This cinnamon rock candy is a delicious treat that’s just as much fun to make as it is to eat. With its vibrant color and sweet cinnamon flavor, this homemade hard candy will be a huge hit with the whole family.
If you thought making your own candy was difficult, this delicious cinnamon rock candy recipe will change your mind. It requires just a few simple ingredients and a candy thermometer to create this homemade sweet treat.
You’ll need a little bit of patience and attention to get your candy mixture to the correct temperature, but you’ll be rewarded with a candy that’s so much more delicious than anything you can buy at a candy store!
The pretty glass-like appearance and amazing flavor of this candy makes it ideal to package and give as a gift, especially at Christmas time. But it would also be a great addition to a party, or just a fun treat to keep on hand whenever you want a little something sweet. Try this delicious cinnamon rock candy and we guarantee you’ll be hooked!
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Rock candy is a fun retro-inspired treat that will bring you back to your childhood.
- This homemade treat can be beautifully packaged and given away as gifts for holidays or special occasions.
- You can change up the color and flavor to make lots of fun variations on this classic recipe.
Ingredients
- Butter
- Granulated sugar
- Light corn syrup
- Purified water
- Water-based red food coloring (optional)
- Cinnamon candy oil
- Powdered sugar
Recommended Tools
- 10 x 15 baking sheet
- Large heavy saucepan
- Parchment paper
- Wooden spoon
- Candy thermometer
- Cling wrap
- Measuring spoons
- Hammer
How to Make Cinnamon Rock Candy
Step One: Prepare the Candy Mixture
- Grease the cookie sheet with butter and then line with parchment paper or wax paper. Add a second layer of butter over the parchment paper.
- In a large saucepan, combine water, sugar, corn syrup, and food coloring. Cover and heat over medium to medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture is boiling.
- When the mixture begins to boil, uncover for about 3 minutes to dissolve the sugar, continuing to stir the mixture occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
Step Two: Continue Heating and Add Flavoring
- Place the candy thermometer into the saucepan and continue to cook on medium heat until the sugar mixture reaches the hard crack stage (300 degrees F). Do not stir during this stage.
- As the mixture approaches 300 degrees (this should take about 20-25 minutes), remove it from the heat and stir briefly to prevent burning.
- Return the hot mixture to the heat until it reaches 300 degrees. Make sure that you watch the temperature closely, as it will reach 300 degrees very quickly.
- Once the mixture reaches temperature, immediately remove it from the heat and add the cinnamon oil.
Step Three: Cool and Break the Candy
- Pour the candy mixture onto the prepared pan and let cool for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Note: Use caution when doing this, as the mixture will be extremely hot.
- Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top of the candy and then flip and sprinkle on the opposite side as well.
- Use a meat tenderizer or similar kitchen tool to break the candy into bite-sized pieces.
Tips and Suggestions
- Increase the cinnamon oil to 1½ or 2 teaspoons if you like a stronger cinnamon flavor.
- When adding the cinnamon oil, do so in a well-ventilated area, as the aroma can be very strong.
- After breaking the candy, sprinkle it with more powdered sugar to make sure the edges are covered, or leave them clean and shiny.
Variations
- For a thinner candy, use a larger sheet pan. The mixture may not go to the edge of the pan but will spread and thin a bit more.
- Use any of your favorite flavors of candy oil in place of the cinnamon and change the color to create different flavors of rock candy.
How Do I Store Rock Candy?
Store your candy in an airtight container or Ziploc bag at room temperature.
How Do I Keep the Candy Pieces from Sticking Together?
You can place the candy pieces in a resealable plastic bag and pour in some extra powdered sugar. Then shake the bag until all of the candy pieces are thoroughly coated.
What are Some Other Ways to Break up the Candy?
You can use a hammer (just cover it with plastic wrap to keep it sanitary.) Once you’ve broken the candy sheet into a few larger pieces, you can also place it in a bag and use a rolling pin to crush it into small pieces.
This is a great old-fashioned recipe that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day and the Christmas holiday. It makes perfect gifts – just put the broken candy pieces in a mason jar with a ribbon, or a lined paper box.
More Fun Candy Recipes
Cinnamon Rock Candy
Ingredients
- butter for preparing the pan and parchment paper
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup purified water
- 1 teaspoon water based red food coloring optional
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon candy oil
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
Instructions
- Grease a 15”x10”x1” baking sheet (jelly roll pan) with butter.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and then butter the parchment paper also.
- In a large saucepan, add the sugar, corn syrup, water, and food coloring.
- Stir mixture, cover, and heat over medium heat until boiling (stirring occasionally).
- Once boiling, uncover and let it boil for 3 minutes to dissolve sugar (stirring occasionally).
- Insert a candy thermometer into the saucepan and cook on medium heat until the mixture gets to 300 degrees or the "hard crack" stage. Do not stir during this step until the very end.
- As the mixture approaches 300 degrees (this took about 20-25 minutes), remove it from the heat and give it a quick stir to prevent burning.
- Replace the mixture back onto the heat and watch it closely and carefully until it reaches 300 degrees.
- Once the mixture reaches 300 degrees °F, immediately remove it from the heat and quickly add the cinnamon oil (do this in a well ventilated area or open a window because the fragrance is very strong).
- Carefully pour the very hot mixture into the prepared pan.
- Let cool for 1.5-2.5 hours.
- Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar and then flip it over and sprinkle the other side.
- Wrap the head of a hammer with a zippered bag and use a hammer to break the candy apart.
- Option to re-sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired or leave the edges exposed and clean
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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