In this instructable I will show you how to make Rock Candy. This Homemade Rock Candy recipe is easy to make and really fun! It is a great activity to do with the kids. Making Rock Candy is food science at its finest. All you need is a few simple ingredients and a bit of patience and you can make your very own rock candy at home! If I can do it, you can do it, let's get started!

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Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial or do both. :)

Step 1: Ingredients/Tools

Print the recipe here.

Ingredients:

1 cup of water
3 cups of white granulated sugar
food coloring (optional)
flavoring (optional)

Tools:

Pot
wooden spoon or spatula
lollipop sticks or bamboo skewers
glasses or mason jars
clothes pins

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Step 2: Prep the Sticks

First let's prep our sticks. There are a number of different kinds of sticks you can use. I am using wilton cake pop sticks/lollipop sticks. I like that they are 8 inches long. You can also use bamboo skewers. We dip the sticks in a glass of water, then roll it around on a plate that has sugar on it. We want to get the stick coated in sugar. These sugar crystals will act as "seed" crystals and allow the other sugar to grow on them. After the sticks are coated, set them aside to dry completely, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 3: Make That Sugar Solution

Now we need to make our sugar solution. Take a large sauce pot and add in your water. Next turn the stove top on high, and wait until the water starts to simmer, then add in one of your cups of sugar. Stir it until dissolved. Then add in another cup, stir until dissolved, then the final cup, stir until dissolved. Now let the mixture come to a boil, make sure to stir during this point as well. Now you can add in your food coloring and flavoring if you have it, a few drops of each. You may need several drops of the color depending on how deep of a color you want. If you want to make several different colors and flavors, wait until the next step to add the color and flavoring. Now we take the pot off the heat and let it cool for about 20 minutes.

***Don't touch the liquid it is extremely hot and will burn you. If you are a child and reading this please please have adult supervision. :)

Step 4: Fill Up Those Containers

Now after the solution has cooled a bit we will fill up our container using a funnel. I like to use a ring on my mason jars, because it gives more surface area for my clothespin to rest on. Then attach a clothes pin to your stick of sugar and place it in the solution. Make sure it is about 1 and a half inches off the bottom of the jar. If you are using different colors and flavors, you could use like 3 smaller jars and fill up each with the clear sugar, then add whatever flavoring and colors you want to each of them. Then add the sticks of sugar. Now we wait! :) Usually 5 to 7 days is ample time to develop nice sugar crystals. I have had them develop as soon as 1 day, but the crystals were really small, which is okay, because they still taste awesome!

Step 5: Remove the Rock Candy

Now after several days we need to remove the candy. Usually you will find a thin covering of candy on the top, just use a fork and gently break it up and then you can remove your rock candy. Now place it in another glass and let it dry for about 4 hours. Don't those rock candies look amazing?? :) After they have dried they are ready to serve.

Step 6: Troubleshooting

Sometimes you might make the candy and the stick will get stuck. The reason for this is the crystals grew on the bottom too quickly and the stick was too close to the bottom of the glass. At least the science was correct and the crystals grew. :) If that happens empty out the liquid into your pot and then you can reheat it and try again. You can also dig out the candy crystals in your glasses and eat it if you like. :)

Step 7: Video Tutorial