Christmas Lesson Plans and Activities

Candy Cane Recipe

This is a great project to do with children.

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
4 drops oil of peppermint or other flavoring
4 drops red or green food coloring

Grease a hard surface.

Simmer the sugar with the corn syrup, water and cream of tartar until the mix reaches a soft crack stage or about 280 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat and add the flavoring.

Divide the syrup in half. Add food coloring to one half; pour out separately onto the greased surfaces. Cool for 1 to 2 minutes. Pull each half separately; roll into 1/2" thick ropes. Twist colored batch around the white batch pulling until the colors adhere. Cut with scissors into 6" long lengths; bend to crook one end.

NOTE: You can find Wintergreen or oil of cinnamon to use as a flavoring. Work quickly to form candy canes or you can form knots.
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