How to Make Rock Candy

Rock candies are tasty treats that are enjoyed mostly by children. You can spend a lazy afternoon with your kids teaching them to make rock candy. Sucrose, a sugar is a carbohydrate and is generally made from sugarcane. When you add sugar to water, it dissolves forming a sugar solution. When no more sugar can be dissolved in water, then it is called a saturated solution. This saturation point differs at different temperatures and as the temperature increases, the saturation point of water also increases.

Rock candy is made according to the principle mentioned above. At a higher temperature, the saturation level of sugar increases. But when the temperature comes down to normal, the solution becomes supersaturated, that is, there is an excess amount of sugar in the solution. As supersaturated sugar solution is unstable, the solution starts crystallizing when the water cools down. This is the science behind making rock candy. Now follow the steps given below to make rock candy at home.

Rock Candy Recipe

What you need

• 4 cups white sugar
• 1 cup water
• A piece of cotton string
• Blunt knife
• 1 glass jar
• A small saucepan
• Food coloring

Method

In the small saucepan, add 1 cup of water and bring it to a boil. Dissolve the sugar, one cup at a time, stirring constantly, more sugar cannot be dissolved. Make sure that you keep on stirring the mixture continuously at a low heat so that it does not stick to the pan. Remove this mixture from the heat and add some food color. Allow the solution to cool down. Moisten a piece of string with this sugar syrup and then push the string into the granulated sugar. Now shake the string carefully so that excess sugar falls off. Pour the cooled sugar syrup into a clean glass jar. Now tie the string coated in granulated sugar to the blunt knife and rest it on top of the jar. The piece of string should be immersed into the sugar syrup, but ensure that it does not touch the base of the jar. Cover the jar with a cling film and place it in a cool and dry place away from sunlight. After 2 - 3 days you will see sugar crystals forming on the string. Once the rock candy grows to your desired size, you can remove it from the jar. Your rock candy is ready for eating.

Making Rock Candy Sticks

What you need

• 4 cups demerara sugar
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1 cup water
• 1 glass jar
• 4 - 5 Popsicle sticks

Method

In a small saucepan heat a cup of water. When the water comes to a boil, add the sugar, ½ cup at a time, until all the sugar has dissolved. Now add the maple and the corn syrup into this sugar solution. Stir this mixture continuously in low flame to avoid burning it. Remove the sugar solution from the flame and let it cool. When it has been cooled, pour the sugar syrup in a clean dry glass jar and cover with a styrofoam cover. When the mixture is in a semisolid state, push 4 popsicle sticks into the mixture through the styrofoam cover. Do not let the popsicle sticks touch the bottom of the glass jar. Let the jar remain undisturbed for 3 - 4 days, and in about a week your rock candy will be ready.

Do you want to know how to make flavored rock candy? Well it's very simple. Just add any flavor of your choice like cinnamon, vanilla or ginger. If you want to make rock candy fast, it is just not possible as sugar in the solution requires some time to settle down on the stick or the string. Rock candies are not hard to make and your children will be delighted if you treat them to homemade rock candies.