Description

Cinnamon Rock Candy is a delightful homemade treat that combines crystal-clear sugar candy infused with warm cinnamon flavor. This recipe creates a large sheet of crunchy, spiced rock candy with a beautiful red hue, perfect for gifting or enjoying as a sweet snack. The process involves cooking a sugar syrup to the hard crack stage, flavoring with cinnamon oil, and letting it set into crystalline perfection before breaking into bite-sized pieces.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 cup water
3 ¾ cups sugar
1 ¼ cups light corn syrup
1 tsp red food coloring
1–2 tsp cinnamon oil (adjust for spice)
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Butter (for greasing)

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Instructions

Prepare pan: Butter a 15x10x1-inch sheet cake pan, then line it with parchment paper and butter the parchment thoroughly to prevent sticking.
Make sugar syrup: In a large saucepan, combine water, sugar, corn syrup, and red food coloring. Stir over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves completely to create a clear syrup.
Boil to hard crack stage: Attach a candy thermometer to the saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Continue boiling without stirring until the temperature reaches 300°F (hard crack stage), which takes about 20 minutes.
Add cinnamon oil and pour: Remove the pan from heat and carefully stir in the cinnamon oil to infuse the candy. Immediately pour the hot mixture into the prepared pan, spreading evenly.
Cool and finish: Allow the candy to cool and harden for at least 4 hours. Once set, dust the top with powdered sugar, flip the candy out of the pan, peel off the parchment, and break the candy into bite-sized pieces.
Store: Place the cinnamon rock candy in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry place to maintain freshness and crunch.

Notes

Use caution when working with hot sugar syrup as it can cause serious burns.
Adjust the amount of cinnamon oil to your preferred spice intensity.
Ensure the candy thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pan for accurate temperature readings.
Butter and parchment paper are essential to prevent sticking and enable easy removal.
The candy should be stored away from moisture to prevent it from becoming sticky or soft.