Absolutely! Old-fashioned orange candy is surprisingly easy to make at home using a few simple ingredients. Here’s a basic way to do it:
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract (or zest from 1 orange)
- Optional: a few drops of food coloring (orange)
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a tray
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly dust with powdered sugar.
- Make the sugar syrup
- In a saucepan, combine sugar and water.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Once dissolved, stop stirring and let it boil.
- Cook to hard crack stage
- Use a candy thermometer: heat until the mixture reaches 300°F (149°C).
- This is the “hard crack” stage — when a small drop in cold water forms hard, brittle threads.
- Add flavor and color
- Remove from heat and stir in orange extract or zest.
- Add food coloring if desired.
- Shape the candy
- Pour onto the prepared tray.
- Let it cool slightly, then score into squares or pull into small pieces before fully hardening.
- Cool completely
- Once hardened, break into pieces and dust with powdered sugar if desired to prevent sticking.
Tips
- Work quickly after adding flavoring — candy hardens fast.
- Use a candy thermometer for the best results.
- Store in an airtight container to keep it crisp.
If you want, I can give you a version that creates those chewy, old-fashioned orange candies that taste just like the ones from the candy store, not hard brittle pieces.
Do you want me to do that?
