas truffle pudding
- Truffles with Oreos
- Pumpkin truffles
Tips
- Sometimes, candy making uses ingredients that are free of sugar, or at least ingredients that have a low sugar content.
- For vegetarians, there are plant-based products available in lieu of the animal products required in the recipe. Try searching the internet for information on plant-based substitutes for the animal products used in your recipe.
- If you enjoy making candy, try making candies that are more difficult to make. Take your time and don't be afraid if you fail because both are part of learning that can improve your skills in the world of candy making art.
- Keep in mind that not everyone likes the almond flavor of marsepen. Therefore, always ask the people who will be tasting your marsepen whether they like the almond flavor or not.
