Homemade Rock Candy Recipe - The Spruce Eats

• You only need basic tools like Mason jars, skewers, and granulated sugar to get started.
• This project makes a fun hands-on science experiment for kids and adults alike.
• Mixing flavors and colors lets you create unique treats tailored to your taste.

Rock candy is easy to make at home, tastes great, and is a fun recipe to try with kids. Better yet, it doubles as a science experiment because you can watch the sugar crystals grow. It's also an excellent opportunity to get creative in the kitchen, as the color and flavor combinations are endless.

Is Making Rock Candy Hard?

This is one of the simplest sugar candies you can make, though it requires patience. All you need are sugar, water, and a few basic materials you likely already have at home. Most of the steps involve making the sugar syrup and preparing the sticks and jars. While you should start to see changes within the first few hours, it may take 3 to 7 days for the rock candy to form.

How Much Sugar Syrup Will I Need?

The exact amount of sugar syrup needed depends on the size of your jars and the number of candies you'd like. For instance, the recipe's measurements work for four 12-ounce jars or one quart-sized Mason jar. You can easily double or triple the recipe to make more rock candy at once.

Skewers, Sticks, or String

A wooden skewer or popsicle stick is a good option for rock candy. They're easy to work with and make removing the candy easier if it gets stuck to the bottom crystals. You can also use a cotton string; you'll need to tie it to some kind of weight so it doesn't float in the syrup. While a paper clip is a common solution for this, a piece of hard candy with a hole in the middle (e.g., Life Savers) is a food-safe alternative that works just as well.

Glass or Plastic

Glass is recommended because it is a relatively nonporous material that produces better crystals. Foam and some plastic cups are more porous and may attract the sugar crystals away from the skewer, where you want them to grow. Some people have had success with plastic cups, so it's worth experimenting with your options.

Granulated Sugar is Best

Regular white granulated sugar is typically the best choice for making rock candy. In some informal experiments, people have found that it produces larger crystals than other sugar types. It's also the least expensive option, an important consideration because you need a lot of sugar to make rock candy.

For Easier Clean-Up

The crystals will grow on the bottom and sides of the jar, and they're quite tough to remove. Instead of discarding the glass jars, they can be cleaned and reused. Begin by pouring out the syrup and any loose sugar crystals. Fill the jars with hot, soapy water and place them in a pan with about 3 inches of water. Boil the water for 10 minutes (for safety, watch it carefully as you would when canning), then turn off the heat. Let the jars cool to the touch, and use a fork to break up the sugar crystals. Discard the sugar and wash the jars as normal.

Tips for Perfect Rock Candy

• Oils or extracts—You can use either oils or extracts for flavor. The 1/2 to 1 teaspoon measurements for flavoring extracts that are provided create a mild-flavored rock candy. If you'd like a more intense flavor, carefully taste test the syrup in the pan and add up to a 1/2 teaspoon extract or 1/4 teaspoon oil more to your liking.
• Paste or gel—Select paste or gel foodcoloring to create richer colors than liquid options. Keep in mind that the color of the rock candy will be significantly paler than the syrup. If you'd like to create a deeper color, use more food coloring, preferably of the gel variety.
• Successful crystal formation—Heat is an important factor in crystal formation. Don't forget to transfer the syrup to warm jars before it cools off too much.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE ROCK CANDY Cool Mason Jars Wooden Skewers

Never Lose a Recipe Again!

Love a Spruce Eats recipe? With MyRecipes, your personal home for recipes, easily save and organize your favorites, plus thousands more, in one convenient place.