When I am making candies for any Holiday (or just because), the boys ask for Old Fashioned, Stained Glass Candy. I don’t know if it is because they honestly love it or if it is because they love the idea of it. LOL!
But, we ALWAYS have a baggie of it sitting around the house. It takes forever to make, but it makes a bunch at once. We have tried many flavors like: peppermint, strawberry, banana, raspberry, green apple, and more!
Isn’t that pretty? Different food coloring and different extract flavor can be used to make this a completely different candy.
This old fashioned glass candy recipe is a favorite among my boys. We use peppermint for Christmas, Cinnamon for Valentine’s, Mint for St. Patrick’s Day, and more!
Once you learn how to make this old time stained glass recipe, your family will ask for it all the time, too!
Here’s another picture just because I couldn’t decide which one I wanted to use. LOL!
You’ll also get a ton of great information from this Guide to Traditional Southern Candies!
You really need a metal pan with deep enough sides to hold all the candy – otherwise you will have a mess!
Table of Contents
Here are a few of my Glass Candy supply recommendations:
The following affiliate links are from Amazon.
- Nordic Ware Classic Metal 9×13 Covered Cake Pan
- Polder THM-515 Candy/Jelly/Deep Fry Thermometer, Stainless Steel
- Ateco 1112 12-Color Food Coloring Kit
What type of equipment is needed to make glass candy?
For those wishing to make glass candy at home, there is a variety of equipment that is necessary. Most importantly, one needs a stove or hotplate to heat the ingredients used in the recipe. Depending on the amount and type of ingredients used, a double-boiler or saucepan might also be required.
Additionally, it is advised that one obtains heavy-duty oven mitts and pot holders for handling any utensils containing hot ingredients.
To prevent spills and messes associated with cooling down molten candy, kitchen parchment paper should be used to line baking trays.
Finally, after it has cooled off and set aside, potholders can be utilized once again when transferring the finished product onto serving dishes and containers.
How do I store glass candy?
Storing glass candy correctly is essential to ensure its freshness and quality. Glass candy should always be kept in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight, heat vents, and windows.
Additionally, it should be stored in an airtight container to prevent moisture retention – the last thing you want when trying to store glass candy! It is best practice to store your candy at room temperature, as fluctuating temperatures can cause clouding and discoloration of the product.
To further preserve the glass-like appearance of your treats, keep them away from any odorous ingredients, as any lingering smells may taint their flavor profile.
With proper storage techniques and careful maintenance, you can enjoy these delectable confections for weeks or months.
Is glass candy a good homemade gift idea?
Homemade gifts can be a meaningful way to show someone you care. Glass candy is an attractive and eye-catching gift option that is suitable for any occasion. It requires minimal ingredients, is relatively simple to craft, and allows plenty of room for customization.
The glossy look created by the hot melted glass adds a flavor of sophistication and elegance, making it a thoughtful choice for all types of social events.
Additionally, this type of confection is both visually pleasing and delightful to taste, thus providing an experience beyond the typical candy gift. All in all, glass candy is an excellent homemade gift option.
Can I make glass candy in advance?
Making glass candy is a time-consuming process, but planning and making the candy in advance can be possible if careful considerations are taken.
Sugar “glass” can easily become stale and stick to its container, so it is important to store the confectionary in airtight containers at a consistent temperature. It is possible to make glass candy several days or even weeks in advance; however, the taste and texture may vary since the sugar has had more time to harden and crystallize.
To ensure a desirable texture for your glass candy, it is wise only to make what you plan on using within a reasonable timeframe.
Does this have the same taste as rock candy?
This simple recipe can be made with any of your favorite flavors, but I do that that there is a similarity in flavors. The glass surface just makes it look really unique and so much fun to eat, which is why I love to make it during Christmas time. The cooking process, as you’ll see on the fun recipe card below, proves that this is easy to make and perfect for any sweet tooth.
How can I crack the glass candy once it’s ready in that hard-crack stage?
To get the edible glass candy in pieces, you can use a meat tenderizer to break up the pieces. Just be sure to add the hard candy to a sealable bag during the hard crack state so that the small pieces don’t fly around or fall on the floor! The last thing that you want to have happen during this easy recipe is to have the hard candies fall off the table.
Can I make this in different colors?
You can add any additional color that you want. You can even make different flavors, too! This sea glass is an easy candy recipe where you can make broken glass candy in any way that works for you. You can have red candy glass, blue, green – or any color that you want. This is the great thing about this easy har candy recipe! It’s amazing what a little bit of red food coloring can do!
You can easily make this glass candy for the holiday season, wedding favors, a themed party, and more! Any type of gathering can always use a festive touch!
More Delicious Homemade Candies and Treats:
DIY Candy Recipes
Peanut Butter Candy Bar Bites (like DIY Butterfingers)
Over 50 Traditional Christmas Candy Recipes
Irish Potato Candy – delicious family tradition!
Kelli’s Fantasy Fudge – like the traditional, but with a twist!
Old Fashioned, Stained Glass Candy Recipe
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Tastes great, looks like colored glass!
Ingredients
- Powdered Sugar
- 3 Cups White Granulated Sugar
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup White Corn Syrup
- 1 Tablespoon extract any flavor
- Food coloring
Instructions
Prepare 9x13 deep sided metal pan by covering sides and bottom with butter & powdered sugar
Combine sugar, water, & syrup in sauce pan
Set candy thermometer in pan. Stir liquid constantly.
When thermometer reaches 300 degrees (hard crack) remove from heat.
Add in flavor and color then immediately pour into prepared pan.
Let stand until mixture is cooled and hard. Brush top with powdered sugar.
Drop pan onto floor (the kids LOVE to do this) to break candy into pieces.
Store in air tight container. I like to drop a couple teaspoons of powdered sugar into a Ziplock baggie, add the candy pieces, and shake to cover. Without the sugar, the pieces can stick together.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 313Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 19mgCarbohydrates: 82gFiber: 0gSugar: 82gProtein: 0g
Did you make this recipe?
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